Hi guys :) I am still having considerations about my PhD. I don't miss social activity or anything , because work reasonable hours and arrange to do interesting stuff out of hours, and even the work hours, I am not depressed or procrastinating like seems to be the norm here. BUT I think my PhD project is really weak and my prof not smart enough, and trying to do stuff completely out of his area, thus not including necessary controls, plan B-s, not really knowing the details. I have a gut feeling this kind of project could not lead to any reasonable data (unless it is "made" significant, which some say my prof is good at!). If I ask questions from my prof, he usually says I have still not got the point of the project, and I feel braindamaged every time after talking to him, coz he does not know the area and bluntly talks rubbish ( I know the area better since had my previous studies at that). So hmm I really consider leaving it for some better science. But I have already quit one lab before, for similar reasons. Just looking for good quality reasonable project and a smart honest supervisor, is that too much to want????? Another phd student said, profs use phd students for risky projects like that, since phd-ers are stupid enough not to realize the risks and just spend their time on that, unlike postdocs, who would escape. I don't wanna waste my time...

...better change your PhD then.

If this is the second time, then the problem may be you. A PhD is about developing the capacity to independently conduct meaningful research of a standard worthy of publication. It's helpful to have a bright and helpful supervisor, but a work week is generally 40-60 hours, of which perhaps 1 hour is spent with that supervisor. Therefore, it's unreasonable to allege that the supervisor is to blame if the project is missing controls / failing to produce reasonable data. That's the job of the PhD student, who needs to read more literature, talk to others with more experience (other students/postdocs) and drop the unhelpful intellectual superiority complex.

Hi Supergenius, I understand your point of view and I would think the same when hearing someone is changing labs one after another. But in fact it is a bit difficult to include controls and experiments which are right in my opinion (and discussed with other profs from the field) if the sup does not find them necessary and is straight against them. Actually I had a co-sup in the beginning, from the field of the project, whom I was really appreciating and trusting his opinion, since I found it every time argumented and logical. But this guy was not the one paying me, so he did not have as big a say as the main sup, and eventually the co-sup left the project, because he said he does not trust the way the project is led (by the main sup). Also I see worrysome things from the previous students' work - usually a lot of time spent, a lot of work done, a lot of resources spent, and the outcome close to zero. Actually only 1 of his students is finishing his msc project, since the rest have left due to conflicts with the sup!! (Well the sup is fairly new, I guess has had his PI position for 2,5 years). So seeing only 1 student graduating, another prof dropping out the project, my sup gathering conflicts with others working at similar topics (since they blame him for stealing their ideas and creating unnecessary competition in the faculty), him giving me vague arguments about my project making me think it is not thought trough, it just makes me unsecure about it all. I really want to learn and I like to work and am not fed up with phd life or academy, but...

Well porgand it's useful to know before you start a PhD if (1) the supervisor has a good track record of successfully supervising other students through a PhD, and (2) if the supervisor has a good publication record--a good indication that they know what they're doing. Obviously it's a little late for that now. You need to make a decision, ASAP, to either give it your all and make something of it despite your concerns over supervision, or alternatively, curtail a process which you consider will ultimately prove fruitless.

Maybe you just need to use a lot more initiative than other students to get something out of this. I'd say a smart, helpful supervisor is a bonus rather than a necessity. Try to discuss your concerns with your supervisor and set a schedule for the project together. Where do you want the project to be in x weeks? What needs to be done to get the work published? Having a schedule should help you realize if the project/environment is workable.

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Payaljk

I don't know if you've noticed yet but we are NOT interested in your garbage!!! Go away

I tend to agree with Supergenius. But if you are sure the problem isnt you why not talk to another member of staff? You could invite them for a coffee/drink, then go over the areas that you think are iffy. If they agree, write them in/start doing them. I'm sure your supervisor won't be angry if you include more stringent controls on your work. Remember that if it goes wrong, you will get the blame not the supervisor so its worth being uncomfortable for a while now than failing in the end.

Thanks for replies, everyone. Supergenius, I indeed checked the sup's background before starting, and he has perfect publication list (first author Nature-s, etc.) To add, he is coming from a great famous lab. I was feeling confident he must know what he is doing. I visited the lab, and the student being there was giving a really nice overview of the lab - BUT only when I was about to start, I got him to talk more via email, that's when the others' quitting came out, since the student had been concerned about his own position and did not want to tell too much while I was visiting. OK, since I had arranged everything then to start, I thought I'd give it a try. Strangely, I noticed that the techniques the sup is supposed to be an expert in according to his Nature papers, do not work at the lab. Others from other labs using similar techniques said, that even the routine controls are not run to check whether the equipment is usable, thus no reliable results can be expected. He never guides students with that thoroughly, replies questions, but this does not seem to really be enough since I see the other student keeping struggling with the technique and not sure whether he gets the real data or not. And that's what the sup's supposed to be the expert in. The rest of the project he has simply no clue, not even familiar techniques to him. Some say, he got his Nature papers due to the lab and sup he used to have himself. :( :( :(

... Just goes to show, Nature papers really aren't everything...