So I work in an environmental microbiology lab where we research bacteria interactions in the salt marsh. Over the last couple of months, I've been working on a protocol, trying to get it to work. I have finally succeed in that endeavor, and so now it is time for a trip to the coast. However, I have not been able to get to the coast due to scheduling, start of fall semester, TAing, and of course weather incidents. I have also been depressed, but finally came out of that.

At lab meeting last week, my advisor told me to look for a certain event to occur and plan my trip around that event. Well, I've just been in contact with someone at the coast and they informed me that the event has occurred over 3 weeks ago. So now, once again, I'm stressed. I want to talk with my advisor about the possibility of a new project (something that I can possibly do in lab with samples already collected), or even the possibility of dropping my phd status and becoming a master's student. I'm looking to see how to word the email or even talk to him about moving on to a new project. Any advice?:-(

I think I've had enough with my PhD program. I'm finishing up my 3rd year as a graduate student and nothing has worked for me. I've had 3 projects that failed and I'm currently working on the 4th. However, the 4th is not showing the results that I need and my project is based on field work and summer work and the summer is ending. I'm not getting the support from the Post-doc in the lab or my advisor. The Post-doc talks down to me when I tell him that the procedure didn't work. My advisor is always busy with department issues (he is the chair of the department) and I believe he thinks that I'm being lazy.

I was feeling better about myself the last couple of days and was mentally attacked by the post-doc and just spent the last hour walking around campus. I don't know what to do. I want my PhD, but I've developed the feeling that this lab is not the place for me. But, I do not have enough of research to quit and get a Masters. Also if I quit, I would have to pay back a fellowship that I recieved from another program here on campus. Any ideas on what to do...how to cope? Thanks for letting me vent!

Ok guys,

I know that you all receive a lot of posts like this, but I'm really down right know. I'm heading into my 4th year of my PhD program, and I'm starting a brand new research project. We work in a system that is very interesting and can be wondrous, but can also be unforgiving. I'm starting my 3rd project, the others has failed for different reasons. The current project is based on the work of another grad student in the lab who has had wonderful success with her end. I was getting ready to go to field for a week long research trip when my advisor had a surprise meeting with me here he basically broke down my spirit. Right now, I feel like the lowest person in the world right now.

There is trouble brewing in my lab. About 3 weeks ago, my advisor in lab meeting gave me and idea for another project cause mine isn't going so well. Well i started researching it, and i missed the last lab meeting. I was informed that at that meeting, another student in the lab tried to take the project from me. And i'm like, what, really. And she's been researching it hard while I was gone. I'm just so pissed I don't know what to do? Do I need to confront her, my advisor. I'm not for sure if confronting her is a good idea cause I'm angry and I may hurt her feelings. i just don't know what to do. I've been so mad I've been wanting to quit the lab. Any ideas?

Well, my problem is that my advisor is also the chair of the department and he is always busy with that. He's also the kind of advisor that lets you design your own project. Now, my problem with that is that I'm in a "new" area of research for me. I'm currently studying Microbial Ecology, but I come from a Biotechnology and Botany background. We use some of the same techniques, but the questions/hypothesis are complicated for me to design. And I don't think my advisor understands this.

I have an upcoming meeting with my advisor about a new project idea. I've been working on this idea for the last couple of weeks, but now I've heard from the other students in the lab that he thinks the idea is crap. I'm all out of ideas. The only thing I can think of is re-trying one of my old projects, but it was difficult and failed for technical reasons. So, I'm not for sure what to do currently. I don't want to look like an idiot when I talk to my advisor.

Hey guys, I'm finishing my 2nd year as a grad student studying Microbial Ecology and I'm in trouble. Since starting I've already gone through 3 projects and they have all failed (for various reasons), and I'm trying to start my forth. My problem is that I just don't have the desire to think about a new project. I'm reading papers, trying to formulate ideas, but they seem like crap. I feel like I'm worthless as a grad student. I want my PhD however, so are there any ideas?