======= Date Modified 20 Jun 2011 03:59:48 =======
Hi Neozelandaise,

I don't know if I'm the right person to say this because I'm a fellow doctoral student such as yourself.. The thing we have in common is we're both having supervisor drama but i would think your situation is worse than mine as my guy is somewhat on good terms with me.. But I'll tell you this, during my undergrad days i conducted some small 'academic exercise' work with this wretch of a human being who was as equally or even more abusive than your supervisor.. Thank god the whole thing lasted only two semesters and I was so relieved to leave his supervision.. I was invited to do my masters with a lecturer from my undergrad work lab and he even offered a very attractive stipend.. I flatly turned it down because I did not want to be anywhere near that man..

To me, my happiness and content with life is worth more than a degree or opportunity to work.. Well, sometimes you have to brawl and hang in there but just how much crap can one take? What I'm trying to say is that you should hang in as much as you can, but if something more pleasant and constructive comes your way, why waste the opportunity?

I sincerely hope things turn out for the better for you, cheers!

Thanks so much for replying Sneaks and Doodles, I really appreciate it..

To Doodles,

Is he going to a co-author on your papers when you get your results assuming he does contribute to them so what is he worried about?
He will co-author on my papers and since his field is distant from mine and he knows squat about it save some general ideas, he won't make any significant contributions. However, since the university wants Professors to produce papers with their name as the first author indicating that the work was done by them, he has already made templates of papers for us, where his name will be first. Isn't this guy just wonderful! But since this guy is a nice and funny guy and he gives space for people to work, I really don't mind the formalities. But when he starts getting abrasive, that's what upsets me.

To Doodles and Sneaks,

#I'd talk to him frankly about his motivation - is it that he wants publications?
*Is he the kind that wants quick results so he can churn papers out or is this only since the new policy has been put in place? I know academics have to publish and are under constant pressure to do so but forcing students to do their research topic is no the answer! Surely he must have collaborations with others and involved in on-going projects to get some publications out?
Well, he was a really great guy to work with as he gave you the freedom to work by yourself which might be a bane or a boon depending on the student. So I guess it's the policy. I'm from Malaysia, and the government here has mutated into this results oriented in all sectors entity which might also be a bane or a boon for academics. The funny part is, this guy is part of an international collaboration and he has 5 papers dumped on his door each month without him doing much. For years now this guy has been living it up with his bestowed upon papers, but unfortunately recently the policies have turned to not placing too much weightage on collaboration papers, so he's a bit edgy nowadays..

*If you are interested in any aspect of his research topic is there anyway to incorporate it into you own?
#or is it that he actually thinks that route would be better for you and your PhD?
Well, there are some overlaps but essentially they're apples and oranges.. Me working in his field is akin to a veterinarian being a doctor..

Well, thanks for taking the time off to reply to my comments, it's good to know that I'm not like breaking "academic traditions" and he really is at the wrong in forcing me to work in his field. I will wait and see how he is and if he starts to getting really nasty, I'll keep you updated on how I switched supervisors
;-)

Hi everyone, i guess this is the official support group for us Phd's. Good to know it exists. Well, here's my story :

My supervisor is considered the maverick of the department and although his research field is X he is willing to take in students who are working in fields Y or Z, where Y and Z have similarities to X only in general terms. I was pretty confident that we could get along together as I have worked under him for my masters, also in a field which is somewhat different than his.

Recently my university has placed rules which require Professors to publish a certain amount of papers and my boss is now desperate for students to work on his topic. Since I'm the most senior and, not bragging, the go to guy in my lab he wants me to work in his field! Changing my topic to his is like throwing all my masters work out the window and starting from scratch!

I know this is wrong and I have resisted his "soft advances" so far but recently he has been more abrasive by saying that I'm too slow and I should change my topic in front of everyone.

Frankly speaking I could just leave the lab and work in the library and work on some papers, publish them, write my thesis, submit it, pass (hopefully) all by myself as I think I can self-supervise. I mean, at this level, doesn't everyone self-supervise?

Anyway I'm just hoping that some new students would come in and get his work done and he'll leave me alone.. But I guess my query would be "Am I wrong to do research in my chosen field?"

I am a TA but I'm hired by the department and he did not help me to get this position. So basically I owe him no favors at all, be it academic or financial. He's just the guy who owns a lab which happens to have my table and pc.

Anyway, thanks for reading my vent..