PhD Postgraduate Forum - A more interesting PhD has come along

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Author	Message
Meniscus [Registered User] 25 January 2017 22:43	A more interesting PhD has come along User: Meniscus - 25 January 2017 22:43 Hi there, I posted on here some time back to gather opinions on whether a PhD would be right for me (http://www.postgraduateforum.com/thread-47384/). Thanks again to those who helped me out. I was formerly a member of university staff and had been encouraged to pursue a PhD for some time. Against my better judgement (and the consensus in the thread) I accepted, and am coming to the end of month four. Still early days but it’s not been too bad on the whole; I’m not enjoying having to jump through the hoops put in place by the PhD system and the project isn’t entirely up my street, but I seem to have the freedom to take it in a direction that could better suit my skills and interests. I’m worried I’m already losing touch with it by being distracted by the (more interesting) projects that I was involved with previously, but I knew what I was signing up for. However, I have a shiny new dilemma – a PhD has come along that is much more interesting. While I eventually accepted my current PhD after a bit of persuasion and a lot of soul searching, had this one been on offer I would have accepted in a heartbeat. It’s a topic that plays to my strengths and, more importantly, I am passionate about. I’m not exaggerating when I say the passion has been lifelong – in fact, (and I’m not making this up) the project title is almost word for word what an eight year old me replied when asked what I wanted to do when I grow up! Conveniently, the project has been proposed by my current supervisor. Rather less conveniently, there’s someone lined up for it. I know the only course of action is to talk things through with my supervisor, but the fact that he’s already earmarked someone makes it difficult to broach. Anyone been in a similar position or have any thoughts on how to approach it? Thanks :-)
TreeofLife [Registered User] 26 January 2017 10:36	User: TreeofLife - 26 January 2017 10:36 I'd just say I was really interested in that project, any chance I could get involved? And see what response you get. If favourable, then say it more seriously and say you would prefer to be working on that project.
Hugh [Registered User] 27 January 2017 11:46	User: Hugh - 27 January 2017 11:46 Definitely speak to him about it face to face, or else you'll regret it.
pm133 [Registered User] 27 January 2017 17:36	User: pm133 - 27 January 2017 17:36 Quote From Meniscus: Hi there, I posted on here some time back to gather opinions on whether a PhD would be right for me (http://www.postgraduateforum.com/thread-47384/). Thanks again to those who helped me out. I was formerly a member of university staff and had been encouraged to pursue a PhD for some time. Against my better judgement (and the consensus in the thread) I accepted, and am coming to the end of month four. Still early days but it’s not been too bad on the whole; I’m not enjoying having to jump through the hoops put in place by the PhD system and the project isn’t entirely up my street, but I seem to have the freedom to take it in a direction that could better suit my skills and interests. I’m worried I’m already losing touch with it by being distracted by the (more interesting) projects that I was involved with previously, but I knew what I was signing up for. However, I have a shiny new dilemma – a PhD has come along that is much more interesting. While I eventually accepted my current PhD after a bit of persuasion and a lot of soul searching, had this one been on offer I would have accepted in a heartbeat. It’s a topic that plays to my strengths and, more importantly, I am passionate about. I’m not exaggerating when I say the passion has been lifelong – in fact, (and I’m not making this up) the project title is almost word for word what an eight year old me replied when asked what I wanted to do when I grow up! Conveniently, the project has been proposed by my current supervisor. Rather less conveniently, there’s someone lined up for it. I know the only course of action is to talk things through with my supervisor, but the fact that he’s already earmarked someone makes it difficult to broach. Anyone been in a similar position or have any thoughts on how to approach it? Thanks :-) This is easy. Talk to your supervisor and ask if it would be possible to transfer.
sisyphus [Registered User] 18 February 2017 22:10	User: sisyphus - 18 February 2017 22:10 This is easy. Talk to your supervisor and ask if it would be possible to transfer. Yep, This
panchshila [Registered User] 20 February 2017 05:58	User: panchshila - 20 February 2017 05:58 i have completed MSc botony, now want ro do phd in medicin plant plz help me for sub of global issue on medicine plant which can i research on that
pf329 [Registered User] 22 February 2017 16:01	User: pf329 - 22 February 2017 16:01 At my university, if you transfer partway through a PhD, the "clock" isn't reset to zero, but continues from whenever you started at the university: anyone transferring to a new topic only has the remainder of their PhD registration (less than four years) to do a whole PhD. You say you're in month 4. If you're allowed to transfer, could you do a whole PhD in 44 months instead of 48 (assuming your university treats transfers the same way as mine)?

