Hi there,
I'm new in this forum but I used it in the past to get very useful info. My question is: Is possible, without any risk, to apply for a PhD position being already a PhD student (in a different department) in the same uni? I'm currently doing a PhD and sadly I'm not enjoying it at all, I'm doing this PhD in a different subject from what I studied in my master. In the beginning I applied for this position because it was not clearly specified any detail regarding the research project and at that time it seemed to me a reasonable opportunity. Unfortunately when I started I realized that what I was supposed to do was something completely unknown to me. The supervisor keeps on saying that I'm doing fine but that is not enough for me to go on. Recently I found really interesting PhD opportunities in the subject I graduated in, the issue is that the position are within the same university I'm working now. I would really like to apply for them but I don't want to leave my current PhD before (or to risk to be kicked out!) being chosen for the new one.
How can I do? Have you ever been or heard about of such a situation? Help me please.
John.

Hi John

That is quite an unusual situation. I quit a PhD because I was very unhappy in my project, I realised I wanted to work in a different field, and the environment I'd been in was rather unpleasant. I got an RA job at the same uni in a different department with a previous contact I'd done a small project for before. I then left and did a Masters elsewhere. I considered doing a PhD with the group where I'd been an RA but for various reasons went elsewhere instead.

Before you quit your current PhD, I would urge you to get some independent advice on this. It sounds like your PI is happy with your progress. What you might perceive as feeling out of your depth may well be normal for the stage you're at in your project. By which I mean that if you start over on a different project you might still find yourself reaching that stage where you feel out of your comfort zone, even if the field is more familiar. (Have a read of this: http://jcs.biologists.org/content/121/11/1771.full to see what is 'normal' with respect to feeling 'stupid' in a research environment). It may well be that you're doing just fine. Alternatively perhaps your supervisor isn't giving you the right advice for whatever reason, so do get an independent opinion at the uni. It may be possible to change your project without having to quit.

The other thing I would consider is what your long term goals are, and whether the current or a new project would be the best fit for that. I personally view a PhD as a means to an end, so I take the view that some things are worth putting up with if they help one achieve an overall goal.

Personally, I needed to have a break after the first PhD attempt before starting the second, in order to regroup and recover, but that was in part because my first experience had been quite damaging. It doesn't sound like you're in a state of distress like I was, but rather dissatisfaction. It might not be a bad idea, though, to consider an interim/wash out period before starting another project.

Thank you for your answer Hazyjane. You have been really supportive and I appreciated that. But what I would like to know in particular is if is really possible to apply for a PhD position being already a PhD student in the same uni..It would be much easier for me to take a decision having two available options in my hand. I don't want to put at risk my actual position by applying for another and, at the same time, I don't want to miss a potential great opportunity because of this fear. Any help?
Thanks,
John.

To be honest I don't think it's the 'same uni' bit that's the problem, assuming these are two separate departments. What might cause you problems is applying for another PhD while currently enrolled in one. I've never come across anyone leave a PhD for another one straight away.

It's hard to know for sure but I think it could backfire. The prospective supervisor may question your likely commitment to his/her project when you're about to leave another. If you were offered the new one but your offer was conditional on a reference, would your current supervisor be willing to write a positive one under the circumstances? If you don't get offered it and word somehow gets back to your current supervisor what had happened, how do you think that would affect your working relationship?

If you're genuinely unhappy in your current position or think it's wrong for you, you should have an honest conversation with your supervisor, or a graduate tutor in your department. It may be that your existing project could be modified to better suit your interests. If you leave completely out of the blue without any indication that there was a problem, it could leave a bit of a mess.

The other point I would make is 'Better the Devil you know'. If your current supervisor is nice and supportive, that's not to be sniffed at. It sounds like there isn't anything that is systematically wrong with the current set up. You could start a new project and find it's also not what you expected and that the supervisor is worse. Maybe it would also be worth talking to the new supervisor before applying to get a better feel for them and their project.

If you still feel that you can't make the current situation work for you, and that it's just the wrong fit and you'd be better off elsewhere, that's entirely legitimate. I just feel a little nervous about your proposed strategy as it seems to me there are a number of things that could go wrong.