Just flicking through threads on this forum, and noticed a few references to 50 hour weeks. I am bemused. What do you lot do in your 50 HOUR WEEKS? Long, leisurely lunches paid for by your supervisors?? Or 20 hours work and 30 hours 'sufing the net'? Or do you ACUTALLY WORK for 50 hours? I know I've got a reputation for being a bit lazy on this forum, but I think 6 hours a day 5 days a week is enough for any respectable student

5 days a week - I wish!! Reading takes up a lot of the time, and experiments don't always run 9 to 5. I enjoy working 50+ hour weeks.

its not a question of how much you work is a question of how good you work

Contrary to popular belief I dont mind putting in a good day's work!! But I also like sleeping

That's just dedication! You are supposed to be working loads and you might as well do it if you enjoy it! Time flies when you are having fun! As for experiements I totally understand they take ages!! It takes alot longer than just sitting around and reading! It helps to really like your subject otherwise you'll never make it!

I sort of agree with both sides. I do on average about 45 hour weeks, but i start early mornings and finish earlier than the others. I find this allows me to do all the other things that I want to do in the day. I try to keep it to 5 day weeks too as I feel it is important to have your weekends as downtime, no matter what people tell you about working 7 days a week...no-one can do that!

Ok, i wasnt asking you all to justify yourselves. I was just curious to know what you get up to!!

Well- we do experiments. Because they are experimental in nature they don't always work the first time. so you can spend loads of time trying to get the conditions right.
My funding ends in one year and I don't want to be without pay for more than a few months.
If experiments work or not is due to a) your abilities as a scientist (i.e. how good are you at trouble shooting) and b) how lucky you are, for example, ist there a good antibody around to order or only crappy ones.

Of course you cant work 10h a day for a long time. You end up coming home for sleeping and eating. But if something has to be done befor easter you get it done. Also depends on your supervisor- mine gets bad tempered when you dont bring results.

as for 6h a day 5 days a week- my funding organisation says that students are required to work 7.5 h a day. It also depends on what year you are in- in your last year you might have more pressure put on you to finish the Phd - rather than finishing early every day.

wait wait we are not working we are studying and learning dont forget that if your supervisor wants results he can pay a technician or a postdoc

Could be cos i'm a social scientist ...

Yes, your supervisor can get a technician to do it- but do you really want to piss him off too often? At the end of the day getting your PhD depends on your supervisor. He decides when you are finished, writes reports on wether you should continue or do a masters instead, chooses your examiner in the viva, proof reads your thesis , ...etc. If you don't get on youre fucked, not him.

If you don't get on youre fucked, not him.........you are probably right but a lot of failed PhD students on his CV wont sound good
"He decides when you are finished" dont think its completely true too

5 April 2001 Training the trainers - PhD supervisors welcome new training and accreditation programme
A new programme seeking to improve the way PhDs are supervised could be implemented throughout the UK by the end of the year, according to a report in the April edition of BBSRC Business. A pilot trial of the BBSRC's Training and Accreditation Programme for Postgraduate Supervisors (TAPPS) is being warmly received by supervisors at the Institute for Animal Health who have been involved in the trial.
dont forget a lot of supervisor are crap