I finished my PhD and I am doing a postdoc and all about I concern are my publications. I got publications from my master degree and from my postdoctoral position but not from my PhD. Well, i made all drafts and everything but my previous boss seems to be very busy with other stuff and not even considering how important are for me a couple of papers from my PhD.
In a year of postdoc I made 7 publications, 2 first author and 2 second author. What I want to understand is, do I have chance to continue this job? Shall I quit because I do not proof of my PhD? What shall I do? Which are the real chance for me to get an academic position in the future?
I know to many questions, but people keep saying me that my PhD is a problem and if that is true I would not mind to quit science and do something else.
Something is very clear in my mind: I would never do again a Ph.D. which is a complete waste of time, or alternatevely I would stay there for 3 years take the salary, producing nothing and quit before submission. This is what they deserve!

Your 'proof of PhD' is your degree itself. I wouldn't worry too much about the number of publications you had during your PhD though is there any chance that you can still publish some of it?

Having 7 publications from your post-doc position is quite good. Many people don't even have that so I wouldn't quit based on the number of publications you have. Same with having publications from your masters degree.

It's sad that you'r so put off by academia but if you're not happy there then I would quit.

Good luck!

hi Ironman, I found your post a bit confusing.

From what I read, you have already finished your PhD. Congratulations!

Is your real worry about your postdoc job? Why should you quit?
Don't you already have a PhD? That piece of paper which says you have been conferred a doctorate?

why are people telling you your phd is a problem? where exactly is the problem?

why do you let people's opinions affect you?

from what I read in your post:

you already have a phd, but no publications. You are a postdoc WITH publications, I think you have a good achievement and a bright future!!! why don't you move on from postdoc instead? By move on, I mean, look forward to a future FROM your postdoc without regrets on your phd.

Don't look back.

If Cinderella went back for her slipper, she would have never become a princess.

love satchi

======= Date Modified 02 Aug 2012 13:19:03 =======
Some questions.

1) Are you no longer working for your PhD supervisor (you say 'former boss')?

2) Are you still at the same University?

3) Do you still need your PhD supervisor for future job references?

4) Is there an industrial partner who have a vested interest in the data?

If yes to any of these then he does need to be considered out of courtesy. If he does not have time to look at what you've done, ask him out of courtesy if it is okay if you forward manuscripts for publication without him seeing them. If there was an industrial sponsor, you will need to ask them too.

Theoreticaly, as you are copyright holder you could just published and be damned. However, if you still have connections with your supervisor as detailed in my questions then keeping him in the loop would still be a good idea.

If no to all of the above, the information in the PhD thesis / dissertation is yours by copyright and there is nothing to stop you forwarding manuscripts for publication. My supervisor lost interest after my PhD was finished and as a result, I just went ahead and published. This was made easier by me moving on from my PhD University after my first post-doc.

Also, you already have publications. Even if they're not from your PhD, they're still publications. So why worry?

Quitting because you feel you have no proof sounds ridculous to be honest. You already have the PhD certificate. That is the proof you need. If your former supervisor has lost interest, that is his loss and a missed opportunity to have extra publications against his name. You've got your publications from elsewhere.


Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

HI to everyone and thanks a lot for your nice messages.
My worry was that without a PhD publication I have an hole in my CV which I am trying to cover by publishing a lot during postdoc. I really want to avoid the situation where applying for fundings they will tell me things like you did not publish from PhD.

I think it's crazy making the student responsible for the number of publications that he has. Often the PhD receive the project as idea of someone else...he does not have enough experience to judge the validity of the project but in the end must pay the professional price!! Something must be wrong, isn't it. Anyway what surprise me it's the University people which continues to graduate people from the same supervisor which does not publish (we are 5 person in this situation!!!! can you believe this?)
So far it's only me that is insisting and pushing to publish first because I need them second because I think it's part of his job to publish results and that's what is payed for as well.

I did not know that I could have submitted my papers....I may need one more letter from this person but after that I may give him the ultimatum to submitt or I will submitt it! This was a really good thing which i did not know!!!

THE CINDERELLA SENTENCE IS THE BEST SENTENCE THAT i EVER HEARD....IT LYES ON MY DESK RIGHT NOW