I also joined this forum because of this thread as I am also having a very difficult time of it due to my supervisor. Basically the PhD I applied for was initially supposed to be in another country and it was then moved back to the UK inconveniently. It became clear within the first month that my supervisor was difficult but then it became clear of the extent of the situation when colleagues of mine described working for him as being 'battered wives that keep going back for more'. He is very much a bully and unpredictable in his nature breaking down everyone that works for him to tears. I have been under his supervision now for over a year in 2 different countries and due to personal stresses of my own I just don't think I can cope anymore. And so my question is this - if I start to apply for other PhDs (which is what I really want to do) in similar areas but different locations, can he find out? Can the other people I apply to contact him because if you google my name my uni profile comes up? I need to get out but I am afraid he will ruin me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!