Change of PhD - (May/05/2010 )

gebirgsziege on May 5 2010, 05:27 PM said:

WHAT?
Only 3 years to get your PhD???

And what you need to get a master first????????????????? Does this mean you can start your PhD and then while doing the PhD get a masterdegree too??? Or??

pito on May 17 2010, 03:29 PM said:

no its about 1 / 1,5 / 2 years to get your master and<b> after you finished your master you can start a PhD which is in average 3 - 4 years.

But you can change the field; ie I did my master in bacteriology and then did my PhD in mycology.

edit: they changed something during the last years (Bologna) but do not exactly know what

in Britain you dont need a masters to do a PhD just a good degree and yeah its just 3 years...

Yes, 3 years is the standard time for a full time PhD in UK.

Lots of PhD programs have a "1+3" style system now, where you do a "Masters by Research" for one year first (sometimes people with enough research experience already can skip this). Usually it involves one year of research, often done as 3 mini projects in different labs, which allows you to select the lab you'd like to stay in for your PhD.

3-4 years is also the standard time for a PhD in Australia. In fact, my university requires submission within 4 years unless there are extreme extenuating circumstances.
You need either an 1st or high 2nd class honours degree (honours is an extra year on top of your degree) or a masters (usually 2 years) to be eligible to do a PhD.

I agree with than4. If 'general nastiness' is an issue, please find a sympathetic faculty member and switch. Some institutions have written policies against hopping labs, but dire circumstances can merit an approved switch. Sometimes, students get a raw deal or people just don't get along...and there is nothing to be gained by toughing it out.

I'm not surprised that the committee isn't involved; in my experience, they are typically the last to know about stuff like this. She should definitely speak with someone outside the lab, such as a graduate coordinator, and make her position clear before something (more) unpleasant happens--such as the PI deciding to drop her--so she can salvage some references if she does decide to move to another field/lab.

I have found that PIs tend to side with their staff over their students, as the staff are typically there for the long-term and good relationships with them are essential to the success of the lab.

Sorry I sound so pessimistic. The best advice I ever got from a prof was: "Flow like water." Sometimes that means passing through rocky paths. Sometimes that means cutting a new path altogether. Either way, move forward.

Noone seems to be interested in her at all and the situation is getting worse... She cries all the time....

What I really want to know is what are the chances of her getting another PhD post somewhere else if she walks away? Would future PIs touch her with a bargepole?

I have not been following this discussion but just my 2 yens .. if there is a chance of getting another PhD, what are the chances that the other lab is not similar or worse?

Kami23 on May 18 2010, 11:43 AM said:

That's a question I can't answer based on my own limited experience. My faculty friends tell me that sometimes you must recognize when there is nothing left for you, where you are now, and you must find someplace else. The only thing to follow you will be the letters of recommendation that you choose to follow you.

From my own personal experience, having walked away from a "perfectly good job" that was making me unhappy others will understand and be willing to take a chance on you.

However, this means that your friend needs to have some sense of self-worth left to be able to sell herself to someone else and to make a case for why she left her current PhD position. She will need to do this as objectively and without emotion as she can. This will be extremely difficult and it may require her to have a break from science for a little while to get over it.

Keep supporting her and good luck to both of you.