Hi I'm in yr 3 & my supervisor suggested the topic which is close to his research interests. One aspect of my research is similar to his while the other new & different. Recently I found out he is writing a paper on my unique aspect. When I voiced my concerns to him & suggested we collaborate on it he said it wasn't necessary & “silly” of me worrying since my data is more recent by 4yrs to his I'm his first PhD so discovering this has left me very disoriented. He may be resentful & bias new supervisor if I change
1. 3 years is v. late in to quit.
2. If 4 year old data exists on your 'unique aspect' it may not be as unique as you hope.
3. As you're his first student, if you quit it will destroy his completion rate and chances of getting further funding - so he'll hate you.
It is way too late to find another supervisor. This kind of thing is endemic in academia, it has happened to me and so many other PhD students I know. You just have to learn from it and hope that if you are a supervisor 10 years from now -you don't act in the same way!
Thank you all for your comments, I am very confused at the moment, I don't know how to proceed. My heart races like it will come out of chest anytime esp. every morning since discovering this. Talk of stress. I am now trying a different approach to the question although concentrating is very difficult. Please keep your comments coming and what U would do if in my shoes.
Don't let it get to you that much. There is a whole world out there and an academic research project is not worth making yourself ill over. If you can still publish your current work, forget him and carry on. If you can't, then he is behaving very badly if he does not want you to collaborate and you nee to confront him. First-time supervisors often don't realise how they affect students and how emotionally involved we are in the work (I worked for one too).
If you're certain he's plagerising you then you have two options: wait till he publishes and ensure you're name is on it. If it isn't then raise it with the journal.
OR write quickly and publish first! Alas, with the bad pay and grants meaning everything, it is all a bit cut-throat.
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