I took a suspension for a few months during my PhD on health grounds. I did do some work on the writing of chapter and papers- on the days that i felt like it ( which were very few). My superviser argee that I could do this but there was no pressure to, We also argee that I would send one of them an email every two weeks to check it and to keep them infomred.
If its a lab based project, I doubt she will be able to on health and saftey and insurance grounds. I know I wasnt allowed into the lab. If her supervisor know where she at, that must be willing to let her catch up when she back. If it was me I would take the time needed to get better and when they arrive back have a mangable plan of action on how they will complete the needed work.

I struggled with this during my PhD thesis. I agree with rewt ask people for help, but send them completed sections, for examples the introduction, or methods... not just a paragraph here and there.

If you use work download Grammarly or use the read-aloud function. I find read allowed good- you can hear what you have written being said and can edit then.

I am in my second year as a post-doc- 1st year 1 post-doc in one lab - now on a 4-year postdoc. I can't say I have had post-doc stress. My first post-doc is resulting in 4 papers, I know this one will be two years before I have anything published. Be straight but don't insult the PI. Offer help and support to PhD students and be a team player. Remember it's a paid job so if you're not performing- you won't last long.
I agree with rewt, you do get more respect- but remember to treat everyone as you equally- You never know when you will need a student or RA help.
Are you starting in a new lab? what stress are you worried about?

I'd agree with PhDHere, contact the head of doctoral studies requesting an update. It could be a case that they have emailed a response but it has got lost in someone mails (this happen in my case).
I wouldn't contact the internal examiner - Some are very strict on the no-contact policy.
As Abababa has said academics are busy with online lecture etc - so it could have been pushed to the end of their to-do list so they might just need another email reminding them of that responsibility to respond to your thesis.

depends on the uni. Where I did my PhD ass correction have to be approved by my internal examiner before sending a copy to the library. I didn't send them to my supervisors. THe best way to find out is by checking with you dept or grad students office.

At the moment I am in the lab 3/4 days a week and WFH 1/2 days.
My day in the lab is :
9:00 Arrive in office/lab check emails. Write a list of what needs to be done for the week- or check the list for the day
9:30 Prep work for experiments- turn of equipment like water baths etc that need time to heat up. I usually look at the method I'm doing-have it wrote out in step and then rewrite it according to what needs to be really done first- as in if I need a water bath that's always turn on first etc.
11 Coffee -catch up with colleagues/or respond to emails.
11:30 Run experiments-sample etc
1-2 Lunch/Go for a run
2--4 Run experiments-Samples run analysis
4-5 check mails/responded to mails- write in lab book and check if anything needs to be done for the next day to make it easier

My day at home is :
9:00 coffee and check mails
9:30 analysis results (usually do 45-minute blocks -making coffee check my phone for 10 minutes and then go back at it)
12 Meeting about project/ read papers for the never-ending list
1 Lunch and housework
2 analysis results
3 work on writing methods/results etc up in a paper format

Hi Choti,
The big question is do you like the topic. My background is in microbiology and for my PhD I have done quite a bit of chemical engineering- There was stuff I didn't understand and TBH it took a while to get my head around it. I spent a lot of extra time reading the basics so I could understand what I am doing.
If you like the topic- can you ask for extra help ? are there video tutorials you can look at? Can you ask the PI for the suggestion of good books to read.
If you don't like the topic- I would hand in my notice and start looking elsewhere. Personally, I wouldn't stay while looking for something else, as I feel like you'd only be wasting your time and other time.

In my uni (Ireland) we had to bear the cost ourselves. In my uni, we had to give on the cost to the college, and you are expected to ask your supervisors if they require them. Two out of four of my supervisors did- thankfully they gave me money for their version. It cost over 450 euro for 4 copies with the company I went with.

Its not discrimiitory. Surely most will know about this cost from previous students and should budget accordingly. I know personally, I had but money aside form my last few stipends to cover the full cost, and equally was grateful when not all supervisors required them and offered to pay for their version.

