As Ed says, go for PNG due to lossless compression. If you use JPG, especially at high compression, artefacts could show up as "smearing" on screen or in print.

If you can't use PNG, stick to TIFF or BMP. The files are uncompressed but other factors allowing, the images should be clean.

Also remember to avoid compression for images when you do a PDF for submission, as this will also introduce artefacts and "smearing" into any imported images.

Ian

I passed earlier in the year than two of my colleagues, meaning I was valid for an earlier graduation date than they were (July rather than December). That said, we discussed the possibility of us all going for our awards in December to make a day of it. They were overseas students and once they were given their pass letter, could return for the December graduation.

I reckoned without my parents, who bluntly said waiting until December would take away the moment for them. It would be nine months after rather than four. They got their way and a July graduation it was.

That said, I had the pleasure of my second supervisor tripping up as he went on stage alongside me and I did know two of the undergrads, one of whom took the piss out of my lurid blue PhD gown. He basically just stood there, pointed and laughed. There were others who wondered what the lurid gown was (I felt like a transvestite on acid).

As it happened, things went a little wrong for the other two lads. One was told bluntly he had three days to sort out his thesis and submit, or be failed. My mother and I got hold of his thesis over the weekend and basically grammar corrected it. He submitted and was passed with minor corrections in the end. The other one submitted a little later, however, circumstances meant he did not attend the December graduation and as far as I know accepted in abstentia. I think because his family couldn't make it, he didn't consider it worthwhile after our plan collapsed.

I felt being there on the day did round it off for me and my parents got their day out. I thought the ceremony was a little comical at the time, though that said, I'm now glad it was as it made it more fun. I'd say do the graduation ceremony if you can if only for family as it allows them to celebrate with you.

Ian

Another bump - if you want strange, take a look at this lot!!!

Apparently bats perform fellatio and it extends copulation.

Ian

Just do an internet search "PhD by published works" and you'll be able to see which Universities offer this and what the rules and regulations are in each case..

I know some Universities will offer this to external candidates or people who did not graduate from that University, but you'll need an evening to check the rules and regulations for each University. You'll also have to be sure the University has a relevant faculty to your subject.

You may also want to read this:

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/features/looks-good-on-paper/416988.article

Ian

Any possibility of a Uni. outside India?

You might want to consider PhD via published works, available at some British Unis. You could use your book chapters and any journal publications in support.

Note only a couple will offer PhD via published works to non-staff members or non-graduates of the University. There was another post on here about this a while back.

Ian

Yes, I did back in industry and outside academia though it took nearly a year.

I'll add, however, my problems were compounded by problems on the second post-doc with the senior Prof. and his side-kick. As I've explained elsewhere I was offered the post, then I believe the Prof. had changed his mind but couldn't back out because I'd signed the contract. We were stuck with each other, with me not able to leave as I would be without income (if you leave voluntarily, you can't claim unemployment benefit in the UK).

It says it all when you turn up to start the job and the Prof. says to a third person as though you aren't there, "He's a stop gap measure, very much a second choice, we'll just have to make do." Another person had apparently turned down the contract and the said Prof. had a reputation for confrontation - a previous employee had taken him to industrial tribunal for bullying.

Whilst I saw out the contract, it was an uncomfortable period and I ended up leaving without a reference. A difficult situation was made even harder as a result.

This is how I'm able to relate to those that have had bad experiences as well as good, as I've been at the receiving end of both.

That said, I still don't regret the PhD or for that matter, the first post-doc. But the second post-doc was a mistake (I knew of the tribunal before I signed the contract, but dismissed it as nothing to do with me) and because of that, I am no longer following the career path I thought I would be doing.

However, if the whole process works out, you may have a platform to sell yourself.

Ian

I opted to leave my job after 5 years to take up a PhD, basically because I wanted a new challenge. The PhD provided me with that challenge, to contribute something new and original to my chosen field.

I'd had the idea for a while, however, opted to enter the jobs market after graduation as after a few years of undergrad then masters I needed a break. My plan was to return after a year, but circumstances meant this became 5 years (failed applications plus finding time to apply). I eventually succeeded via speculative applications to a few Universities and there was a project that suited me.

Generally, my PhD experience was good, with a knowledgeable primary supervisor. As with all academics, he was a little eccentric but that is par for the course. It was also useful having my predecessor on the project around, but this was not a situation I abused. After four years, I passed with minor corrections.

I then did two post-docs, one good, one not so good. After the second post-doc, that's when I had difficulties. Put simply, I and others have found selling ourselves with a PhD risks us being seen as "overqualified" or "likely to move on as soon as something better comes along". Also, people with PhDs are perceived as not being target driven and more dismissive of deadlines. How to overcome this depends upon the individual's ability to sell themselves, however, being interviewed in the first place can itself be a challenge (i.e. deprioritising education on your CV, targeting your skills - both PhD and non-PhD - to the job your after, etc.).

If you aim to stay in academia, be also aware there is an oversupply of PhDs to available positions, so that in itself is a hard sell.

