Good luck MissUCA. Let us know how it goes. Make sure you protect yourself. Presumably it is clear from the records that you have the original, non-distorted data? They'll be able to check dates on electronic files etc and trace everything.

Hi Arthemesus

When did this happen? Do you have someone close/who you trust you can talk with in person? It is really important you talk about these thoughts and your feelings.

Here is some very helpful advice - please have a look:

Don't worry - I honestly didn't notice it until you said it, and then I had to google as it wasn't a familiar abbreviation to me. I don't think you can edit once someone has replied to a post. But if you contact an administrator/moderator they should be able to do it for you if you explain on what grounds (I've definitely seen posts edited/removed after many people have replied - so this must be how it is done). Good luck getting it sorted!

Thanks for your reply Iwan. What you have described are some of the things I have been worried about. Being viewed potentially as a trouble student because I asked to switch. But your advice and Bewildered's encourages me. I'm going to keep my head down, get on with my work, and hopefully continue to be successful. Thankfully, I also have a good reputation too - as a student. I hope it would take more than requesting a change in supervision to destroy it. Thanks again both.

Hi Bewildered - thanks for your reply.

As explained in my post, I said nothing negative about my ex supervisor in our meeting. I wouldn't dream of trying to "manipulate your fellow students and most importantly your new supervisor into having negative views". I'm not into manipulation. That is what I've just escaped from.

Re your criticism of my use of terminology. I accept this. I probably should have said that my supervisor has been showing clear narcissistic behaviours and has been very very subtly/indirectly bullying me over the past 2 years, rather than saying she is a narcissist.

Thanks for the helpful comment that what happens next will depend on my own professionalism going forward. I hope so. I should stop worrying. Fingers crossed.

Hey all

Any encouragement anyone could send my way? I've requested a change in supervision as my main supervisor is a narcissist and has been very very subtly/indirectly bullying me over the past 2 years. I am a pretty independent and resilient person, but it has taken its toll and changing sups seemed my only option when it got to a certain point. As it was so subtle (look up covert narcissism tactics), I wasn't able to make a formal complaint or actually bring any evidence against her for what she was doing. I didn't particularly want to anyway - I just wanted to move on. So I raised it with my advisor and just said "it isn't working" and words to that effect. She kept probing for more, but I stuck to my guns and didn't say anything more, as nothing could be proved and it could have been seen as petty/insignificant at best and slanderous at worst. So I kept my mouth shut. She (the advisor) is going to be my new main supervisor, at my request.

I am just worried that the old supervisor will be bitter, defensive and possibly slander me, casting a big shadow on my new supervisory team/relationship. The ex supervisor (it feels so good saying that!) has a good reputation (she doesn't bully her superiors or colleagues obviously) and has been in the department forever. Her word would be believed against mine (which is why I didn't bother giving details about her behaviour). Can this end well? Will my new supervisor give me the benefit of the doubt/allow me to prove myself WHATEVER the old one rails against me?

Please encourage me! Advice/similar experiences shared (with positive outcomes please!) would be greatly appreciated.

Good point. Are you in an earlier enough stage to change supervisor?

See this thread for something similar:

Hey Miss UCA

This sounds awful. Make sure you only write up your own data and after you've finished your PhD get away from this person asap. If you have a second supervisor then contact this one where possible instead (but try not to arouse suspicion and beware in case they are doing it also).

It does!!! In fact, there was a recent thread on here about someone whose supervisor actually put their name first on their student's paper.

I think if possible the best thing might be to get an idea of who your potential supervisors would be before you apply. If you could have an informal meeting with them and arrange to chat to some of their students it would give you an idea of how they work. You won't be able to ascertain whether or not they would steal your idea, but you could chat to students about how they publish - if the students work is acknowledged as their own, how they treat the students, etc. At least then when you went to interview you would know more about the prospective supervisors who are interviewing you. Besides - you stand so much more chance of getting the funding if you have already established a bit of a relationship with them. Just like the student is apprehensive of what the supervisor might be like/do, I get the feeling that supervisors are apprehensive about what the student will be like (and more specifically whether they will finish it or drop out)!

So maybe try to meet prospective supervisors?

OK then I'd leave right now and start elsewhere. And maybe visit the new place and check it out before starting - how many distance learners it has and what kinds of facilities and support - talk to some current students if possible.

I would leave while you are still in the relatively early days. Leave and try and do one elsewhere. I doubt you'd have any regrets.

Saying that - if you're still doing the Masters then perhaps you could finish that and then leave?

Just to add - you can use the same idea/proposal for multiple applications - just tweak it slightly to fit the ad.

Also I think that since/if this is part of normal (though questionable) research culture then really we need to be thinking not about "how can I protect my idea from getting stolen", but rather "how will I develop this a step further/change its focus slightly if it does get stolen?" (or equally/more plausible - if someone else on the other side of the globe has a similar idea and carries it out before me).

Even now, having obtained funding and being well into my project, I could wake up tomorrow and see a study has been published that is on exactly what I am doing in my current study. I would feel destroyed but have to get over it and think bigger and beyond.

I agree with both ToL and pm133 to degrees. It could happen but I think it is fairly unlikely that someone would nick the whole idea. They might think, "ooh, we could do that...", but to be honest that will happen anyway. Part of the reason I go to conferences is to get ideas - not to steal ideas but see what people are doing and how they're doing it.

Personally, I think you should apply for more than one PhD funding opportunity. If you apply for two, you are doubling your chances of getting an offer. So if one rejects you, you will have a chance to carry out your idea elsewhere (without having to wait for the next round of funding opportunities before you can re-apply). This isn't a solution but a strategy.