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PhD support group?
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pboae wrote:I had a paper like that too, unfortunately the guy it was contradicting kept reviewing it! (He has a very distinctive style and made no attempt to hide it was him). It got rejected from 3 journals all because of his reviews, and eventually I submitted it to a journal that lets you request your reviewers, and although I didn't get everyone I requested, I didn't get him! It was published then, with no problems.
I am in physics and have to say that most journals I have looked at have 'suggested reviewers' and likewise a section where you say who you do NOT want reviewing it. It seems bad to me that you are unable to do this. One of the big reasons for this to be the case is because it would be all too easy then for work to be reviewed by a competitor who 'rubbishes' the work and then subsequently goes off and does it himself...2 + 2 = 4
except for the general public when it can mean whatever they want it to.0 -
magyar wrote:Very good advice.
As a side note, I can tell you from first hand knowledge that if you can get a post-doc in the USA, (and fancy the idea), do it - the research environment is fabulous. One of the reasons they are so cliquey is that that they know just how much better they are than us.... Primarily that's because much less research is published pre-doctorate.
Having said that, I think our tradition of getting PhD students out presenting papers at conferences is a good learning exercise which US students wouldn't get, so the mix of a UK PhD and a USA post-doc is a very good combination.
I don't understand how less research published pre-doctorate makes them any better?
Personally, there are plus and minus points for the US and UK doctoral programmes. The US system is better geared for people who have just graduated, teaching them an overview and giving them more lab experience and helping them to decide what sort of research area would be suited to them, I like the idea of lab rotations and personalised projects.
Whereas in the UK, I find that a lot of undergrads moving straight into a phd find it really difficult to get the idea that independent thought is required and the amount of work. This is especially true in the sciences where a master's is not a requirement.
An ideal system would be to have an option to have classes and/or rotation within a department for those with less experience and a more relaxed option for those with master's or previous research experience.
Of course this would require more funding for science graduates so not likely to happen
As for presenting papers, my lab has a foreign head who doesn't believe in too much presenting of the same data (which I find is quite the norm for many UK based heads) but it meant that my only conference was the largest international conference for my research field in the states, fully paid for. I would have wanted a smaller conference but it's time to write the thesis rather than prepare another presentation.0 -
It is rather sad that many people who are clever what to clear off to the US. You can see why the UK university is not world class as a result of many of our good minds leaving the country.
It is an awful place to live is the USA in most of the city areas and I would think that is reason enough not to live there regardless of the research that happens there.:beer:0 -
misskool wrote:I don't understand how less research published pre-doctorate makes them any better?
Personally, there are plus and minus points for the US and UK doctoral programmes. The US system is better geared for people who have just graduated, teaching them an overview and giving them more lab experience and helping them to decide what sort of research area would be suited to them, I like the idea of lab rotations and personalised projects.
Whereas in the UK, I find that a lot of undergrads moving straight into a phd find it really difficult to get the idea that independent thought is required and the amount of work. This is especially true in the sciences where a master's is not a requirement.
An ideal system would be to have an option to have classes and/or rotation within a department for those with less experience and a more relaxed option for those with master's or previous research experience.
Of course this would require more funding for science graduates so not likely to happen
As for presenting papers, my lab has a foreign head who doesn't believe in too much presenting of the same data (which I find is quite the norm for many UK based heads) but it meant that my only conference was the largest international conference for my research field in the states, fully paid for. I would have wanted a smaller conference but it's time to write the thesis rather than prepare another presentation.
I assume the smiley means you realised my point was that it means more research is published POST-doctorate...
You're right about the plus/minus points. Increasingly, though, I think UK universities are starting to incorporate more pastoral training. Plus, when I did my PhD I was sponsored by EPSRC who have various initiatives including a 'key skills' course on finance, project management etc., which I found hugely useful.Says James, in my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a '52 Vincent and a red headed girl0 -
studentphil wrote:It is rather sad that many people who are clever what to clear off to the US. You can see why the UK university is not world class as a result of many of our good minds leaving the country.
