Hi, I empathise with all that you have said as I am exactly the same. You do sound like a perfectionist and this often leads to not getting things done on time and often means focussing on things that aren't so important. It sounds like you have time-management issues and difficulty prioritising things. Prepping for lab demonstration is noble of you, but the raison d'etre of your PhD is your research. You must figure this out yourself, but do it quickly - most people are unable to change their style of doing things because the pattern is ingrained - you must tyr to organise your whole life as simply as possible - forget complicated plans. Plan your week, plan your days and stick to it - the key is to stick to it - when you don't, you get stressed - when you do, you feel empowered. Exercise every day before uni, make a list, carry it out, go home and continue ad nauseum and you'll soon be the best student around!

With regard to what Otto has said about "the quality of work is not an indicator of your supervision abilities", there is some truth in that if there is no personal problem with the supervisor/student relationship, but from personal experience, I know that the supervisor/student relationship ultimately has a detrimental effect on both the student's and the supervisor's work. A very bad road to go down! Ultimately, my supervisor was a guard and dictator (and was also incompetent) when they should have been a guide and a mentor.

Hi there. I would say that the main thing for you is to ensure that you do your job effectively and professionally. On the one hand, if the student is procrastinating (e.g. giving you irrelevant material to read and thinking they know best) then either they are very bright and will do well, or they are heading for a poor submission in the end. You could look at this as an opportunity to develop your skills in dealing with a student who is perhaps unaware of their deficiencies. It would be, in my view, a very positive thing, if you could help this student to focus on what is important - set small tasks for them to focus on - focus on their strengths and not their weaknesses - don't use negative criticism - and never let any personal feelings (e.g. annoyance) get in the way as they are your weaknesses not the student's.

Having read your post again, I have to say I get the impression that you quite simply have not decided yet....which is of course a matter of fact and is absolutely fine!

It sounds bizarre to me that there is any need to conceal any interest or consideration that you are giving to another PhD in this particular interview, especially when it is this interviewer that suggested this 'other PhD' in the first place. My own personal opinion, and it is only that and nothing more, is that what is important, is that you like the supervisor that you work for and that if the PhD you go for is the one for you, it will feel natural and there should be no need to 'convince' or 'show (possibly feigned) enthusiasm as suggested by others.

Hi there,

I see little point in being covert about your intentions. Of course, be diplomatic, but remember, it's your PhD and there are loads out there. Take the PhD that you want to take!

Hi there.

I have to say all this sounds very bizarre and secretive. This issue needs to be out in the open.

Do you like working in the Dept. you are in? Was there bullying before this happened? If this is really bullying,.....then I would seriously consider walking away and going to the new University. If this is indeed bullying and not sound advice (based on what exactly is yet to be explained as I understand it)you are being given, then it would ring alarm bells in my mind, but ascertain all the fact first before making any decisions. Why are they so set on you staying there. Don't be fobbed off by vague answers. Do you have your degree yet? If so, then you have nothing to lose.....there are loads of PhD's out there...and on the otherhand, if you don't have your undergrad degree yet, stay away from any conflict until you have that degree certificate.

My opinion on this issue: You at least now have the advantage of knowing how this University/Dept/Supervisor operates......do you really want to be a part of that?

As far as discrimination goes, then to redress this issue, you would need hard evidence that there was 'nepotism' going on, and in any case, it is legally unlikely that you will gain anything from doing so other than spending months and years seeking legal redress. Even if you won, the courts have no power or inclination to order a University to admit you on this course.

Forget these people,....find a good supervisor that is honest.

Hi all, yes I think that to be honest in this situation is the best policy. To allow skeletons to hang conspicuously, or not, in the closet, would be dishonest and at the very least risky.

I feel that it is no-ones business what has already happened, and honesty is the best policy. Unfortunately, relying on honesty in this situation may not get me a PhD, but I am not willing to compromise my principles in favour of getting what I want.

It may be of interest to some who are interested in the subject of bullying to consider that it in many cases it is honest people who have strong principles that are targeted for bullying in the first place, because people of this nature/temperament are a threat to the bully in the sense that they have the ability to expose them.

In any case, I feel that it would be wrong to allow myself to become the "devil's advocate" and lie about my past.

This is an article I discovered in nature, and is one of the rare commentaries on the situation forPhD students.

Sorry about the length, I just though I would share this for all to see.

If UK institutions insist on maintaining the status quo, the courts may now intervene and universities will increasingly become embroiled in unwelcome litigation3. Denying the existence of bullying could become costly. Universities competing for funding and kudos can ill-afford to risk harbouring known aggressors, thus condoning their conduct and bringing departments into disrepute.

Inevitably, 'whistleblowers' (whether on matters of personal or academic misconduct) risk damage to their careers4. To ensure scientific integrity, postgraduate students need adequate protection from the repercussions of 'speaking out'. PhDs should surely be protected from bullying and unfair termination of studentships, in the same way as 'employed' researchers are protected by legislation and contracts.

Although nebulous commitments to PhD supervision published in guidelines are welcome, they are merely cosmetic unless enforced impartially against the occasional aberrant supervisor. Experience has left me disaffected with my university, which is ostensibly content to allow a rogue supervisor to usurp authorship and confidence by allowing vulnerable PhDs to be bullied.

PhDs may now, however, be able to seek alternative recourse. In an unprecedented move, the British High Court has granted a student at the University of Cambridge, Mr Beg, judicial review to challenge internal academic procedures2. Mr Beg was allegedly denied an MPhil because he criticized a professor. If future legal challenges are to be avoided, reform is required to make possible equitable adjudication in alleged cases of supervisor misconduct.

This article may be of interet to all:

Nature 393, 407 (04 June 1998); doi:10.1038/30831

Bullying of PhDs

Sir – The 'feudal' master-servant relationship existing between a PhD supervisor and his or her student1 has another facet seldom broached by academics. That is bullying. Employment legislation prohibits bullying at work, but, because PhDs are not salaried or contracted, they are not legally 'employees' and so are vulnerable to capricious supervisors.

I regret to say that the conduct of my PhD supervisor was tantamount to bullying. Corroborative complaints by peers and by me proved futile, culminating in my supervisor misappropriating corresponding authorship after editorial review of our manuscript.
(cont'd)

Thankyou all for the support that you have all provided from your replies.

It's so refreshing to hear from people who have such good practical advice in a difficult situation like this. I cannot quantify how much some of these emails have allowed me to reflect objectively on my current situation.

I hope no-one has to go through the never-ending process that I am going thru, but if they do then it is good that forums like this exist where people can ask for advice.

What happened next? Read my thread on "PhD terminated after my 1st year Viva!"