Thanks everybody for their contribution. This is really interesting hearing everyones different views. I have to admit I wasn't expecting such a wide variation of views. I always thought the division occured between people doing a PhD and people not doing a PhD. Infact, it looks like the divide of views is occuring between PhD students as well. I still think it's two different things being grateful to have a job, and feeling grateful to be paid once in that job.

I've been thinking however, so the system maybe isn't perfected. But, what realistic solutions are there? For example, as I mentioned in my blog, an interesting article from the Independent brings up the solution of the funding PhD's decided by their University ranking. In other words, the Government would base their position on the number paper each university is producing. Then, the funding would be concentrated in the most "productive" institutions. Personally, I think this is an unfair way of looking at it.

A graduate tax also seems to be cause for debate. And I'm not really sure we can look to another country for an easy solution. But, surely there must be an improvement that everyone can agree on? Anyone any thoughts?

My apologies, I overlooked your first science PhD.

On the other hand though, maybe we don't do a job as such, but it is still full time hours. Or enough hours to prevent you from undertaking another serious job to fund yourself. Fair enough, if you are coming at it with the money there, but surely for most who go straight from University, then the only money they have is based in -ve loan pennies.

If they don't get paid, then surely they would have to decrease the length of a PhD.

Although I do definitely agree there are too many PhD's going. It's become quite a pyramid program for people wanting to get any further than Post-Doc. But I think this could be sorted by simply putting up the standard for being chosen for a PhD, rather than putting people off by cutting the funds.

In addition to that, originally I felt it logically right that we don't pay council tax, but my argument (http://tinyurl.com/3k42974) was put out by the fact that government employees still have to pay tax.

======= Date Modified 05 Jul 2011 16:44:41 =======
That's interesting to hear that side of the argument. As I am in the field of science doing my PhD, where funding, it seems, isn't as hard to get (correct me if i'm wrong), most people I have came across feel that what they are paid is about right.

But, in your case, is this not two different issues? What I mean is, were you grateful because you got the funding which was an extremely tough thing to do? Whereas if getting the funding wasn't an issue, would you feel that the money you got represented the work that you were doing?

You know, a simpler example, if you were in any job going through the interview process, you feel very relieved you got through that. But when you are in the job, you don't necessarily feel that your wage is representative of the work you do.

Sorry, just trying to distinguish for myself, as these forums are the only place you get to see the whole picture

:-)

The issue I would like to bring up is: Should I, and all others who are funded for their Ph.D, be grateful to have this money, or should I feel like anybody else who is in a full time job — justified. Should a Ph.D perhaps be covered by another student loan.

A few points to note before I start this debate: I am funded for my Ph.D and I know that some others aren't. I also graduated from Scotland, and therefore didn't have to pay tuition fees (Thank you Mr Salmond). Likewise, I know that some students, especially now, are having to pay huge amounts to graduate through a degree.

Whatever your situation, if you don't agree with the following below, please feel free to comment and let me know. I'm trying to build up a picture of the different issues surrounding this topic to form a better opinion myself.

The main points up for debate are:

Free Education (http://tinyurl.com/3u4aapv)
No Council Tax (http://tinyurl.com/3k42974)
Hours Worked (http://tinyurl.com/3gcan6b)
What Job Are Ph.D Students Actually Doing? (http://tinyurl.com/447luye)

I've included links to my arguments for each, so I'd love to hear if you agree or disagree with any of them.

To summarise, I feel Ph.D students are paid a fair amount of money for the work they put in. However, I personally think the government should target areas of research that are in demand, and maybe cut back on some other areas. Maybe this would affect my own situation, but at the same time, plowing money into all fields is meaning that there are becoming more Ph.D students than jobs. So either way, there are consequences.

Hi JJJ and Melsie,

I know what you mean about putting myself into the other PhD students shoes. That's why it's a dilemma at all, because otherwise I would have gone straight down the line and went for option c).

That's a good point about the supervisor as well. We don't have the same 'first supervisor', but we do share the same second supervisor. I.e. the one that isn't as involved. He will be at the talk, but I don't know how well he would know the other phd students results off by heart as he is not involved as much.

Maybe I should ask the talk to be postponed by a month, let him get his PhD, then everyone's a winner

(up) wish it was that easy ...

Thanks for the advice Dafydd. It does seem like the right thing to do. But at the same time I'd like some of the excitement of having 'new' results which could get me a paper as I'm new to Phd and still chasing my first paper. But, if they think they are just the same as what he has, then they think there is nothing new there.

Here's my dilemma:

I started my Phd last October and sort of took over from one of the Phd students finishing off. Although he had already written a code which analysed the data, I was placed with the task of producing a new code which ran faster and also to double check his results.