It is an awful place to live is the USA in most of the city areas and I would think that is reason enough not to live there regardless of the research that happens there.
Each to their own. I found it depends where you live. I have spent three stints in the US: Baltimore (1 yr), Buffalo (6 m) and Los Angeles (3 m).
Of those I adored Buffalo, liked Baltimore and hated LA. Many US cities are very nice places to live, especially if you use the opportunity to get out and about as, whatever you think about the US population (not to mention the American Taliban who run it), it is unquestionably beautiful.Says James, in my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a '52 Vincent and a red headed girl0 -
studentphil wrote:It is rather sad that many people who are clever what to clear off to the US. You can see why the UK university is not world class as a result of many of our good minds leaving the country.
It is an awful place to live is the USA in most of the city areas and I would think that is reason enough not to live there regardless of the research that happens there.
World class is as world class as.
There are also many second rate universities in the US. There are exceptional universities in both countries with world class minds. Neither is better than another, they just have different ways of doing things.
I lived in the US for 4 months as part of a summer exchange programme and loved it. I even worked in the 'arm-pit' that is the New Jersey coast and it was thoroughly enjoyable. The country has got many things going for it, the exceptional natural landscape, the friendly people (believe it or not!!) and in my point of view a more rounded quality of life. There are also many equally disreputable points of the arrogance of how the world revolves around the great US of A amongst others.
No where is perfect, you just make the best place you can at that point in time.0 -
misskool wrote:World class is as world class as.
There are also many second rate universities in the US. There are exceptional universities in both countries with world class minds. Neither is better than another, they just have different ways of doing things.
I lived in the US for 4 months as part of a summer exchange programme and loved it. I even worked in the 'arm-pit' that is the New Jersey coast and it was thoroughly enjoyable. The country has got many things going for it, the exceptional natural landscape, the friendly people (believe it or not!!) and in my point of view a more rounded quality of life. There are also many equally disreputable points of the arrogance of how the world revolves around the great US of A amongst others.
No where is perfect, you just make the best place you can at that point in time.
Dont forget, it has huge inequality and poverty and the major cities are polluted to hell in the vast majority. People communite further, work long hours. The US is not really heaven on Earth. I know they like you to think it is the best place in the world, but just dont be conned into thinking it is all some Disney land heaven.:beer:0 -
I am not sure if you are looking at lecturing posts in the States but the American Major student tends to be much more out spoken than the British student. American Students will talk and talk and talk so just make sure you are good at leading classes before you go.:beer:0
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studentphil wrote:Dont forget, it has huge inequality and poverty and the major cities are polluted to hell in the vast majority. People communite further, work long hours. The US is not really heaven on Earth. I know they like you to think it is the best place in the world, but just dont be conned into thinking it is all some Disney land heaven.
No-one could forget that, although I agree that USA Inc would have you believe otherwise. All of what you say is true.
I think what I and misskool are saying is that there are wonderful things out there too.Says James, in my opinion, there's nothing in this world
Beats a '52 Vincent and a red headed girl0 -
studentphil wrote:Back 20 years ago you could land a senior lecturers or research post oversea in somewhere like Singapore without the need for a PHD but now you seem to have to have a MSc, PHD, whole research history and publications lists. Back then I know of people back then that got really good jobs at universities overseas with a BSc Third Class Hons ONLY.
It is so much harder these days and you almost have to be a God to get a good post now.
:rotfl: :rotfl:
Phil, sometimes you say the most stupid things.
What is wrong with higher standards? Are you saying that third world countries deserve third rate education? If you want to be a lecturer, you must be prepared to do the work and take the learning curve that comes with it.
And nowadays no one has an automatic lecturer post when they finish their phd, they do a postdoc or a few postdocs and find what their niche. Yes, it is hard to get a lecturer's post, there is no denying that but shipping underqualified phds to the third world will not solve your problem either.
Besides, you are only meant to be 20 or somewhere quite young, so how long ago is back then?
:rotfl: :rotfl: I am going back to work now, everyone thinks I am weird for having tears streaming down my eyes from laughing too much after reading your last post.0
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