Yeah, I took business cards as well, forgot to mention that! Some conferences will already have allocated you a board/position to put up your poster, so you might not be able to choose where it goes. Depends on the conference and how big it is I guess. KB

Hey Buzzy! I see your point, but I think this could be really awkward to be honest. What sort of support has this academic offered? Supervision, general guidance, commenting on written work etc? Is he/she likely to deliver on what they've promised and do they know about the current situation with your existing supervisor? I think it would be hard to keep this sort of support a secret from your supervisor, and there might be problems further down the line. For example, would this person be named on publications, or acknowledged in your final thesis? Is there any way you can accept this sort of support without keeping it a secret from your sup? I'm guessing from what you say that this probably wouldn't go down well... KB

Hey! People have different styles with posters- I've been to conferences where there isn't actually anyone with the poster! Personally I like to take handouts with me (just A4 copies of the poster), and then if someone stops to look, offering them a handout can be an easy conversation starter. Sometimes people will just stop by and ask you to talk them through your poster, so make sure you can summarise it easily and concisely. With respect to the supervisor thing, I've found it to be okay. It can actually be a good chance to get to know someone better, if you get on with them that is! I was dreading 8 hours next to my sup on the plane journey over to the US last year, but we ended up having a laugh. My colleagues are all quite different at conferences- some are happy to go out in the evening for food and drinks etc, whereas others just prefer to go back to the hotel fairly early and chill out by themselves. And of course some of them have a busy schedule meeting up with other researchers and doing the networking thing, but I'm sure your sup will introduce you to people anyway. Good luck with it, and try to enjoy yourself! KB

Hey Jeezdoo, my supervisor does this as well, all the time. It make me paranoid as well, wondering what she says to other students behind my back. She doesn't just bitch about their work, although this is one of her favourite topics, she bitches about people's private lives as well. I don't know why she feels the need to do this, because she knows I'm good friends with all of the rest of the team. I just try not to participate in any such conversations. I do know she that she told a team-mate (and very good friend of mine) that my engagement to my boyfriend a few months ago was 'just ridiculous' because 'none of her friends went about behaving like that', but then she pretty much said it to my face as well. Quite frankly it's none of her business anyway. But then she's told me other students' work is rubbish, that they're never going to pass their PhD etc. I wish she's just keep it to herself, and I just ignore it as far as possible. I think that's all you can do. Best, KB

Hey! We've all been there lol! If it was me, I'd correct every single one of them, knowing that I'd be kicking myself when it came out in print and there were mistakes all over it. At the end of the day, even though content is the main thing, the use of language does impact on how you feel about something you've read, so I'd sort it. Who knows why the editor hasn't picked up on it! But I'm really fussy when I get a proof of something- I recently sent a 'final proof' back to the editors because the spacing throughout the whole paper was completely inconsistent and I thought it reflected badly upon me as the first author. But that's just me- everyone's different! Congrats on your paper! KB

Thanks- that sounds okay! I have seen about a dozen small-ish mistakes/typos acros the whole thesis so I guess that isn't too bad. Still, I don't think I've ever handed in anything with a single typo is before so I am a bit annoyed, but that's what you get for rushing things in before the deadline I suppose...I had to sacrifice some time to prepare for Wednesday's interview, but at least I got a good outcome from that! Cheers, KB

Hey all!

So I've started to prepare for my viva, after handing in my thesis on Monday. Because I was in a rush, I didn't have the chance to check it through quite as thoroughly as I would have liked. Now I'm reading it through, I've noticed a fair few typos and other (fairly minor) errors. Normally I'd never hand in a piece of work that hadn't been checked through with a fine toothcomb, and I'm a bit mortified at the errors I've overlooked (although I'm reasonably happy with the content).

Will these just go down as minor corrections? How many typos etc can you make and still get minor corrections? I've seen previous posts on this issue but I suppose I'm just looking for more reassurance!

Thanks! A nervous KB

Hey Matt. Unlucky, sounds like you were very close to getting it! I would definitely hang onto some hope, since it sounds like you made a great impression. As I found out myself this week- that does count for something. I was interviewed for a post-doc two weeks ago, which I didn't get (it went to someone with a PhD and a practitioner doctorate), but they said that they had been really impressed with me and would be interested in applying for further funding so I could join the team. Yesterday I went back over to see them again and was offered a post-doc; the day of the original interview they found out that they had another post-doc coming up, and were then able to offer it to me without advertising it since they had interviewed me so recently. So it's disappointing, and funding is scarce, but I would definitely follow it up, and even if you don't have luck this year, they might well agree to work with you on funding proposals so that you could join them for a PhD next year. Good luck with it! KB

