Quote From TheStinkyFox:
All the important points about patents etc aside, if it is a clash of personalities, you need to consider what is best for you as an academic. You will be told that part of the process is managing your supervisor - and in some cases, if you have a supportive second supervisor and a Uni that will teach you what you need to know in terms of the fundamentals of research and writing (or if you already know) - then you'll probably be fine keeping your 1st at arms length and taking advice from your 2nd. However, if, like me, you need a bit more guidance, you need a supervisor who not only knows the area but can impart, or at least model the style/standard of research and writing you need to achieve Doctoral level.
I have been thinking today that the trouble is, even if I were to stick it out, what about the language issue??? I struggle as my supervisor has a very strong accent. I have to repeat everything he says all the time, not once but twice or three times, just to make sure we are on the same wavelength. Could I cope with the language issues, dictatorial behaviour plus doing his work for the rest of my PhD. If this is the beginning, God help me.
If I will be honest, the uni that's recently offered me a PhD place has offered me supervisors familiar with my research area, I am wondering whether I should take that offer, in light of all the issues I am going through. Its difficult enough dealing with someone who does not have an interest in your research at all.
The uni that has offered me a place is in Scotland, so I would be travelling a 7 hour journey by train. However after thinking about it today, I kind of feel that I may have a better chance there because they are familiar with the research area and there is also a research group. Maybe its a better price to pay than hit against a brickwall each time. I was watching their uni shoots on Youtube today, and realised that there is so much to learn from their faculty and it would realy interest me too. Probably they would appreciate my research or at least guide me in the right direction.
With my current supervisor he is not familiar with management, health or technology, so am really finding it difficult because it seems he does not know either of the three and does not want to know. The mismatch in research methodology with the 1st supervisor does not help. The second supervisor's background is Politics even though he specialises in Qualitative research. Could I survive with these two???
Chelsea
