Hate to be the bearer of bad news but it happens just as much on the job market too!

1) the worst time to work in the lab with chemicals is in the first 12 weeks as this is when most development occurs. Trust me abnormality scans after spilling ethidium bromide are not fun (2nd child)

2) Besides your brain goes to mush when you are pregnant (I know i'm studying with number 3)

3) It can sometimes take ages to get pregnant and the fertility clinic wont see you til you'ev been trying for at least 6-12 months. Stay on the pill and he'll never know you aren't trying plus you are super fertile when you come off it (this last point is a joke secrecy in relationships is naughty)

Jewel,

That was my first thought too. The papers went back to at least 2000 which is 6 years but I suppose still not that long in the grand scheme of things.

Should I be concerned that a potential supervisor who I am going to see soon is always first name author on papers. (i.e perhaps doesnt let her students go ahead possibly even if they did the work etc)

Is this really a problem considering you only get a couple of papers out of your PhD if you are lucky?

I was married during my BSc. It didn't work and we're still friends (and technically still married . This sounds terrible but I could never do without the kids but I would quite like to not have to worry about having a partner that I was neglecting.

Once you get past studying and spending time with the kids I really don't have time (emotional or real) to spend with my bloke. I have good friends for the supporting roles and though I have to be there if they need me I have no committments in the way you do with a spouse.

Then again maybe I'm just the jaded, not-quite-divorcee.

If your PhD project followed straight on from your masters project I could see the sense in that statement but I have no intention to do anything vaguely related to mine. (Well it's still biological research I suppose)

I only did my MSc by research as I was paid to do it and couldn't find a suitable PhD project at the time. I am doing another one at the minute which work is paying me through as I find industry brain numbingly dull.

I have a good undergrad degree from a well respected uni and I might get slapped here but I thought it was more the norm in this country that if you were doing a masters instead of a PhD it was because you needed to boost a shoddy undergrad result.

Terik,

I know what you mean about having difficulty getting onto a funded project. I have a first class honours, a distinction in my masters (funded by competitive scholarship) and have worked in a decent job in industry for a couple of years.

I am finding it very difficult, cos I'm geographiaclly restricted. I've a family and a mortgage but secondly because so many lecturers advertise projects through uni sites etc but don't seem to bother replying to queries. Perhaps it is cos it's been the time of year.

Funny and I thought that my biggest problem was getting through an interview when pregnant. It seems that getting to the interview, despite my qualifications and kick ass CV, is even more difficult.

Don't give up though. As far as I can see you face a hell of a lot of set backs in research and in PhD studies. If you are not determined enough to put up a fight to get there then perhaps PhD study isn't best for you anyway??

Call me a softy but I think some of you people are being extremely harsh on this guy! So you disagree with the way he has phrased his distress. Fine, state that but some of you really do seem to have gone over the top.

I have only been looking at this forum for a short time but I would certainly be wary now of posting a concern where instead of giving a constructive reply I am shouted at and slagged off, possibly because the one doing the replying has mis-interpreted.

I can hold my own but don't you think that if someone is already genuinely distressed that you are, not only doing nothing to help but actually deepening their distress.

I'm quite suprised by this.

Ah cool, same as me then. Are you looking to do a PhD then?

For all you people out there already succesfully enrolled in projects.

What questions would you advise that I ask potential supervisors? I'm visiting a lab tomorrow and although I don't think it's for me (the paper I was sent put me to sleep) I would still like to use it as a learning experience before I find a project that I am enthusiastic about.

I don't want to just wander round smiling politely and going uh-huh. I know there are places that tell you typical things to look out for but i'd like to hear it from real students experiences not advice pages.

Interstella? When are you due? Are you studying at the mo?

I get hair loss at my tamples but I think that mine is a mixture of hormonal and stress. Think i'll have a shot at some of the advice that's been given here.

20 May which feels like an eternity away :( Love the babies hate the pregnancy part.

If only

I already have two this is my third