Overview of Hugh on PostgraduateForum.com

Overview of Hugh

Signup date: 12 Mar 2010 at 9:38am

Last login: 24 May 2017 at 8:31pm

Post count: 1264

Recent Posts

Mendeley vs EndNote vs Zotero

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

Quote From pixie:

Hi Chococake, you're right Mendeley does support Harvard and my department is based on Harvard with irritating minor changes! I'm not sure about getting things from uni catalogues, I tend to just download pdfs and then dump them into mendeley and this seems to work well. You can also add a web importer tool but I don't tend to use it because it just seems to import the reference but not the file. It also has a cite while you write tool which is very useful.

At least if you choose a free one and you don't like it then you won't lose any money :-)

True :). I've just downloaded Mendeley and the trial vesion of EndNote, and I have to say Mendeley just feels so much better and appealing to the eyes. EndNote feels like I'm still living in the days of Windows 1998.

Useful links

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

======= Date Modified 13 Jan 2011 11:36:00 =======

Quote From Cate:

UK THESES FREE TO DOWNLOAD

Just register and download theses examples for free at http://ethos.bl.uk/Home.do;jsessionid=EF08627811FEC625825FAE29AB7FE66D

[Any other similar resources from around the world?]

Great resource. Thanks for that :)

Recording Supervisions

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

Quote From joyce:

I would ask first, just to make sure they don't mind, some may feel uncomfortable with it - or might even think you might use it against them at a later date, if, for example you want to question the amount of support you are getting compared with others, and it would be polite to do so.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

Mendeley vs EndNote vs Zotero

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

Quote From clarabelle:

I'm really liking Zotero at the moment, Cate. Zotero is a Firefox extension, so if you're an Internet Explorer type then it's not for you! It's very easy to download and, of course, free! It sits as part of your web browser (sits in the bottom right hand corner of your web browser screen and you get full screen when you click on it. You can import directly from most electronic journals and JStor etc. and can link to existing pdfs you have too.

Clarabelle, thanks for the detailed review. I think I will give Zotero a try and see how it goes. It is free so one can't go wrong! :)

Recording Supervisions

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

Quote From star-shaped:

Yes I often do. My main supervisor talks A LOT and I find it difficult to make notes as he's talking so from a couple of months in I have recorded all of our meetings. We also have group supervision and data sessions which people often record.

I'm sure your supervisor won't mind, it shows that you are being attentive!

Great, thanks. I'll be recording then :)

The result of the PhD interview

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

Quote From Ady:

Sorry to hear that, I had a bad feeling when you got the brush off from the office. I also was rejected a few times which makes an offer, when it comes, all the sweeter.

The same for me too. I was rejected from a few, and it was really hard to take. But couple of months down the line I was given a project, that I probably didn't even dream of. So hang in there, you'll find something even better. Best of luck :)

Recording Supervisions

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

Hi,

I read in one of the PhD guides that it is a good idea to record supervisions, just incase you've missed something or want to refer back to it at some stage. I would like to record the initial supervisions until I am comfortable in my own shoes. However, I don't want to start on the wrong foot with my supervisor!

Does anyone record supervisions, and are supervisors generally ok with it?

Thanks :)

Mendeley vs EndNote vs Zotero

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

Quote From pixie:

I've been using Mendeley for a couple of months now following a previous recommendation on this forum. So far it's been good and I've been able to use it all the computers I work on. The only issue I have is that as far as I can tell it doesn't support the exact same referencing format my department requires for a reference list (it may be there and my department does seem to be very particular in what they want) although admittedly I haven't spent that long going through the different formats because it's a bit boring tbh! Therefore a bit of manual editing is required.

Thank you Pixie! :) As far as I know my department is happy with Harvard, which I'm sure Mendeley supports. How does Mendeley cope with pulling references from your university catalouge?

Is this a positive or negative answer?

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

Quote From qwert:

First, I thought the same: that the words used in the answer mail are neutral about the outcome. But then I wondered (although not 100% sure how the decisions are made): If they have 1 place, they need to decide for 1 candidate. But wouldnt they contact that candidate first to see if he/she accepts the offer? As if that candidate declines, they might offer it to the 2nd candidate on their list.

This is what is normally done. Best of luck though, you just never know!

Mendeley vs EndNote vs Zotero

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

Quote From sneaks:

I use endnote, but only because its what I started the PhD with. If I had my time again I'd use Mendely because I've not heard a bad word against it, it sounds amazing and great to use if you work in multiple locations e.g. home, work, cafe etc.

Thanks! Are you aware if there is anything I'd miss out on if I use Mendeley instead of EndNote? My university library doesn't even mention Mendeley, that is why I am slightly worried.

Mendeley vs EndNote vs Zotero

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

Hi,

Does anyone have any recommendations as to which software I should use to collect references?

Mendeley and Zotero are free, whereas I'd have to pay around a £100 for EndNote, to get a license on my personal machine. Which one do you use?

More on Mendeley here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2010/jul/05/mendeley-activate

Acceptance letter PhD

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

Quote From Ariajolie:

Dear All

When you get an email if you ahve been accpeted into a PhD studentship do they normally have to attach an acceptance letter to that email? Has there been cases where they just send you an email that you got it but without any formal cover letter? especially fi it was a studentship?

Thanks

AJ

Yes, I am in the same situation. I have an informal promise of a studentship, though I have a formal offer of study from the university. I am trusting my supervisor's word, and she has promised it will be sorted once I start.

Informal interview and formal interview- whats the difference?

Hugh 1264 posts
13 years ago

An informal interview will be a chat over a coffee/tea. Though it wont be like a formal interview, you should take it just as seriously and prepare all the answers they are likely to ask. They are likely to ask all the questions they'd ask in a formal interview, but in an informal relaxed manner, with no formalities. They could base a decision just on an informal interview; that is what my supervisor did. So best of luck x

Just sent my last chapter off

Hugh 1264 posts
14 years ago

Congrats! :)

Passed my Viva yesterday :)

Hugh 1264 posts
14 years ago

Congratulations! What perfect timing ... :)