Hey choco! I have always added my primary supervisor as second author, since she has always commented on several drafts of my papers before submission. I have also included her on my conference abstracts- certainly in our department, it is usual to mention everyone who worked on the project in some capacity (well, within reason!). I haven't mentioned my second sup on anything to date, because I really haven't seen much of him and he hasn't really contributed much apart from supporting recruitment of participants to some degree. Unless your sup has made no contribution at all, then I would put him/her down as second author. Apart from anything, I like people to see my name next to my supervisor's name and to be associated with her, because she's very well known and respected in her field and I think it reflects positively on the work that I produce and gives it some clout! Just my own opinion! Best, KB

Thanks everyone- I am really happy, although it's hard to celebrate properly with the viva hanging over me. Haven't done any prep at all yet so really need to knuckle down now.

Hey Catalinbond- it's at a different uni, so will need to move. It's about 130 miles from where I am now, so not a massive move, but a move nevertheless. Luckily it's still close to my family (about the same distance away from them as I am now but in a different direction) and my boyf will be moving with me, so that will make it easier. Been here for 8 years now though so it's gonna be a bit strange!!

Best, KB

Thanks everyone! Got the job I went for today, am so happy and also very relieved! Just need to pass the viva now...

Hey chococake- yeah, my submission and viva dates were moved forward so that I would be eligible to apply for a fellowship at my current uni, it is really unusual to have the viva so soon afterwards. In the end, after a further fall-out with my supervisor, I didn't submit my fellowship application. But submitting early has meant that I have been offered this post-doc at a different uni, so still pleased that it all got moved forwards. I could have done with another week or two to prepare though...

Best, KB

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After a rather long day I've been offered the post-doc I was interviewed for this morning! Really pleased- it's only for a year but it's in a team I really wanted to get onto so I'm more than happy with that! Hoping to work on proposals with them to stay on after the first year if all goes well....just gotta pass my viva now!

Keep plodding people- it just goes to show that even if you don't get the original job you went for (as in my case), if you make a good impression you will be remembered and they might even offer you a different job! The job I've just been offered is actually more senior than the one I went for a fortnight ago within the same team, although I have to admit, I would have preferred the other project lol! But so pleased to get something sorted!

Best, KB

Hey Mog! Definitely try another journal- it's good to show that you can publish in a variety of journals! I have 2 publications in the same journal but the others (accepted and submitted papers) are all in different journals. I was advised to go for different ones rather than developing 'favourites', although I know a lot of academics have a favoured journal or two where they know their work is likely to be accepted if they can't think of anywhere else to submit it or it gets rejected from other journals. Good luck! KB

Hi Hannie! I have my viva next week and am planning to combine smart and comfortable. I'm really not comfortable in starchy suits and it's too hot for that really, so I'm planning to wear a (fairly formal and plain) dress with a black cardigan over with tights and heels. Kind of something I might wear for a smart-ish office job. I think you should go for something you're comfortable in- I'm assuming it's obvious that you're pregnant by this stage, so no-one will blame you for going with a smart and tidy but comfortable outfit! Good luck with it! KB

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Hey Meerkat! I can't answer all of your queries, but I will have a stab at a couple!

With respect to your thesis topic/title, I think it depends on how much of a change it is. If you can still make use of the work you've done then you won't be starting from scratch. It would be pretty hard going to write an entire thesis in two years, especially if you're doing empirical research and relying on data collection etc, but then if you're convinced that the original project is flawed it might be best to make the break now rather than wait any longer. And better to see the flaws now than a week before your viva! I know it's gonna be hard, but you really need to talk to your sups about this and explain why you are worried.

I wouldn't worry about going over 3-years in terms of getting a post-doc. I'm in clinical psychology and it's very rare for anyone to finish within 3 years. I've only managed it because I have a very efficient supervisor and have been lucky with recruitment. I'll be her first student to finish in 3 years, and the first clinical student in the department to do so in recent years...and many of them are now doing post-docs or are doing a professional doctorate. It really won't matter once you have finished.

With the writing, my best advice is to do it as you go along if that's possible. I've taken about 6 months of pure analyses and writing-up to produce my final thesis (85,000 words) but I already had four chapters published at that point, so that was only really half a thesis.

It sounds like your sups are decent and approachable, so I would take your concerns to them and that will give you the opportunity to make a proper decision. Lots of people change route in the first year so it won't be unheard of. My own final project is somewhat different than the original proposal and than the ethics applications etc, mainly due to time constraints and problems with recruitment, and although I have had to explain why I made the changes, it hasn't been a problem.

Good luck with it! KB