PhD support group?

laserboy_2

misskool wrote:

and there are a few of us on here who won't continue to academia (sadly I love research too much to give up the long hours, crap pay etc etc) so can I ask what motivated you lot to get a phd?

What events or set of events directed that you should be obsessed with a minor detail of something small for 3 years? (or more!!)

My reasons were fairly simple - everyone in a supervisory position at the PharmaCo where I did an industrial placement had one. Seemed to me like the only way to get ahead in future was to get a PhD.

I worked for a year after graduating before starting mine. Not that it helped much as I still took 4.5 years to finish. Possibly because I didn't find pure research very motivating and tended to do very little when the lasers were broken; they broke down a lot...

So, would I do the same again and has it helped my career?

I'd still do a PhD, but I'd do a masters in a related field first as i think this may have led me down a different line of research.

Has it helped? I think so. I work for another PharmaCo now. There is a perception among managers that PhDs will progress faster than "mere" graduates and I certainly think I get more opportunities and responsibilities than I would without a PhD.

cupid_s

misskool wrote:

hey cupid_stunt: did you ever figure out your western blotting problems?

and there are a few of us on here who won't continue to academia (sadly I love research too much to give up the long hours, crap pay etc etc) so can I ask what motivated you lot to get a phd?

What events or set of events directed that you should be obsessed with a minor detail of something small for 3 years? (or more!!)

Hi
never sorted western blotting problems! Still trying various things and blagging free new samples of antibodies to check if it's these though i doubt it.

Anyway, when I started my PhD I had every intention of carrying on and having a lovely long career in academia. I honestly thought I wanted to be an academic researcher. It was only after doing this course for a couple of years that I realised that in the long term it's not what I want to do. I still haven't discovered what I want to spend the rest of my life doing but I don't think it's this.

hostie

Oh dear, my dissertation was due in earlier this week and I am only ready to hand it in today. It is on film, my supervisor hasn't seen the films yet and I have lost one of them!!!! :eek: There is no way I can find another one!!!! My partner said 'you are writing a dissertation on film and you have LOST one of them' in an incredulous manner and I just thought. Oh dear. Sheer incompetence. :rotfl:
Hope everyone is well. Can't wait to get rid of this thing (with or without the missing DVD) and then start my PhD. Can't imagine what it must be like to have a WHOLE PhD to hand in!!!!!
Well done laserboy for completing.:T

laserboy_2

hostie wrote:

Well done laserboy for completing.:T

Thanks, though I should point out that I completed in 2002/3...

Just want to encourage others who have yet to finish. There is light at the end of the tunnel and there is life after a PhD...

hostie

Oops! I meant to congratulate Free radical for completing his - but congratulations to everyone since I'm at it.

misskool

Congrats to hostie on getting there!! woooooo....

Sorry, need to vent!!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Got my Western blot to work (sort of) and now realise I have 48 hours left before I go away for 3 weeks and I need to do my washing, pack and do more than 48 hours of lab work...

Sorry, I know I should be happy that I will be having a break, but when it's so near yet so far away....

Hope everyone else is ok with their work?

cjfthistle

Guys guys guys

Don't get too stressed about it. I did.

I was working part-time, teaching a course for 4th year u/grads, writing, reading worring about writing and reading and stressing and I blew up.

It got too much, I went nuts and now going through so much torment. I cannot believe that I will ever get my abilities back- although everyone says I will.

Remember, your mind is what makes you special. Look after it, because I didn;t and the best case scenario is now that I have just lost a year of my life.

The worst case scenario does not bear thinking about...

You'll get there, but if you think you need a break take a break. It may be a matter of life and death.

Chemgirl

cupid_stunt wrote:

i don't want to teach teach, i want to university teach. and these places are kinda reserved for people with a good few years post doc training which i don't want to do.

i don't think i could stay in research.

I feel the same way, I love the teaching part of my phd but the research stresses me out. I don't think I'm cut out for the unpredictability of it (I think I'm a bit of a control freak!!!!)
I don't want to teach in schools because kids can be so mean and I don't want to teach people who haven't chosen to be there. I'm easily upset, I'd end up crying if the kids were horrible to me and that wouldn't make for a very good teacher.

CrazyChemist_2

Chemgirl wrote:

I feel the same way, I love the teaching part of my phd but the research stresses me out. I don't think I'm cut out for the unpredictability of it (I think I'm a bit of a control freak!!!!)
I don't want to teach in schools because kids can be so mean and I don't want to teach people who haven't chosen to be there. I'm easily upset, I'd end up crying if the kids were horrible to me and that wouldn't make for a very good teacher.

Same with me a couple of years ago except I hate meeting people and despise daylight. That's why I'm a pathologist

(not actually true - I enjoy being outside but I also like the job )

melancholly

Chemgirl wrote:

I feel the same way, I love the teaching part of my phd but the research stresses me out.

i'm completely the other way around! doing my own work is what i love - having to deal with students who only barely want to be there drives me nuts. it's a shame that the good, diligent students who work hard get sidelined in my mind by those who don't turn up (or come 2 hours late for meetings!), or can't be bothered to do reading etc etc. i also hate marking........ i'd love to get a research fellowship after the phd but there aren't many of them around!