Hi

Iam a recent PhD(Life sciences) student of Sep2010 intake in reputed university.
I wish to change my research topic cos of following reasons:

1) My supervisor made me to rewrite literature review thrice.(Frustating for me...)
2) He was objecting me in doing lab(he say I should have basic know of subject..then only i need to do lab)
3) He never made single appreciation for my work.

I would like to ask people in forum, Is there any option for me to change supervisor? or research project??
in first year? If so what is the approach?

Since this is self-funded project all my money is going waste...n even my health too...(deppressed.a lott..)

Please reply asap...

My best wishes to all prospective students.

======= Date Modified 05 Mar 2011 15:54:42 =======
Hi

I can understand your pain but dont worry...everything is goin to be good in future.
Iam in first year PhD and i tell you frankly it is the not the recommendation letters which put you on for your PhD but the techniques u learnt along with basic knowledge on topic of intrest count.....

RECOMMENDATIONS R 1 OF THE CRITERIA and NOT THE CRITERIA.

It is
1) Ur technical skills
2) Reasoning skills
3) Experience in relevant field (vich u can show in demo...r report etc etc...)
4) All other criteria(recommendations..etc) play vital role in securing ur dream post.....

So dont wry.....NO ONE IS GOIN2 PUT YU DOWN..
U KNOW VAT U R..
Keep onn n Gd Luck.....!!!

Hi all

Mine is a different wave of pain. Iam in first year PhD(life sciences)reputed university. In jan I have submitted my lit revw for the first time and had meeting in feb 1st week ... The meeting lasted for couple of hrs..of vich , the outcome was my sup was not satisfied and ..gave me poor result.

With great effort in time gap Of 2 weeks I had rewritten the report and was indeed accepted by my sup that I made some progress...but again now waiting fr second meet up...in the coming week. The panel say that I need to understand my report then only is my progression..until then I wasnt supposed to do any lab...

My query is...

1) Is there anyone who had the same problem of mine..of rewriting lit revw???
2) Indeed Iam few steps back in lab...which greatly influence next stage..of research..
3) Does this lag period of 1 n half mnth effect my lab n..on continuation report..or on future progression??
4) Any suggestions for my next meeting on lit revw??

======= Date Modified 09 Feb 2011 00:18:57 =======
Hii All

Am a recent PhD student submitted my lit review ...past mnth..
n
got feed back (today) as overall poor standard.

The reason being they say I have covered wide range of literature but the organisation and content indicated superficial understanding . In deed I was been asked to rewrite my lit review.

My supervisor was not satisfied with the lab aswell and it was with some errors which I made initially and were been exploited and highlighted to the max extent. until yesterday I dint knew that PhD students got to set their own protocol and continue experiments.

It was my mistake that I was expecting my supervisor to be behind me as it was with MSc project.
If there are step1,2,3,45....I was waiting for him to show the results of 1 and take guidance for step2 and then proceed for step3....and so..onnn....I came to know few days back...that protocols we need to design ourselves.

There was no proper communication between both of us which led to confusion and though I have shown to him draft of my lit revw....at that point he dint point any mistakes and now...pointing out...this that irrelevant....etcetc..
And also he say Am unfit to do research and am not the standard range of his students with perspective to lab skills+technical knowledge. he say U CANT PROCEED IN RESEARCH(this was told nearly 10 times) and Iam UNFIT FOR CONTINUATION REPORT ASWELL.

The matter became serious where it has reached to the xplanation of mine towards my lowlevel of progress in research to the main chairperson ..

At this moment there are three routes in my hand:
1) to rewrite lit review perfectly minimising all the errors.
2) doing lab properly n with gd results
3) Proper communication with supervisor.

According to tutor the routes were:
1) Quit PhD
2) Look for different topic and diff sup
3) Additional supervisor...

But Am not assured that eventhough I struggle much n put up to max extent How far can I succeed in my progress and in continuation report??? Even if now this stage is passed Are there any chances of stopping me in next report which is crucial fr next couple of years.

My mistakes were:
1) Communication gap with supervisor
2) errors in lab at start of project
3) Lit review written in my own style(explanatory with diagrams)

By the above told mistakes, my sup came to conclusion that IAM UNFIT N SHUDNT PROCEED ...n also confirmed me that he is not goin to support my funding apps(mine was self funded project).

So no help for me with regard to lab/research project/funding apps/report.

I would like to ask people in this website...one question:

HOW FAR IT IS BETTER TO CONTINUE WITH MY PHD??(accessing all the above told risk factors....)


Please any one help me....with your valuable suggestions...

Recently I have joined PhD and submitted literature review 2 weeks back but till date there was no progress in my research apart from start up of continuation report. I just asked my sup who told me to learn still the basics in lab......My query is:

1) When do we start lab after lit revw submission?
2) What is difference betwwen lit rew and continuation report apart frm word limit???
3) When do we go for out to give conferences??? I mean is it first year or after we get our results in second year???
4) Sometimes I feeel very distress cos I am on loan for my studies but I cudnt make out much???
5) How far does a sup play a role in giving ref for my funding application??

Please any one just help me......

Dear ALL

Am in 1st year of my BiotechPhD and I would like to know the following:
1) Is that we approach with results of our research for conferences?
or
2) They invite us to give conferences?

Any 1 Could you please help how to approach in giving conferences?

Thanks
Biotech

======= Date Modified 01 29 2010 15:29:08 =======
Dear ALL

Iam a recent Phd student in biotech form sep2010 and mine is self-funded project.
I put an educational laon for my first year of studies and for 2nd and 3rd been told by supervisor that I vud be eligible to apply for ORS scholarship for next yr /commonwealth scholarship.
My Query is:

1) If at all I dont get scholarship Can I quit the PhD with MPhil?
2) Presently Am on my literature review, Can I start lab now and do some work?
3) Can I have any suggestions with regard to funding from 2nd year atleast?

Please any one help in suggestions!!!

Dear All

Many thanks for your responses.
Indeed my tension is bit relieved and I proceed with much ...enthusiasm..

Many thanks for your response.
Indeed am in early stage of my research,donno howfar my supervisor support me for changes in project?

As suggested I surely make it to be novel.

But
One more
is
Y am I am I feeling totally lost/cut form whole world while am doing my research?
though I dint start yet lab its //...really terrible to be with all @new@

Senior students of Phd ceems to be dominating /

and

May i know as far I know there isnt publications for senior students..

But
I have seen in US students come out with 3-4 articles along with PhD..
y is it not so in UK?

Dear All

I recently joined PhD(Biotech) for Sep2010 intake for which I was given research topic at this stage after joining up for 2-3 months.

Ok I was continuing literature review and to my surprise I have seen the same topic of mine done already by someone else in April2010.

I approached my supervisor with regard to this for which he added a bit of new concept related to regulation of gene expression.

My query is:
1) Can anyone do the PhD on the topic which is already done by someone else?
2) Doing research already done by someone else, Does this affect the future prospects ?
3) How should I boost myself /create myself a feel of something "new" ???

Oh !!!!

Can any one help me with your suggestions?