Hi,

So I'm currently 9 months into my PhD and having to write my 9 month report, and my supervisor is literally driving me up the wall.

It doesn't help that I'm her first PhD student, and only recently has a Postdoc joined our team. But it's a bit like permanently having the eye of Sauron aimed in my direction.

I like to think I'm hard working, I generally get in at 8.30am every day and in the lab solidly until about 6-6.30pm (both before and after others get in and leave). All the other PhD students say I have way more data than them, but nothing I do satisfies my supervisor. She even dragged me in a month ago to have a half hour go at me for not having done enough work, not once has she ever said anything positive about the work I do - she's interested in my results which is great, but no praise it's just all about the science, but I definitely know when she's displeased.

I guess that just all wares down on you. I love my project, but I don't enjoy the thought of coming in each day, thinking that I'm not working hard enough and working ridiculous hours to try and get some sign of approval - but it just seems whatever I do isn't enough.

I've been supervising a masters student and she's even mentioned that it's all unfair.

Guess I just don't know what to do, mentioning it might just make life worse. I wrote my 9 month report, she gave me some changes to make, I made all of them, then she's said there's still a lot more to do.

Any advice on dealing with overbearing supervisors?

Alex

Firstly - How does your Masters Student know? Do not engage in any conversations about your supervisor with your student, no matter how much they try and engage you on it - they will tell others an your displeasure at supervision can get around quite easily!

I think you are doing too many hours but you need to try and work with your supervisor. I suggest you:
*Make an action plan of activities you think you need to do over the next few months. - check it with supervisor.
* Revert to 9-5/5:30 if possible. Tiredness and more time in uni can lead to under-performance and less focus.
* Ask what she classes as 'not enough work'? Does she mean results or hours spent- you need to clarify this because it may be a case of streamlining your working practices to get more done in a shorter time?
* Find from her names of other PhD's/colleagues whose work she feels is where you should be aiming. Arrange an informal chat with them about how they conduct their work. Our dept encourages this to find best practice.
*Ask her to highlight areas of your work she is satisfied with - specific passages of writing or lab work you have conducted so you can tell more easily the types of work she considers satisfactory.
* Take ownership. Figure out which comments are useful and which to ignore. I regularly overtly thank for useful input - "thanks for pointing me to that book on??? your feedback on ??? was really useful. I then ignore and say nothing other than politely nod and write down less useful comments before doing my own thing. Because they've had praise for the useful comments less useful stuff I've not taken on board they seem to forget about :D happy days.

Good luck

I disagree and think you must talk to your masters students.This culture of silence around advisor abuse is like some deeply disgusting masochistic cult. You must talk about your experiences with each other. Also we all need approval from those allegedly in charge but the sad truth is that you will have to learn to feel good about your work without it. Some advisors are stingy bastards with the chocolate box. Just find your chocolate in another shop/ make your own. Your work by the way sounds like it's going in a good way. I'm sure you'll be able to develop even stronger your own inner critic to help you with assessing your work but maybe a little later sending stuff out for publishing/ presenting at seminars etc allows you to get professional feedback. I wrote a paper that my advisor was so crappy about but I actually got applauded and got publishing requests when I presented the same thing at a conference. This need for approval from advisors might turn you into Gollum. Beware! The best advice with supervisors like yours is for you to not take them too seriously. They're a necessary part of an admin chain in this field as far as your work goes, just put up with them when you need to and stay focussed on your research.

I'm sorry but I strongly disagree. Yes find others to talk through your issues on a confidential basis, people you trust.... but when acting in the capacity as a member of staff (supervising students) you do not ctitisice or engage in the students criticism of a staff colleague, no matter if you agree. It is highly unprofessional. From lengthy experience students love to find out staff gossip and which staff don't get on and will batently ask you but you never reply, you change subject.

Must concur, never disparage staff infront of your students, it is extremely unprofessional. and peers is one thing, not students though.

However, to address your original question TC, can I strongly suggest you try to reason with your supervisor, explain exactly what you've been doing, how you think that you've been excelling, and what her demands are. If you think those are still unreasonable, then speak to another senior staff member you can trust.