three years and four months and NO papers - Is this career suicide???? (Aug/01/2007 )

Hi All,

Sorry to moan, but I'm really fed up today!

I'm the only lab-based researcher in a clinical department. I archive the samples and do a little histology and molecular biology.

My boss is a very high flying clinical academic and today, for the fourth time, he has submitted a paper on behalf of the group to the (big journal) with everyone but me on. Of course I understand why I'm not on the paper, because I don't contribute to the clinical work, but it is very very very hard to be the ONLY one left out AGAIN!! when everyone else is on. He even puts the girl who does the photocopying on it!!! As well as all the docs and nurses and secretaries. They don't need papers, whereas my career depends on them!!!!!

My papers, he sits on, or changes so many times that I forget what it was I was supposed to be writing about.

I'm not going to be heading a lab anytime soon and the job is very good otherwise and I guess it's mine as long as the money is there. So maybe I should just shut up and swallow my pride???

But it's still hard!!!

:sad: :cry:

---

Cheer up! I do agree that it is odd if you are serious about the photocopy girl getting credit and not you. If I were you I would talk to someone about it. Maybe not the big shot boss, but a friend first, and see if he or she thinks it is appropriate to talk to the boss. And in my opinion if you are contributing scientific data then you deserve credit, esp. before someone who only makes photocopies.
Maybe he does not realize how you feel and there is something you can do. Just remember that this is your life and your job and you deserve to be happy with it, don't let people disrespect you, because you can DEFINITELY find a place to work where you will be happy and respected.
I used to be so naive and think that every person has good intentions, I never wanted to stand up for myself because I thought it would be rude. In a lab that I was once in, the PI totally took advantage of me, wanted me to do excessive amounts of experiments in a day, stay in the lab from 9am-7pm practically every day, and on top of that he was a jerk to me (as he was to a lot of ppl). I let it happen for like 2 months and then I sat him down one day and told him that the two most important things in the lab are 1.) liking the research, and 2.) liking the time you spend there, and that I was not happy with the time I spend there, because of him (well that is not exactly how I phrased it )
It worked for one day, and then the next day he was Mr. Jerk again, so I told him the same thing, and that maybe the first time he didn't think I was serious.
Then he told me he was sorry and he did not want to lose me, blah blah blah- point is this time it worked. He made an effort, (at least in his own way) to change.

Moral of the story: Life is too short not to be happy every day! Try to fix your problem, or find a place where you feel respected. It won't be hard to, it will just seem hard at first.

---

I feel sorry for you. You would make something wrong with your boss? such as not wanting to help other guys's job..
I think you should try to make a paper by yourself, give some idea for other guy when they report. Just take a positive toward them! I think it is hard, but you can give it a try!

---

Outside of work, I'm an avid gamer. The online gaming community has an expression people often use to sum this up

"Less QQ, more pew pew"

basically: stop crying and get back to shooting at things

I'm still early in my career trajectory; but my advice would be to submit what you have, even its in a lower tier journal, and write a review paper. Once they are submitted and out for review - start looking for another job. The review process, and the follow-up experiments that reviewers will ask for, will likely take as long as the job search. Your description of your work situation sounds... awful. ABANDON SHIP!

---

you have chosen the wrong patron, look for another one; try to do your own research

---

Wow, thanks everyone for your comments. Everyone is really kind and it has cheered me up a lot. I guess its true to write your own papers is a very good thing, but it is quite scary and hard. I am so busy at work all day and then when I get home, I'm just too tired and sit and veg in front of the tv. I don' t know how my boss does it at all with it seems like three or four papers a month!! and then some big ones from time to time. I don't know if I could ever do that!

---

Don't worry! Just start with a good mind map and it will just go on.

---