I don't regret doing a PhD and would do the same if I had my time over again, but problems are there to be encountered

Have a look at my blog on PhDs for more information.

http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net

Ian

You admitted yourself that your anger pushed some of your friends away. Whilst I take the point on not hanging out with your "old friends", I'm not really in apposition to judge whether or nor they were "fair weather" or not. It may be there are one or two amongst them who could really be of help, know what happened and simply explaining to them you weren't in a good place because of what happened may bring them back on side to support you. I'm simply just trying to make a helpful observation.

As regards your Prof., were there any witnesses to this or was he careful to keep comments verbal? You are describing what sounds like a constructive dismissal case if you've evidence in print.

As to how I moved on, events and "personal" circumstances that followed did not allow me to dwell on what happened as my attention was needed elsewhere. My mind was occupied thus the hurt had time to fade.

Ian

I asked the question to gain clarity on your situation. I was not accusing you of anything or actually making a judgement. I'm actually UK-based, not American.

In my case, the Prof. who hired me apparently changed his mind. However, as I'd signed the contract, we were stuck with each other. If I left, I wasn't entitled to unemployment benefit. If he removed me, I hadn't given any just cause for dismissal as I was doing my job. But it was an uncomfortable situation.

Ian

Aye, fair comment.

I'd rethink that question to be fair. :-)

Ian

You are finished when you sign over the hard copies and PDF of you thesis to the registrar, once the examiners (or internal examiner if minor corrections) have accepted your corrections post-viva.

A letter will then come through the post shortly after to confirm the award of your PhD.

If the worst you have incurred is minor corrections, you can effectively call yourself "Dr." post viva. It's a strange feeling when the examiners say "Congratulations Dr. Nesrine!!!".

However, you don't officially become "Dr." until you receive the letter - I was addressed as "Dr." in print for the first time at this point. The actual certificate and (if you want it) graduation ceremony are window dressing if you like.

Some will argue with some validity that point comes when you sign over the hard copies and PDF of the thesis to the registrars as the examiners have already accepted your corrections.

Ian

Having had not too dissimilar experience on my second post-doc (after a good PhD and 1st post-doc), you have my sympathies. I saw out the post-doc, however, there was no love lost between the prof. and myself when I left. Basically, it was largely responsible for the possibility of a research career path.

I ended up leaving without a reference and a mixture of being "overqualified" for various normal jobs and the lack of a reference from my most recent job caused a great deal of difficulty. It took me a year to find employment outside academia and research. That year now means these days I'm simply grateful to have a job. I know there's no going back now.

I can't give an easy answer to your problem, except you have to move on from your dismissal from your PhD. If you don't, it will continue to eat you up inside and you'll find yourself in a vicious circle of depression and doubt you seem to be in. Other personal circumstances meant I psychologically had to move on and stop thinking about what happened, and once I stopped thinking about it as I moved further into my non-academic job then began to feel happier.

As regards your employment situation, can you not sell yourself on skills gained during your studies (i.e. analytical and research skills, networking, experimental techniques if science-based, knowledge gained, etc.)? How can you be an asset to a potential employer rather than just looking to fill a job?

As regards the dismissal, can I ask why you were asked to leave? Whilst you have clearly lashed out at people around you (this is never a good plan), there's an element of you blaming yourself with you mentioning the shame you feel. As I intimated above, you need to move on from this.

Would apologising to them allow you to reform these friendships and at least allow you some degree of support?

Ian

You say they are asking you to concentrate on the project description and not the material you find most interesting?

At 2 years, 10 months, I would say you should be looking to write up. At this stage focussing on what is required by the project description (i.e. what the project was originally aiming to determine) is probably the shortest path to completing your PhD. I would not be looking at going off on a tangent at this stage - taking the project in a new direction is normally for an earlier stage if you have, say, a dramatic, ground breaking new finding. I personally would just be wanting to get the thesis written up, submitted and putting the PhD behind you.

This may seem a little contradictory, however, your supervisors' absences are not helping and I wonder if suspending until at least one of them is fully available might be an idea, as clearly you need to discuss the differences you have with them face-to-face rather than by intermittent e-mails. This will at least give you a break and a chance to fully think through what path you want to take. Whilst I would want to push for the finish at 2 years and 10 months, not having either present and you having different ideas from them could be the difference between minor corrections and a revise and resubmit decision come viva time. As a last resort, you may want to ask about a change in supervision, however, given they know your project this is not something you should do unless you have to.

Ian

I'll read later when I have time, however, the words "cheap labour" are already entering my head.

Ian

Yes, though as mentioned be prepared possibly to lose funding. The project may be offered to someone else, delayed further because funding has to be reapplied for or cancelled on refunding to funding body.

Alternatively, the student may be allowed to proceed as self-funded, with the student being left either to fork out themselves or apply and / or look for funding themselves.

A better option if you really need to delay is possibly to start the project, see how it goes then suspend for six months (plus statutory maternity leave if this is the reason) avoiding the loss of funding.

Ian