I tend to find the more I read, the more gaps in knowledge I find and more opprotunity for me to create my own niche. So time to get down to the literature!

Wait till the next meeting, then bring it up in conversation (some time into the discussion when you're both at ease). Ask your sup whether there was anything that they think you could improve on, pointers etc.

No way Jose!

Yes, it's the old distant deadline syndrome and lack of urgency problem. I'm in my second year and still feel no urgency...yet. The mini-deadlines idea is a good one. Presumably you are attempting to get to grips with the literature right now, so ask your sup for a deadline on particular topic. Perhaps offer to do the research group a presentation on what you've found out and what the gaps in knowledge are. That'll put you under pressure!

Sorry, don't know. But as good practice for your PhD research, you can start by researching EU institutions.

In EndNote, add the "Record Number" column to the main view so it shows how it has numbered your references. Then write that number on the top right hand corner of your paper and file all your papers in number order, so you can find papers very quickly.

This avoids having to constantly reorganise your filing system into alphabetical order, or topic order or some complicated combination of the 2. Much simpler by number order.

The mind mapping software is an excellent way of organising the chapters of your thesis. It also works for writing papers.

For organising tasks, I use GanttProject which is free online. It's a project management software so good for organising your time and your to do list.

Great Sira. Thanks for letting us know.

I'm still around although they're only fleeting appearances. Can I add Tricky to the first generation list! I wonder what Zara's doing these days?

Ditto everyone else. I think reading is a great way to boost your confidence and generate some ideas/momentum. If the papers you mention are hard going, try some of their references to see if they are a better read. Anyway, don't worry too much at this stage, i felt like a fraud for months before I settled into the research!

Most unis will accept applications ate any time of year. However, if you are after a funded PhD there will be deadlines. University and research council deadlines tend to be in the Feb-Apr period (for an October start) so make sure you know when they are and apply before.. However, some projects start in January so the deadlines will be in the autumn.

Yep, burning the midnight oil here, and going along nicely. I also feel guilty for not being conspicuous around the dept in the daytime. It's like I feel I have to be seen, and seen to be working. In truth, i doubt my supervisors are even bothered what hours i work so long as I'm producing the goods (which daytime working clearly isn't doing for me).

Since I reverted back to this way of working I'm feeling somewhat reassured. For awhile i was questioning whether I was capable of higher level thought, somehow remembering that I was able to do it on my dissertation but seemingly not anymore. In fact, it's still there, I merely forgot that I wrote my dissertation late at night and now I've rediscovered that way of working. My confidence is returning!

It's something I've kind of known about myself for years but I've tried to force myself into doing it during normal daylight hours. It doesn't work as I never manage to generate any momentum in the daytime, hence lots of faffing around and general procrastination. If I'm going to stand any chance at all getting this done in 3 years me thinks burning the midnight oil will be the only way. Just as well I don't suffer from seasonal affective disorder!

Greetings fellow nocturnal workers, i thought a thread to celebrate all things nocturnalness was appropriate. Today I finally realised that after trying for the best part of the last year to work 9-5 hours, I just can't produce the quantity and quality of work that I'm able to produce in the small hours. So I'm changing my working hours to suit my most productive periods.

I don't know what everyone else thinks, but there's too much visual and audible noise in the daytime which stops me from getting into the "zone". I guess it's horses for courses depending on whether you're and owl or a lark, but what time of day does everyone else produce their best stuff?

aha. Quite fitting really.