Hello,

I am a first year student, and I have been working on a new topic of research, I worked day and night and proving something new and verified it. At the beginning of my phd my supervisor has traveled and just returned, and told me we have to stop and not continue without any reasonable reasons.

It started from few months, he always belittle, underestimate, although I got two grants from top conference, making videos and podcasting and every one praise my good work and personality.

I found that I have been treated as a competitor, and although proving my approaches, he agreed and then saying false words to the committee to take the decision and stop my phd work.


It is not surprising, as there was another former senior phd student, I saw him since he came, and he wasnot allowed to defend his phd, as this supervisor acclaimed he was not able to finish his phd although he had published in peer reviewed journal and having citation as well, it was scary and not familiar.


In front of committee, he lied, and say something without proving and I have asked if he can say a detailed constructive criticism, he couldnot, all I can say that they are a gang literally, and he said words that intend he is jealous and dont want to see me having self confidence in my self and believe, I know no one will believe, but this is the truth.


Honestly, I am distracted, I have this dream, and there were many people would see me fail, however, I dont know whether what happened is good or bad, and what I should do next!

I would be grateful for your advices and whether there is someone has encountered this similar situation.

Thanks

That sounds absolutely horrible. Some people should not be supervisors.

Though is there anyone else in the department you can talk to? Like a PhD coordinator or another friendly academic? Talk with them and explain the issue, I bet your supervisor has a reputation. Frame it as you want a new supervisor because he is not supportive. As you have won grants and awards you should be seen as capable and someone might help.

Did they fail you at all?

Hi rewt,

Yes, my supervisor has a reputation, and I cannot speak to any one, he is the only supervisor in the team! If I say it is like a gang, it could be.

There is a former senior phd student, who spent four years and after publishing in high journals, he didnot allow him to defend, acclaiming that he was not able to finish.

I have been working on truly on new topic and develop and prove something, he said in front the committee, that he proposed all these ideas and not me.

I was like in a night mare, I cannot speak, I told myself, how I can trust this as supervisor after what I see. I accepted to stop the phd with him from the previous week after pressure from HR and him.

All what I can say, I think he is jealous from students that think out of the box. During all the negation and evasive accusation which was really funny, he was trying to belittle from me with constructive criticism, and I was asking myself how this one can gain reputation, he is psycho and lied in front of me, shame I agree to the decision.


The problem that there is another lab interested to test me as a rat for them, and they know him and they told me we have to contact him.

I am totally destroyed although I believe in the hard work and thats why have two grants from big conferences. I felt like a competitor for him not a student. I am now 27 and I am upset that I will be late and sometimes I dont know what I should I dont have the option to switch as the system completely different in Europe, it is not department, it is institution, and it is not surprising as he kicked out from few months two very good engineers.

I dont know what to do, scared and I lose confidence in every thing around me. Am I wrong, is that common to happen.

Gosh I am so sorry. I have no words to help you, but hope that someone else comes to give you some advice. Please keep going, you sound incredibly passionate. Good luck for the future.

Hi, monkiaa,

What you have highlighted point to a bad supervisor and a toxic environment. I am particulary concerned that the senior PhD student has not been allowed to defend, as it is unfair for him and this may happen to you in a few years time.

I am unsure of European PhD system. However, are you able to change to another supervisor while taking your grants with you? Have a close look at your grant and PhD terms and conditions. In some other countries, it is possible and a funded student (which you are) are very well regarded and can easily find another willing supervisor to pursue their PhD with. It also helps that you are still so early in your candidature.

If you are able to change supervisor, have a chat with both your postgrad coordinator and student union to seek advice on procedure. And search hard for your new supervisor. Pls do not feel pressured to continue under this horrible supervisor out of loyalty/guilt because he does not seem like he will care about your well being anyway. You also do no need to inform him of your intention of changing to a new supervisor until you have actually found a new supervisor and has put in the form to change supervisor.

I wish you all the best.

Hi,
Actually, the grant is from his side, it is a project, so there is no one in that topic, which obligated me to look outside this country (not my home country). There is another lab in other European union, I found that he friends with this supervisor, and he will ask about me, I told myself, I have to select someone who is not friend with them, am I right, because I am afraid that they can influence with bad things.

Honestly, I am so exhausted, tired, and cannot think! I dont know why this happen from the beginning, it is not easy.

What is more worse, every research knows in I am in that x lab, and now there is another lab interested, but the new potential PI told me I have to ask the former PI about you and situation, but I am afraid he can make bad-mouthing about me, also this new potential PI interested in what I did in different country told to bring two months test which is like ( rat experiment), I dont have any grants or financial support, I was working on project. I am sorry for writing in comments, but I am totally distracted, and cannot think and there is no help from institute or university.

I am sorry to hear this. I have a friend who encountered the same situation. In six months he was told to leave the lab because his supervisors did not think he would finish his PhD on time. He found it difficult to find another PhD with the usual question what was wrong with your PhD and requesting references. But after around 9 months of searching for a PhD, he could get a position and after 4 years now he is about to finish.
One alternative strategy is to search for a job either as RA in academia or industry then after one year, you look if you still wanna do a PhD. By then your chances will be higher because the supervisor would ask about your recent job more than previous jobs.

I am trying, but I am really so afraid, as this field is so small, small labs while contacting now feel afraid because they know him and refuse to continue. I am totally distracted, I should think about alternative solutions, but I am afraid to stuck with another bad supervisor. I am also was concerned about that senior student who disappeared and not allowed to defend. I dont know what is happening around me, I feel shamed on myself as I never thought that could happen as I have been always hard-worker.