======= Date Modified 30 33 2010 23:33:31 =======
======= Date Modified 30 32 2010 23:32:50 =======
Hi Everyone,

I have previously posted after I was asked to write my academic reference and now have progressed and have a new problem!!

My studentship applications were turned down :-( Due to political reasons which is very annoying. However, I have been offered a PhD within a huge project which I know will have a massive impact within my field globally. I have to wait another 18 months to start but the project is worth the wait.

The issue here is that (again for political reasons!!) my sup wants to bring in another person onto the project to help supervise me. I know that this person has greater experience in the techniques we will be using and knowing my sup for over 1 year now I know that they will essentially hand over my supervison to this new person. My sup has already admitted to me that she does know this person at all (except his publications etc) and the times she has met him, she does not like him.

There is another person who I have been working with who has offered to be my co-sup and I am very happy to have him. Although we cannot get past the political issue with the main sup.

I really want to be strong and say I do not want this person supervising me as it will mean I will have to move to a different group and I do not know him at all and that I do want the other man who has offered. But I do not want to seem ungrateful or offend anyone by getting out of my pram about it!

What do people think about this? Am I within my rights to say I do not want someone supervising me and say I do want another? Or what is the bet way for me to approach this without offending or seeming rude?

I am really stressing out here and feel very strongly that I do not want this man as a supervisor. Even though the project does not start soon I will have to finalise supervisors within weeks so do not have time on my side.

The issue is further complicated by the fact that although some may say I have 18 months to get to know him...If I go with him there is a whole portion of the project I will not be able to do which I am desperate to do. I am being given as a 'gift' (along with my funding of course!) to another group for a political power struggle. This was not what I was originally offered.

Thank you in advance for any help!

Margot

Hi,

I am submitting my application for PhD funding next week and my supervisor has just asked me to write the reference myself!!!
I am at a total loss as to what to write...
Looking online for sample references, they all seem over the top.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how to approach this or know of any good sites with tips?

My sup has told me to not be shy but I find doing something like this very difficult!

Thanks in advance!

Margot :)

Hi,

I had my viva for my MSc thesis a couple of weeks ago and was encouraged (and given separate comments) to get it ready for publication by the two examiners. I was also asked by my course conveyer when I handed it in if my supervisor had spoken to me about writing it up for publication?- They are friends and I thought my supervisor may have mentioned me publishing to him.

All sounds well and good but my supervisor has never mentioned publishing!! When I emailed my supervisor to tell him that one of the examiners would send me the comments he just said 'send them to me when you get them , they may be useful in the future'.

I would really like to publish but feel like my supervisor does not want to?!

Can you publish on your own (I have finished my MSc and looking for a PhD so not registered at any uni) or do you need an affiliation with a department?

I am sure I should just explicitly ask but nervous about the best way to put it and what the response will be following my first attempt!

So frustrating when everyone else was so encouraging advise about how to go about this would be greatly appreciated


:-)

Thank you!(up)