I would imagine that they're going to prefer someone REF-able, so big up any publications or prospective publications - its the last minute scramble now for REF entries.

Also try to be confident but not cocky - they don't want to have to hold your hand, but they don't want someone who thinks they're smarter than the top professors either. Just don't be too meek - which is what I usually do - I got my job when I got angry in the interview and started to really tell them what I could do and be confident as I thought I'd messed it up anyway haha!

For your actual thesis, I'd follow conventions in your field - just look through journals to see how data is presenting. Academics are stuffy and hate change :p so its a safe bet to stick with what your examiners will know. Anything too 'fancy' or modern could mean amendments - that's my thinking anyway.

For other audiences, I just think about having to explain it to my mum! So I draw whatever diagram makes the most sense in that scenario - sometimes i'll add more complicated info to stop "yeah, but what were your beta values" kinds of questions

hey all, just popping on to say hi and to give you inspiration! (if I can do it, you can too!)

Here all new people - have some stars (gift)

my only advice is that when reading these texts, you have to realise that NO ONE understands what the f*ck they're talking about. You can read 2 books on supposedly the same position, and they will argue different things. Just find a writer you understand and run with it!

Has anyone got a copy of the stats program 'Mplus' that I could *ahem* borrow?

1/ its summer, which basically means academics are either on holiday or hiding in a room trying to write so will be ignoring emails.

2/ phone them, you'll forge a more personal link then. I get about 20 emails a month asking me to supervise PhDs and I'm not even in a position to be able to do so.

I returned from a west-coast US conference a few weeks ago - tbh I was fine - I slept on the plane home and managed to slip right back into UK time - until 4 days later when I just crashed in exhaustion!

I don't really know what to suggest, maybe just regulate your meal times so they are 'normal' times (i.e. not 11pm) and try and get into the sun during the day to make sure your body knows its day time/night time - get a black out blind!

You should use dummies where you have dichotomous (e.g. male, female) or categorical data (e.g. married, single, divorced)

In the latter case you always have 1 less dummy than you have categories. So if you have 7 categories, you should have 6 dummy variables to represent it - which is why it is always easier to measure age continuously, rather than in age brackets! (as I found out to my cost)

I'd look at examples in your own field - see ethos.bl.uk if you have none to look at in your department. In my experience academics don't like change, so its probably best to stick with convention

I know people with the kobo touch - I think its ok, but I think the real seller for the kindle is that its SO easy to buy books from amazon, whereas I think the kobo may require you to convert books via calibre if they're in certain formats.

definitely practice verbalising your answers - even if its just you sat on your own talking aloud. Its amazing how a perfectly formed answer in your head can go to pot when speaking it out loud. I did a lot of practice to my dog!

I'm not sure I really understand your point about corruption. When I got my lectureship, I didn't even provide references until they offered it (as didn't want to tell people in my dept I was looking elsewhere!) - they asked for them after they offered it just to check I'm not a complete crazy person.

You should be able to just put the names of your potential references down and they then provide them if the recruiting organisation/uni requests them, you shouldn't have to go and ask for letters or anything.

I won't say 'you'll be fine' because that peed me right off before my viva - as after all, every viva has a life of its own. But just do the best you can do, no one can ask for more! and remember, bigger fools than you have done this! (i.e. me :-p )

Good luck!

I've supervised masters dissertations in two unis, and at both the supervisor 1st marks and then its moderated by a 2nd marker. I'd check this before proceeding. You're probably better off asking to look at examples of past dissertations that have received good marks to understand what is expected and maybe ask a teacher/lecturer you prefer at your university to read a draft.

Applications have gone up - at my uni there were 40 applications last year for the department PhD funding - this year this went up to 150!

Realistically, the vast majority of PhD students get their PhD by already knowing someone in the university. So the ones you see advertised are more than likely going to have someone lined up for the position already, they just have to advertise to ensure they went through the 'proper' process.

To get round this you need to get your foot in the door - perhaps approach some potential supervisors and ask for a face to face meeting - that way they'll keep you in mind rather than some random applicant, when they have a position that comes up. You could also apply for short term research posts (that don't need a doctorate) to get your foot in the door of a department (this is what I did and the supervisor of my project then applied for ESRC funding and I got the PhD).