Hello everyone, I've just joined, so please be friendly,
I'm approaching what would be my second semester of my PhD. In my first my supervisor instructed me to complete another module on top of three other compulsory modules, which added 3 hours contact time and another 3 hours of study time on top of my week. He also insisted I conduct all exploratory research for two papers he was writing. On top of this he expected me to carry on with my own reading for my own PhD topic and produce results on par with spending full time hours on it. Despite repeatedly telling him I had too much on and couldn't cope, he continued insisting I "find time". When finally I didn't deliver the research for his paper on time, he emailed me implying I was ungrateful for the opportunities he had given me. In response I sought advice from the Doctoral Student Life department at uni, who confirmed he was out of line in making me do his research, and that I would be advised to swap supervisors. I emailed him explaining what I had been advised, and that I would not be able to complete ANY work outside of my compulsory modules, and the extra module he had insist I take, until the beginning of next term. This also included work on my own thesis. Despite this he has emailed me asking to meet up so I can 'show him the reading and research I have been doing' and I now again have this panicky sinking feeling of knowing that he is expecting a ton of work that I simply haven't had any time to do, and that he hasn't listened to me at all. I am not trying to be a precious snow flake, but I am also not willing to work more than full time of this. I am reluctant to swap as he is the best in his field - however I am only studying his field because he told me to in the beginning, I do not have a particular interest in it. Please be nice and don't call me lazy, I honestly am not. But I also have not stopped working over Christmas, and today is the first day I have sat down and actually had a day off. Perhaps I am just not cut out for academia.

Finally approved! Any thoughts would be helpful, thanks

It's hard to say whether this is unreasonable or not to be honest. I mean, if you're doing extra research then you will get papers from it, so what's the problem? Also, students need to be full up to date with information they need so doing optional modules should only be a benefit really. But of course we don't have all the hours in the world to work and we need to be doing other stuff outside of the PhD too. How many hours are you spending working at the moment?

I was not going to be credited for the papers, this was made clear to me. I was told to do them instead of the essential background reading for modules, meaning I couldnt contribute in the seminars at all and was being written up for it. He knew this.

The optional module was a repeat of a compulsory module I was studying alongside. Again, he knew this, but ignored me.

I was doing 65 hour weeks until yesterday. 9 until 9 or 10 each day.

Ah ok, I see. Doing work and not being credited for it is obviously not ok.

Also if optional modules are very similar to compulsory ones then there's no point in doing this. You might need to be firmer about this type of stuff because your supervisor probably doesn't realise the content of the modules.

And in general you should be working 40 hours a week, more sometimes and less sometimes depending on what else is on. Are you working effectively ie is most of this time spent on work and not chatting to others/seminars/viva celebrations/coffee breaks etc?

For your meeting, you should prepare a timetable, showing how much time you have been spending on each activity over the last week or month, so that he can see how hard you have been working and you can say it's unreasonable to expect all this and more.

Hi, inomchips,

You said "In response I sought advice from the Doctoral Student Life department at uni, who confirmed he was out of line in making me do his research, and that I would be advised to swap supervisors". This made my alarm bells ring.

Uni advising a student to swap supervisor is a very big deal. I am wondering if this supervisor has a bad record at supervising. Are you aware of previous students and their experiences under him? I strongly recommend that you find out.

You also said that "I am reluctant to swap as he is the best in his field - however I am only studying his field because he told me to in the beginning, I do not have a particular interest in it". It is very hard to work for X number of years on a project that you have no interest in. Have you thought about your future and what field you want to be in? Do think about it deeply. What's the point of working with the best person in Geology if you like and want to work in Neuroscience.

You also stated that "I was not going to be credited for the papers, this was made clear to me." Do you seriously want to work under someone who is unethical? If he can do this to you now, imagine what he will do if you do find something new and valuable in your research? Would he again not give you credit, owning the finding himself or giving credit to another valuable collaborator?

Finally, answering your question, changing supervisor is not a bad idea. You pointed out that your supervisor has plenty of issues. You yourself also do not like the field. Perhaps you could consider deeply what field you actually like, in line with your future plans, and change to a better project and supervisor. Talk to your Doctoral Student Life department at uni, since that is their advice anyway. Changing early is best to cut your loss and salvage your PhD. The decision however, is in your hands.