======= Date Modified 02 21 2010 19:21:32 =======
Hi,

I'm currently a PhD student in UK founded by a Marie Curie scholarship and I'm seriously thinking to quit and apply for another PhD in another UK University.

The problem is that I've been working at my project since one year ago and now I'm sure that I'm not interested in the subject and I don't want to continue the rest of my career in this subject. Actually I'm working in this area for a random fact. During the final year of my Master in Italy, I had the opportunity to spend 6 months abroad to work at my final project. I was not sure about the subject but I really wanted to gain this international experience so I accepted it. In those 6 months I wasn't really happy, anyway I was able to perform a discreet job. After this I spent some other months in Italy to finish my Master (first honor degree) and than I started to look for job opportunities. Unfortunately I was in the middle of the crisis so I didn't receive a lot of offers (at least in my field of interest). At the same time the professor that was my supervisor in UK offered me a position with a Marie Curie scholarship (it's a really advantageous scholarship: more money, opportunity to travel, no English proficiency certificate required). At that time I couldn't say no, even if I knew that the subject was not my favorite. Now, after one year I cannot stand it anymore. I'm constantly looking for something that is closer to my academic background or that I find more interesting. I'm still motivated to address a PhD. Recently I've found a really promising one.

My problem is that I don't know how to propose myself for the new position, how to explain my desire to change the PhD and how to avoid to appear simply a quitter. My actual supervisor doesn't know that I'm looking for other opportunities... As long as I don't find another PhD or a job, my present scholarship is my only income, and I don't want to lose it... Moreover there is the possibility that I cannot find anything better than my PhD and I don't want to spend these other 2 years in a hostile environment...
did anybody have the same experience?

thanks for your help