Thanks Maccle, you've calmed me down a bit! :)

I've got a proposal for a phd. I've been emailing various academics at different universities offering phd funding. In my emails I've given them an idea of what I want to do for my phd. One of them asked for more info and so I sent them my whole proposal (references, experiment ideas, everything) and they got back to me saying that it sounds interesting but it was out of their research area.

Do you think they'll take the project and run with it? Do you think I should email them outright saying that it's my idea and I want it in writing that they won't take it? Help!!

Or do you simply think that they find it interesting but it isn't exactly what they study?

I've got a proposal for a phd. I've been emailing various academics at different universities offering phd funding. In my emails I've given them an idea of what I want to do for my phd. One of them asked for more info and so I sent them my whole proposal (references, experiment ideas, everything) and they got back to me saying that it sounds interesting but it was out of their research area.

Do you think they'll take the project and run with it? Do you think I should email them outright saying that it's my idea and I want it in writing that they won't take it? Help!!

Or do you simply think that they find it interesting but it isn't exactly what they study?