Signup date: 06 Aug 2012 at 1:43pm
Last login: 08 Jan 2019 at 5:27pm
Post count: 477
Get as much feedback as you can! I've read many times on this site about supervisors being unwilling to read work, so it's great that your supervisors are so involved. It will help improve your work. Some feedback is useless of course, so don't feel you have to incorporate every suggestion.
I would very much doubt you'd get a statistician to agree to this! As part of the PhD you need to learn how to conduct research, so acquiring these skills is vital. There should be courses for training in SPSS. My supervisor didn't know about the particular techniques I was employing - it will often be the case you need to ask for help from other people.
Definitely important to state somewhere that you have your viva and the result. Some institutions are quite finicky, one I was going to apply to only counted "having the PhD" as having had the award confirmed by Senate. Ridiculous I know.
Technically until the award is conferred by Senate (or the equivalent), you cannot call yourself Doctor (even when the corrections are accepted).
Absolutely nothing wrong with applying for several posts simultaneously. It's what you have to do. The only caution is that the more you do, the less polished (and specific) each application tends to be - so it may be in your interest to not do too many.
I was in an awkward situation where it looked like the interview for one job would come before the interview for the job I preferred. Personally I wouldn't accept the first job then go to the second interview in the hope of getting my preferred job, but I know lots of people would.
I am reminded of an excellent quotation of Albert Einstein
If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?
Remember the PhD is a marathon not a sprint!
Just break the PhD down into tasks. The first task is getting research training and deciding on your exact research question(s). Looking at the whole thing will seem daunting.
So don't have too high expectations for your first month.
I'm feeling the same way after my first week of a Postdoc, and having to tell myself the same things.
It's understandable and perfectly fair that the contribution of others has been reflected in authorship. There is a lot of work in preparing a manuscript for publication.
Do they "wish" for that experience or require it? Either way, I tend to agree with ToL. There's such a tight job market, applying for posts where you don't fit the criteria is likely to dishearten you.
Why would a control group be unethical?
Chococake's advice is excellent. It is always good to go back to a piece of work after some time ('drawer time').
I imagine every viva's different. There are questions you're very likely to be asked like "why this project?", "what are your main findings?" , "where does this research lead next?" , "why did you choose this methodology?"
It's also OK to say "I don't know". My external asked me if a particular legal decision contradicted one of my conclusions, and I said I didn't think so because of A but I would go back and read the case again. Better than seeming a know-it-all or arrogant I think.
Above all, remember the results rests on the thesis. Your performance in the viva is probably neither here nor there.
The end of the PhD is difficult even without the personal loss you have suffered, for which you have my condolences. So often family and friends are so instrumental in helping someone through the PhD. And yes, thinking about the next step is quite daunting. It is not easy getting an academic job or postdoc, you have to persevere. I had given up getting a job for this academic year, but I have just landed something. Away from home, but having a job is the most important thing. I'm sure your sister would have been immensely proud of you.
Yes, obtaining a good supply of tea is essential! Hence why USA out of the question.
Good point about beta-blockers - I've taken them for important vivas or job interviews and really helped me.
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