For the past 6 months I've had a constant discrepancy but have always presumed it something wrong with my code. But, today, I thought I'd just ask him to use his current code to reproduce what he has in his thesis.

He couldn't and the results largely matched what I had. Now this could be for a number of different reasons. But the point is, he has just handed in his thesis, and has a viva in a months time.

I have to give a talk next week about my results and how they compare with his. So do I:
a) simply compare them against what his code now says and ignore his thesis results so nobody realises
b) compare them against what his thesis says
c) compare them against both

He thinks, as you can imagine, I should take option a). I don't want to harm his chances of a Phd or anything, especially as he's been a student for nearly 6 years now. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

======= Date Modified 11 Mar 2011 16:41:58 =======
It's the end of the week - Friday, the day we should be finishing off our goals for the week. You know, all those goals I see you all write in the One Goals thread. Well, inspired by Family Guy (obviously) I heard myself mumbling: Something something something presentation, something something something com-plete.

It was quite sinister, but hugely satisfying.

Go on, just try it.

For anyone who doesn't watch family guy and wants to hear the way you should say it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSqZn9tX_OA

Oddly enough, I can't sympathise with that. Atleast, with a mug, it is not see-through. One of the post-docs who sits at the other end of my office actually uses a pint glass for his coffee! :-s

And, the stains are equally as bad. To be fair, it is that stained that it's almost not see through any more ...

Just to follow up the previous comments, I tried to summarise all the techniques I've learned and been taught with regards to presenting and narrating talks for the Layman,

http://www.indoctorate.co.uk/2011/03/presenting-and-narrating-talks-for.html

Thanks again for the help below :-)

I should probably join in with this as last week was considerably unproductive.

Right, this week:

No refreshing of emails
Be productive during times when simulation is running

That will do. Let's not be unrealistic :$

======= Date Modified 07 Mar 2011 13:12:38 =======
Haha I can only imagine, that is pretty hardcore :p

My office is like the walking dead before that first vital coffee break.

I prefer my 45p tomato soups. Mmm

======= Date Modified 07 Mar 2011 11:18:56 =======
I am a little bored just now waiting for my simulation to run, so I thought I'd post this to see what caffeine related stories people have witnessed over their PhD.

Let me paint the scene: The lunchtime canteen opens around twelve. I say around twelve because I know the chef in charge of making the baguettes and he has told me in much detail down the pub that he takes great joy in stopping what I'm about to talk about.

Around five minutes to twelve, somebody in the office will inform the room that it is time for lunch. Essentially, their stomach takes on the role of speaking for the room. This time however, when I say around twelve, I actually mean exactly 11:55 army time.

So, we march down to the canteen to eat our packed lunches. Then, what is witnessed is what can only be described as a mass massacre of baguettes, pastries and all things sandwich meat. Lunches are scoffed down before the meals have even had a chance to meet their eater.

Let me tell you, this isn't due to any form of eagerness to get back to the office. No, this is to get somewhere far more important than that. This is to get first in the queue for Coffee!!

You can read more about my caffeine woes if you want at http://www.indoctorate.co.uk/2011/03/caffeine-vultures.html

So, am I the only one who is watching caffeine slowly taking over the world??

Probably. Ohwell, my code has run.

Epic fail. :-(

Hello, I have been having nearly the same problems. I started my PhD back in october in the field of physics. Hence I thought my PhD would be mostly to do with physics. As it turns out, coding takes up nearly 80% of my time. I would say I was fairly average at coding before hand.

It was really daunting initially whenever anyone handed me their code to either fix or update. Going through code, especially someone elses code is almost like trying to read somebodies mind; not easy! Initially I got through it by constantly searching through google forums relating to whatever piece of code I couldn't understand. All I can say is that it is a huge learning curve and probably equivalent to learning a new language.

I also found putting in print statements at key points in the code to see what was actually happening. If you can try and get a grasp on what process each part of the code is supposed to be doing, then it makes it a lot easier trying to decipher what is actually going on. To help with this I usually summarise each code before I try writing/editing it.

You really have to keep at it, but the more you do it (like most things) the easier you will find being able to glance at a code and have a good idea what is going on. But, you are not alone, coding can be a nightmare!!

I think Qiqqa is quite a new company, i.e. they are still developing the Mac version. I didn't realise you were using linux. It says on their website http://www.qiqqa.com/Home/FAQ:

"If you are using Qiqqa on a Windows machine and sync with your Web Library, then you will be able to access your PDFs on any platform using its web browser. However, until we see more demand, we have no immediate plans for a Mac or Linux specific release. Why not check back in 6 months - the way Steve is going, the world may be a very different place by then :-)"

If you are needing this for the future it may well be worthwhile telling them.