Hi Mud,

I'm so sorry you're having such a rough time. I think it's awful that you're being treated like that, and you have every right to feel so upset.

Is there someone at the university you can speak to who is perhaps higher up and less connected to the project / your second supervisor? It seems to me like you need to make the behaviour of this person known... they are meant to be supporting your research and plaigarism is very serious! What year are you in? And which country are you studying in? I ask because I have friends in Italy and the USA who regularly report behaviour like this, but in the UK, where I'm studying, it really should not be going on, and there should be a network of support for you at the university. I think you really need to speak to someone outside the project who can be more impartial, and once you have some outside support, you can put your foot down about the boundary between your PhD and the project. I think it's all too easy for a supervisor to take advantage of a PhD student in this way (and I've seen it happen). Please try not to get too down about this, just try to get this help and be strong in dealing with your supervisor. You may also want to think about getting a new supervisor if this doesn't help- I know people you have and they are much happier.

Good luck and best wishes,

Emma