i think in science its around 30k....

this is something that annoys me too. my friends from home make comments about me being lazy and not wanting to work, my other halfs parents think im not quite 'human' ( referred to me as 'people like that' dont understand the real world) and my other half assumes i can just be off work whenever for furniture deliveries etc etc, and that all i do all day is play on the internet. never mind the fact i start work at 7.30 and end up falling asleep every night worrying about experiments etc. then i have come across others who either assume your a snob because you say your doing a Phd or those who just smile and say 'ok' cos they dont even know what a Phd is..!

prove them wrong....

i have found its the senior scientists who slope off for a bit of sight seeing.. and evening events tend to be based around this to. make the most of a paid trip away..!

i know how you feel. my supervisor is the same he never says well done its always oh well.. never mind. try something else. think they need some training on how to motivate their students!

i cant decide if my social life fell apart because of my Phd or i grew out of what i did before and have become happy to spend nights in with the other half (or maybe im just too tired to care..)!

mine increased as my second year began (yey!).. i thought this was normal.

it depends.. some of mine did not contact referees until after my interview. others were still waiting for references at interview so its not necessairly a bad sign. you can always email and ask the place your applying to if they have reviewed applications. show your keen.

urg horlicks.. hot chocolate every time!

who needs sleep.. thats why pro plus was invented..

so you want to explore a newish area...?? why not!!

sounds like a good idea.. grr hate those who think there above the rest of us.. ie us poor PhD students!! showed my supervisor the email and he was very unimpressed!

thanks.. feel like he was threatening me into going..! guess professionalism sometimes escapes some people..

i had to decline an invitation to speak at a conference for personal reasons .. i since recieved i very unpleasnt email from the leader saying it was bad etiquette etc and i should consider how this will affect my PhD.. should i reply as i feel it is unprofessional of him to phrase it in such a way or leave it?

does any one know of any novel ways to get funding for living expenses etc? a few people i know have been given money from companies who donate money as 'charitable ' donations, but ask nothing in return from the student.