PhD support group?

misskool

Hello and welcome!

First of all, first days anywhere is daunting, having to meet lots of new people and trying to fit into a strange environment. So, what you felt today was just normal!! It'll all make sense over the next few days and a lot of research departments are never organised or run well so don't worry!

Good luck and enjoy getting to know everyone in the next few days.

chd16

Hi,

Am also a chemistry PhD student - attempting to write up although the end is nearly in view............definitely the worst part of a pHd but I did know that before I started.

Good everyone with theirs

hostie

hi missiejackson:hello:
I just wanted to say hello and reassure you a bit about your first day. I haven't actually started yet (I enrol next week and start in Oct) but I thought I'd just write and re-iterate that any new job or new environment brings a bit of stress from the unknown factor and from the huge learning curve at the start. On top of that, research is quite a wierd specialised thing and since you are in the position of working on something that someone else came up with it will take you extra time to get your head round the project etc. My (as yet unstarted) thesis is very elementary but if I had to explain it to a new person it would take them a while to understand some of the nuances of my ideas and my supervisors interesting but elusive ideas.

Stick in there, you will be fine.

I must go as I have still got to complete my dissertation for my MA before I start my research and it is hanging around like a bad smell!

sciencegeek

cupid_stunt wrote:

i was under the impression, in my field at least, that it is impossible to get a lectureship position with out at least a good few years post doc experience

so if you didn't get many publications during your PhD you still have probably 3 years of post doc work to get papers published before anyone will even look at you for a lectureship position.

yes this is kinda what I was getting at. In my field a lack of publications should not hold you back in your viva and if you have good research under your belt and some enthusiasm (amazing how the enthusiasm returns AFTER the viva) you should be able to find employment and write up any intersting results as and when you can.

But charts is correct, different fields work in different ways and the only way to tell in your own field is to ask ask ask around

sciencegeek

ahhh forgot to ask,

misskool, how on earth have you managed to achieve such an incredible thanks ratio! ive never seen anything like it!

misskool

sciencegeek wrote:

ahhh forgot to ask,

misskool, how on earth have you managed to achieve such an incredible thanks ratio! ive never seen anything like it!

I used to post the answers on the pigsback thread when the questions changed at midnight.

Ocassionally I post something nice and helpful too.

mlbarrett

misskool, talksalot81, hostie, melancholly.

Many thanks to each of you for your thread posts. Reading them did make me feel better, think I was just having a major bad day.
I have checked up of the things that you all suggested.

Have missed the deadline for the BFWG website, but worth thinking about for future reference.

As for the university accommodation office, you'd get more use from a chocolate kettle. I once had a week when a rent contract had finished and I was moving into post-grad uni house the following weekend. Even though the new place was newly built and ready to move in, they refused to let me have the extra week. They suggested a hotel (!!) instead. Thankfully a friend put me up. They're only interested in the full 40 or 50 week contracts they offer. Should have seen what I wrote on the end-of-year survey they put through the door!! However, have spoken to a friend of my boyfriend and she's willing to rent her spare room to me for as long as I need, even asking if I wanted to room painting another colour! Sounds like this opportunity shouldn't be dismissed! :j

I spoke to my old Director of Studies today, who turned up at a student conference that was being held at uni. He told me that I should have £1000 per year for equipment, travel expenses etc. My current Dirctor of Studies will love to hear this! Tuition fees are automatically paid from the uni funding for the project so that's something I don't need to worry about.

Sounds like things are on the up!! :T

missejackson

hi Hostie,

Thanks for reassuring me! I am a total stress-head! I went to a conference today which gave me a broader understanding. Still confused about my contribution though!!! Met the other research assistants who said that it has taken them a month to bed down and get their head around an idea. So we are all in the same boat which i suppose helps!

missejackson

hi misskool,

Like I said to Hostie I am a total stress-head and worry about everything. I know what you mean about disorganised departments - I worked in one as a Masters postgrad and it was all over the place. I have come from working for an organised local government department where you were clear of your role to an environment where it's a case of being self-sufficient and using your own initiative. You make your own fortune as they say!

hostie

Hi there, I wonder if anyone can help me? I am trying to sort out my budget as I will be moving away from my present home, I think, so that I can get to the library every day. A friend has offered me a room for £500 per month all inlusive but it seems like a big chunk of my money and want to think carefully before I accept since I will have about £200 train fares on top of that.

Are PhD students exempt from council tax?

Are full time PhD / MPhil students entitled to a young person's railcard? (I am 30:eek: )

I am in receipt of an AHRC award but I also have a part time job, which isn't related to my field of study but which I love. In the guidance notes it says that award holders can do up to 6 hours a week if they let the AHRC know. I have been thinking about keeping my job on, at least innitally while I start my research... but I think that it works out more than 6 hours a week. It says in the guidance notes that award holders can lose their award if they keep working and do not advise the AHRC. Has anyone heard of this happening?

I will actually be able to reduce my working hours by getting friends to take shifts for me so in the end I won't be doing more than 6 hours a week and there are some benefits to my studies associated with my job. I wouldn't be able to prove that I am only doing a few hours a week though as on paper my contract states that I have to work more than that.

Any help on these things or other financial tips would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks