Just a hypothetical question...

"A phd look like a nice way to do research without the slavery undergone by postdocs and junior lecturer."

My question is, does anyone do more than one phd? Will the research councils fund a second phd? I suppose you have more of a chance if you change field... but I have never heard of anyone doing or even thinking such a thing.

Laugh- and what about the slavery of doing a PhD? Low pay (or none at all at the end), being dependent on your supervisor, having to write a thesis.... anyway, I know one vet who worked as a molecular biologist, but I'm not sure if she did an adittional PhD for it. You could probably do a second PhD if you are self funded, but I wouldn't try to sell it to potential supervisors as "A nice way to do research without the slavery ...". How about becoming a technician instead?

Quite frankly- with so many people out there who can't get a PhD it would seem a little unfair for people to do a second one just for the fun of it? Any other opinions on this out there?
come to think about it- the technicians here work 9 to 5, have the fun of doing research, and are not hassled as much as postdocs. Plus, you can be a technician in a lab long term and it is probably easyer to work less hours when you have children, and you are paying into your pension fund (unlike PhD studebts). If you are a good technician you even get your own project, hey- why the hell am I doing a PhD anyway???

Quite frankly- with so many people out there who can't get a PhD it would seem a little unfair for people to do a second one just for the fun of it? Any other opinions on this out there?

Yes you can do a second PhD. If your current PhD is easier than being a postdoc, then either the postdocs you have seen have horrible bosses or they didn't learn enough whilst they were doing a PhD and so make everything hard work. Either that or you're simply not working hard enough as a PhD student.

.....OK, in most cases postdocs and junior lecturers do have to work harder than PhD students, but they get paid more to do so. Finally as anon German says, there's little enough funding going round as it is without people taking two studentships.

I never said that my phd was "easier". I just think it is more fun to do a phd as I have complete ownership of the project. I can direct it towards my interests and manage my time as I see fit. The freedom comes at the cost of less pay and prehaps long hours but I would rather do that than what I see technicians and postdocs do. Mind you, if you were to ask me in my final year, if I would do it again, you may get a different answer !

I am currently an employed professor and am considering going back for a PhD. A couple of reasons--went to second tier research university and am only competitive for 4/4 jobs and really need lower teaching load for productive scholarship career. Also, a little more mature now and would like to take on a new topic. Does anyone do this? Weird?

I see your point Pep, but after a few years as a post-doc you can become an independent researcher in you own right.

'slavery' is a term I would associate much more with doing a PhD than being a Postdoc (from what I've SEEN - I'm currently a PhD student so maybe my opinion doesn't count). I think the fact that there's a time limit on your PhD makes it much more stressful - pressure to achieve something in the three years. Also, being a postdoc puts you one more step up the precious hierarchy - in just three letters! PhD student = nothing, postdoc = equal.

I know a couple of guys who got two PhDs (one was actually working on the second a couple of years back and must have finished by now).