Hi,

So I'm currently 9 months into my PhD and having to write my 9 month report, and my supervisor is literally driving me up the wall.

It doesn't help that I'm her first PhD student, and only recently has a Postdoc joined our team. But it's a bit like permanently having the eye of Sauron aimed in my direction.

I like to think I'm hard working, I generally get in at 8.30am every day and in the lab solidly until about 6-6.30pm (both before and after others get in and leave). All the other PhD students say I have way more data than them, but nothing I do satisfies my supervisor. She even dragged me in a month ago to have a half hour go at me for not having done enough work, not once has she ever said anything positive about the work I do - she's interested in my results which is great, but no praise it's just all about the science, but I definitely know when she's displeased.

I guess that just all wares down on you. I love my project, but I don't enjoy the thought of coming in each day, thinking that I'm not working hard enough and working ridiculous hours to try and get some sign of approval - but it just seems whatever I do isn't enough.

I've been supervising a masters student and she's even mentioned that it's all unfair.

Guess I just don't know what to do, mentioning it might just make life worse. I wrote my 9 month report, she gave me some changes to make, I made all of them, then she's said there's still a lot more to do.

Any advice on dealing with overbearing supervisors?

Alex