I'm leaning towards a no....simply because a conference by its nature is meant to be a formal affair. Stick with the third person, just to be safe :)

I don't think they care. Others might better advise you, but having a nightmare phd experience, with a supervisor who was probably part demon, I'd say get what references you can. I've come across applications where they explicitly ask for your supervisor as referee, but like someone else advised me on this forum: if they didn't do a good job, do you WANT them as a ref? Rethink and if you've got others willingly wanting to help you, take it.

Ps: highly unlikely you won't be awarded your phd even after R&R. Unless you literally don't do any work at all.

I waited two months for my viva. I think it's just when the examiners are available. Maybe it depends on your university, but my university had protocols in place to have had the viva within 12 weeks of the student submitting.

This is one of those how long is a piece of string moments.

I know someone who had it returned in two days, I waited two months (because my examiner decided to go on holiday).. All you can do is get admin involved, get them to push for a date on approving the corrections. It is an annoying wait, academics seem to enjoy moving at a glacial pace.

Hello :)

The issue with the basic equipment not being available I think is a general issue at universities. I had to "make do", "find a way", "get it done" in any way I could too. and I think a lot of PhD experiences are like that. So you're not alone there.

Don't feel bad about "occupying their place" at a different lab. It's a facility, facilities are there to be used - whether the person who happens to be the head of that place likes it or not. Also I think travelling to be able to get to certain equipment is normal (unless of course this is just me??), but yeah train, bus, tram,taxi are your friends on this account, and then have your university reimburse you for travel.

I've found famous profs are generally the ones that cause the biggest issues (the ones I've worked with anyway, and I've worked with quite a few - mine was the same).

Do you have health and safety measurements in place to be able to carry heavy samples with you? I'm sure your health and safety officer can best advise you there, and can also give your supervisor a kick up the behind if they find you're not following regulations - student health and safety records (or should I say department reports) need to be clean.

Yeah supervisors ignoring their students is not too new. Just make sure you're doing your bit by sending them regular emails on your progress (even if they don't respond), so that if something happens, you have electronic proof of having done everything you could have done from your side. Also universities track all emails on thier systems anyway, so just do your bit.

Definitely get your money. Contact your department finances office. It's not on they're not paying you, and most of the time they just can't be bothered to fill and send off a form and you just have to remind them (send them lots of emails, calls them, go and see them).

[/quote]. I don't know whether I should follow up at all as it's only been a week, or change agencies, or give up (feeling pretty down and depressed).

The issue I'm running into is that all the jobs I'd like to apply for, are through recruitment agencies! None of the research companies I've looked into have job postings. Has anyone tried cold emailing?[/quote]

Yes, follow up. Even it's been a week. I waited three weeks to hear back once, finally contacted them only to be told "oh HR should've contacted you, it's a no". Better to know than to keep wondering.

Yeah, I've tried cold emailing, joined recruitment agencies. I've even sat on google for days on end searching for vacancies by putting in job titles vacancies in the search bar. It's far from easy. Try all avenues it's the best we can do. I'm literally a few more rejections away from offering them my first born child as a way of telling them I'll be good at what the job wants me to do.

What really annoys me is that a guy from my research group, who failed his phd is working in the same research group by the backing of my ex-supervisor.....I cannot fathom what the whole selection process is about. I'll never get it I think.

I knew someone who managed to publish work multiple times from the university they were working at under their supervisor's nose without their supervisor/university finding out (they didn't want to include their supervisor lol). So if that's possible, and all those involved keep it quiet - I mean, are you really going to tell people about this pgcert if you already know that your uni's regulations have issues with it? I know I wouldn't - then, I guess there's no reason why you couldn't. Also, because it's a different qualification, surely you could still do it? I always thought that you couldn't apply for the same qualification with the same content at two different institutes?

Your second paragraph sounds like a bloody great idea..wish I'd thought of it, you're thinking ahead. I think it's good. Then again, this is coming from someone who is one of those people that think that you can get through a PhD without driving yourself into the ground (and eventually did it too).

I say go for it! Your money, your life, your rules. Your university isn't doing you a favour by taking you on, you're paying fees for a service they happen to provide.

Haha, you're not nuts, just very ambitious. :D

Hi there..:)

I know what you mean about the unstructured format of a PhD. I developed depression a year and half in my PhD due to the workload/ridiculous hours/unwarranted expectations from seemingly everyone who expects you to have your nose in a textbook/testube for most hours of the day, only to look up for some air.

After I got really depressed, I cut off any personal feelings I had for my work (I worked like my life depended on it, I got really ill, and my colleagues would mock me for it - yeah they all suck). I came to the conclusion, it is JUST work. That's it. I gave myself a 9-5 week, outside those hours the work/supervisor/colleagues/university did not exist. I refused to speak to/acknowledge anyone outside my set working hours. Maybe you could try giving yourself some similar working structures? And, I found that this was important for my health - give yourself the time to forget about work. Maybe you could try to diminish the importance you might be giving it?

Your story sort of hit a nerve with me. I hope you're ok!

Hi :). Wow, you have had a lot to deal with, so it's no wonder you're feeling so stressed. I'd recommend ignoring the rubbish you've heard the staff at your institute coming out with regarding the whole "a woman can't have both children and a career", because it's a load of bull and an extremely stone-aged view of the world. There are plenty of women who do have careers and children. A few professors at my university have little children, and are full time working women, so it is possible. But it's also a very personal decision as to how you prefer to handle kids and work. There's no "right" way about it, just what would suit you better.

Your male supervisor sounds like a horrible person (I've been there too, with mine making it clear he couldn't give a toss if he tried).

Coming to your decision. Listing some pros/cons of leaving vs staying can make the decision making somewhat more structured. Again, this is a very personal decision to make really, and if you know you'll be happy with the decision you come to the conclusion of making, then that is what is right for you.

I personally am someone who wouldn't put my life on hold for work and vice versa. Both can be handled with the right support, but that's just me. Different lifestyles work for different people.

Hope I helped a little :)...apologies if it sounds a little wishy-washy :/.