I'd just put them on. You are still the first author and that's what matters. They were involved in the work and therefore should be on it. Imagine it the other way round? Would you expect to be a 2nd author? Would you like being a 2nd author? Why not keep them onside? I don't think anyone will look at it and go "oh, looks like prof X did all the work", because if he did he'd be first author...

Pam - You are right in that it is a generalisation - hence why I put "generally" before the statement. I don't think that ALL "older" people hate email and don't mean to suggest that all do, and by the same token it doesn't mean "younger" people are necessarily any better. However, I have found (OK sample size 1 - me!) that in general it is older academics and in fact older people in general who dislike email the most. That's not to say they necessarily can't use it, just that they don't like it. I actually happen to agree with them to an extent. I prefer a phone call or a visit in person.

Sorry if it caused offence - Just to restate - it is very much a generalisation!

The important thing I was trying to get across is that sending an email doesn't guarantee much. People easily forget about emails - they rarely forget about you when you are knocking on their door!

Hi all,

I'm doing my PhD at the mo and read these boards fairly often and something I have noticed is that the majority (though far from all) of the problems with supervisors seem to stem from a lack of communication. I think many of these problems could be sorted by "nipping them in the bud" early on. Perhaps people aren't confident enough to talk to their supervisor about problems early on (supervisors can be intimidating at times) but I really think that if people get past this early on and go and talk to their supervisors when problems first begin to arise then they may be better off.

Also, many posts feature the line "I've emailed loads but no reply". If it is urgent, go to your supervisors office a few times every day until you can speak to them. Things are a lot easier to resolve in person and supervisors are generally a bit older and don't like email. Plus they get about 100 emails a day and can easily miss them. Again, I realise that some people have factors preventing them doing this (living miles away from the uni for instance).

I don't mean to sound preachy and I certainly hope people continue using this board when they have a problem, I just thought I'd put this post out for people to see so that if they are experiencing the beginning of a problem they sort it early by going and speaking to their supervisor early on.

What does everyone else think? Is communication the main problem in your opinion?

Completed

It would be useful to know what your area of expertise is. There's no point telling a history student about engineering for instance.

Do not quit unless you have something else lined up - by which I mean a firm offer. It is much more difficult to gain employment when unemployed than it is to get a new job when you are employed. Keep at it and also keep an eye out for other opportunities. Quitting and being unemployed is simply an awful option so don't do it.

You may find that the work improves after a few months or you may find an amazing job that you would prefer to do. Either way, the decision is for the future. I always have an eye out for any jobs that are about wherever and whenever I am working in case I see something that is truly fantastic. Happily I have enjoyed the jobs I have been doing enough to continue with them. Keep your eye out and you might see something. If you do then go for it, if you don't then at least you are not unemployed.

Mature Cheddar

Many Dutch universities teach in English and I have presented with people from Sweden before - they worked in English too.

OK:

1) Yes it is possible, though it can be a lot harder. Other experience helps of course. Talk to the universities.
2) Yes, it is not the most common but can definitely be done and has been by people on these boards. Contact the EPSRC. Why do it part time though? It is generally a little bit tougher as you have other things in your life and can't focus fully on the PhD.
3) No you are definitely not too old. You're younger than me and considerably younger than others on this board. Age helps actually. In my unscientific opinion it would seem that the people who struggle the most are those who came straight from uni, lack life experience and haven't developed a proper work ethic (not always true of course - it's a generalisation!)
4) Not really (in my opinion), just get applying for stuff.
5) Maybe, but probably not. If you get hired in an academic position like an RA then you can do a PhD at the same time, but it's just as if not more tough to get that position than get on a PhD.


As for the masters, it would make it far easier to get on a PhD if you had a masters, but it is not essential. Apply without and then if you get nowhere go for a masters.

Much of the funding for engineering and sciences is now focussed in DTCs (Doctoral training centres - google it). These may be your best bet. Most of them do it as a 1+3, so they have a year that is taught and then the three year PhD, essentially a masters then a PhD combined.

Hope that helps

Sorry to hear that sneaks. Is it not likely to be easier for you to do research in the next academic year and then more the year after due to having sorted quite a lot of "lecture plans" etc?

Moving is the biggest thing really. I went travelling with my other half after a few years working post first degree because, well, it's more fun. When we got back we just applied for jobs anywhere. This was the middle of the recession with loads of people going out of work, but because we were willing to move anywhere (and we had a bit of luck and are well qualified) we managed to get jobs within a month or two of returning to the UK (I had a job within 3 weeks).

If people can't move it massively restricts their options, which is a great shame. Also, remember in academia, many foreign universities teach in English.

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Within Engineering in the UK much of the funding is now at Doctoral training centres. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctoral_Training_Centre has a list of them. These places generally have a one year taught section before you choose your topic within the field they teach. Though this takes a year longer it can be really useful, especially if you are not sure of exactly what topic you want to do.

Edit to add: You apply through the university web sites, you would want to apply around spring time to get on the course in time.

The reason DTCs have started up is that it is easier to get the funding when you do it as a large group. This does mean however that there is less funding for smaller universities outside of a group.

I wouldn't go for coffee with my sup or invite (or be invited) to social events, but I can have a chat now or then that may cover non-work things. The reason I don't go for coffee etc is because we don't have enough in common (I have very few 60 odd year olds I would go for coffee with anyway - we would tend to have different interests!).

I just don't understand why you would be so against a supervisor knowing anything about you? Surely the more they can relate to you the easier it will be for them to judge their remarks etc? If you are a jovial kind of person they may take a less formal tone for instance. If they know more about you they are more likely to actually like you too, which will help when you come into difficulty. They also would be able to understand if something in your personal life crops up that may impact on your work.

Basically I can't see any reason why being a closed book to your supervisor is advantageous.

He's just being nice. It's a lot easier to get on with people when you know more about them and it can make small talk less of a pain. Your supervisor is just being a human being and trying to get to know someone that he spends a fair portion of his time with. It's not weird and probably has no ulterior motive. Why are you so averse to him knowing anything about you?