Author

Message

Meniscus

[Registered User]
25 January 2017 22:43

A more interesting PhD has come along

User: Meniscus - 25 January 2017 22:43

Hi there,

I posted on here some time back to gather opinions on whether a PhD would be right for me (http://www.postgraduateforum.com/thread-47384/). Thanks again to those who helped me out.

I was formerly a member of university staff and had been encouraged to pursue a PhD for some time. Against my better judgement (and the consensus in the thread) I accepted, and am coming to the end of month four. Still early days but it’s not been too bad on the whole; I’m not enjoying having to jump through the hoops put in place by the PhD system and the project isn’t entirely up my street, but I seem to have the freedom to take it in a direction that could better suit my skills and interests. I’m worried I’m already losing touch with it by being distracted by the (more interesting) projects that I was involved with previously, but I knew what I was signing up for.

However, I have a shiny new dilemma – a PhD has come along that is much more interesting. While I eventually accepted my current PhD after a bit of persuasion and a lot of soul searching, had this one been on offer I would have accepted in a heartbeat. It’s a topic that plays to my strengths and, more importantly, I am passionate about. I’m not exaggerating when I say the passion has been lifelong – in fact, (and I’m not making this up) the project title is almost word for word what an eight year old me replied when asked what I wanted to do when I grow up!

Conveniently, the project has been proposed by my current supervisor. Rather less conveniently, there’s someone lined up for it. I know the only course of action is to talk things through with my supervisor, but the fact that he’s already earmarked someone makes it difficult to broach. Anyone been in a similar position or have any thoughts on how to approach it?

Thanks :-)

TreeofLife

[Registered User]
26 January 2017 10:36

User: TreeofLife - 26 January 2017 10:36

I'd just say I was really interested in that project, any chance I could get involved? And see what response you get. If favourable, then say it more seriously and say you would prefer to be working on that project.

Hugh

[Registered User]
27 January 2017 11:46

User: Hugh - 27 January 2017 11:46

Definitely speak to him about it face to face, or else you'll regret it.

pm133

[Registered User]
27 January 2017 17:36

User: pm133 - 27 January 2017 17:36

Quote From Meniscus:
Hi there,

I posted on here some time back to gather opinions on whether a PhD would be right for me (http://www.postgraduateforum.com/thread-47384/). Thanks again to those who helped me out.

I was formerly a member of university staff and had been encouraged to pursue a PhD for some time. Against my better judgement (and the consensus in the thread) I accepted, and am coming to the end of month four. Still early days but it’s not been too bad on the whole; I’m not enjoying having to jump through the hoops put in place by the PhD system and the project isn’t entirely up my street, but I seem to have the freedom to take it in a direction that could better suit my skills and interests. I’m worried I’m already losing touch with it by being distracted by the (more interesting) projects that I was involved with previously, but I knew what I was signing up for.

However, I have a shiny new dilemma – a PhD has come along that is much more interesting. While I eventually accepted my current PhD after a bit of persuasion and a lot of soul searching, had this one been on offer I would have accepted in a heartbeat. It’s a topic that plays to my strengths and, more importantly, I am passionate about. I’m not exaggerating when I say the passion has been lifelong – in fact, (and I’m not making this up) the project title is almost word for word what an eight year old me replied when asked what I wanted to do when I grow up!

Conveniently, the project has been proposed by my current supervisor. Rather less conveniently, there’s someone lined up for it. I know the only course of action is to talk things through with my supervisor, but the fact that he’s already earmarked someone makes it difficult to broach. Anyone been in a similar position or have any thoughts on how to approach it?

Thanks :-)

This is easy. Talk to your supervisor and ask if it would be possible to transfer.

sisyphus

[Registered User]
18 February 2017 22:10

User: sisyphus - 18 February 2017 22:10

This is easy. Talk to your supervisor and ask if it would be possible to transfer.

Yep, This

panchshila

[Registered User]
20 February 2017 05:58

User: panchshila - 20 February 2017 05:58

i have completed MSc botony, now want ro do phd in medicin plant plz help me for sub of global issue on medicine plant which can i research on that

pf329

[Registered User]
22 February 2017 16:01

User: pf329 - 22 February 2017 16:01

At my university, if you transfer partway through a PhD, the "clock" isn't reset to zero, but continues from whenever you started at the university: anyone transferring to a new topic only has the remainder of their PhD registration (less than four years) to do a whole PhD.

You say you're in month 4. If you're allowed to transfer, could you do a whole PhD in 44 months instead of 48 (assuming your university treats transfers the same way as mine)?