wow! I have a five min "chuck ideas around" every 3 weeks and a 1 hr meeting every 6 months and I was even told this may be too much! I asked for more meetings but it never happens

I got into my PhD in conservation biology by taking a low paid job at a research institute and casually mentioned that I wanted to do a PhD, and before I know it, I was! I know it was a case of right place, right time, and I was very lucky, but making the right contacts was the most critical factor. I had to work on low pay and doing immmensly dull stuff for a couple of years but it paid off. Keep trying all avenues regularly and you will get there! Good Luck.

Hi, I am in a similar situation, but working at a very small research insitute where there are no others in my situation. I have little contact with others in my field other than attending conferences. I am doing a field work based study. I don't think I am as isolated as you are but having attended the university I am registered at for a couple of days it was a big shock and I realised how much you learn just from coffee room chats!

Sorry, I have go sawflies on the brain! And i know you collect them in May but then also so many other insects come out then. I am looking at agricultural pests so was just wondering!

Hi Zara, are you working on sawflies? Or some other insect group?

Read ur past post Neil and interested to hear ur an athlete, I train a fair bit too, but do you have trouble fitting it all in? Do you have to give some training sessions the elbow when the PhD gets busy? Interested to hear from anyone who has a good balance! Is it poss to compete at a high level but still undertake a PhD?

Yes H, I guess what I meant was they did not do one right at the beginning. I have not yet written a lit review as my fieldwork season had to start as soon as I did and I had a quick read of everything I could find that was relavent and took it from there. It does mean working backwards but it seems ok so far. As for jojo, 2 months in may seem loads but as lunch man says a solid foundation sounds like a good idea. You are also at the beginning of your training so lots of things will go wrong and supervisors will be critical but advice on the right path is helpful, try to see through the negative stuff.

I haven't done one either, and am wondering if I ever will! I know a few people who are finishing now and never did one, and had no problems but I am thinking its a good way to focus your mind....or just get even more confused!

26 and in first yr

running around in the frost this morning after my escapee rabbit sure has woken me up! brass monkeys indeed...

Is anyone else out there shattered? And we still have friday to go. It's only just gone 6 and I'm falling asleep into my keyboard. Yawn...How to keep this up over the next 2.5 or whatever years! Anyone else feel the same?!

yeah, know how you feel although i am 8 months in! I have done everything in reverse though, experiments first, lit review later... finding I want to read EVERYTHING but can't possibly do that, it's difficult thinking what if I miss something...!

I get four weeks holiday a year and have been specifically told by my supervisor to take it all and when i want to. I thought this was normal but maybe it's not?! But then my supervisor is a laid back sort who is keen to promote efficency rather than put in wasted hours! I still find my self following dead ends sometimes tho :(