As rewt said you can print yourself and get it bound for cheaper- in my case I would have to have to print each copy and then drive over an hour away to get it bound s it was easier to get them to do it all and post it to me.

I started my PhD (4 years) on a small stipend (Ireland based) and applied for funding at the end of my first year- was unsuccessful. It all depends on what topical each year. My friend was successful and then had two years to finish a 4 year PhD. She later regretted the funding as she went overtime by a year and had to pay fees and equally had no stipend.
Given the current climate, I would not self fund a PhD. You don't know if that grant will be around next year. You could start to commit a year and then get nothing and left with the decision to continue as self-funded or leave. If it was me I would start looking for a funded position (project already decided) or spend the year working and spend my free time reading and working on a strong grant application for next year.

I wouldn't count on getting funding once you start.
As others said Teaching is usually term time.

Other question to ask- Have you funds to pay for consumables that might be associated with the project? Whos going to pay to attend conferences/networking events? Can you still get a visa if your self funding- as they may look to see that you have the full funds (tuition, living expenses etc.) for all years of the PhD prior to starting.

Personally, I'd keep applying for funding or funded post- Like PhDhere said it no fund if your funding it! Also, you might spend more time working to fund the PhD rather than doing the PhD, meaning it takes longer than you think.

For my experince- the supervisor gets the funding and then run their own call to hire someone- ITs done none by the research council. They inform the research council of who they hired at there reporting periods.
If you get offered it you can then reject it- it doesn't look great but can be done. I would advise that if you're going to reject it make sure you're given a lot of notice and not saying it two weeks before you begin.
From my own experience- after offering someone work a few months ago I stating planning for their start that, the week before I got an email saying they were going else were- after 3 months I now have to re-interview.
Equally there nothing to say that that post-doc will even call you for an interview if they get funding- people pick the best person for the role.

Personally, I would focus on doing a good interview for the one you have- Project can always change to suit the candidate's interest.

The requirements for a PhD depend on each institute. What have other students done in the past in your uni? What does your supervisor/s say you need to do in order to submit for examination?

In terms of finishing on time- only you will really know the answer to that. Why don't you set yourself some daily goals and weekly goals to help get motivated. I would stick to specific goals like write the abstract for the next paper, rather than things like writing two paragraphs or X amount of words each day. I also found that bullet pointing the layout of each chapter was the easiest way for me to write. I would have the heading following by what needed to be in each chapter and each day I'd focus on one paragraph at a time. When you feel like not writing do another task that meaningful, like references, formatting and editing graphs and tables to fit into your thesis.

I agree with the other two. Don't send the email- they have already given you feedback.
For perspectives- When I left my last postdoc, I was asked to help with the interviews for my replacement- there was over 5 applicant for 2 roles- in which 10 were interview. You were lucky to get feedback in the first place (a lot of PIs don't bother).
Also, it's important to remember- PI usually keep the list the interview in case the person leaves after a few months- saved them re-interviewing so you don't want to have bad blood there.

Of course you do. I recently interview candidates for PhD with my old boss. the two that were chosen had 2.2- but had industry experience and a passion for the area. You could see they taught about why they wanted a PhD and what they were interested in studying.
Start by reaching out to PI-one who interested align with yours- send each and individual email ( don't mass email the same letter to all)- ask do they have funds or would they be willing to help you apply for funding. Try have an idea of what funding you might be eligible to apply for and areas your interesting in studying.

I think this is a very grey area, and everyone will have a different view. I have just submitted a paper-based of conferences paper. The conference paper only had a quarter of the results of the actual paper. So in my case, there are new results added as well as a new discussion. As Rewt said (and I don't think he Pi is being melodramatic) you have to change a lot of the work and effort, tables and graphs., it not just a case of editing the text, you need to add something new. Personally, If it only a revised version I wouldn't submit it0 you ideally need to be adding something new. I was always told during my PhD, to give a little information in conferences proceeding as possible to make sure the work is publishable afterwards. I would also tell the editor of the proceeding and offer a copy/link to them if possible and highlight the difference between both papers.