======= Date Modified 04 Aug 2012 19:22:57 =======
Have you internet access on British Academy Publications Online? (e.g. via 'Athens login')

http://www.britishacademypublications.com/

I need access to an article which is available online but my uni does not provide access to them. Please pm me so I send you the link of the article. Thanks in advance.

Dear colleague

I don't know much about your topic, nor the system of PhDs in Russia. I do happen to know that in my country (Italy) PhDs take ages to complete (sometimes even 7-10 years) and in theory, what you are saying is possible. Having spent almost a decade in the UK, I know that a PhD here is very demanding, therefore the question you should ask yourself is:

Have I got time to do two PhDs at the same time?

If you feel that you need a second PhD to help yourself with your first PhD all you have to do is (in my opinion always) open a few more books about the topic of the second PhD.

Your age is not an issue. 27? I wish I were 27 again :)

I think you should talk to your supervisor. Discuss it with him, tell him about your weaknesses. I am sure he will give you some good advice.

BTW: I did a distance learning course during the first year of my PhD and I remember how much I struggled doing both courses at the same time (considering that my English was much worse back then too).

Also... academic conferences are great for networking, but academic bullying in such events does not impress me whatsoever.

Good luck with everything. The best is yet to come. Congrats on resubmitting. My resubmission is in about 9 months time.

Academia has taught me that...

1) I am not in academia to make friends - this never happens in my field. Academics (and PhD students) have more enemies / competitors than friends in their field.

2) There is not such a thing as 'sympathy'. In fact, most likely our supervisors and our department don't care about us.

3) There is too much gossip in academia, in the field, and of course in the department.

4) Academia is not for people with weak nerves.

5) Academia (and the process of completing a PhD) can cause serious mental and physical problems, from driving people mental to adding them several layers of fat around their waistline.

So, what has academia taught you so far?

Let's say that a thesis handles two different topics equally (e.g. 50% robotics & 50% mathematics). When the student completes the doctorate, can they apply for academic positions in both fields?

I have heard (from the mouth of an academic) that interdisciplinary topics can be a blessing or a course when it comes to academic employment. This is because the employers may think 'this person has not much expertise is robotics as half of his thesis is on mathematics - and they hire someone else with a clear non-interdisciplinary topic in robotics). Alternatively the employer may say 'this is the right candidate for us as he will give new dimensions to our departments with his/her interdisciplinary field...' and hire the candidate.

The same academic who discussed interdisciplinary PhDs with me said that many of her colleagues who did interdisciplinary PhDs are unemployed.

So, what do you think? Blessing or course?

Many thanks for suggesting 'my tomatoes'! I am back on track :)

You should be fine. In fact, people say that the best time for having a baby is during a PhD.

Hi Skigs. I am also an R&R. I am resubmitting my work in just over 8 months time (I am still not that stressed though). It looks like an R&R is not that uncommon after all. In my department we have several resubmitters. Be brave Pineapple and please - stop caring about what other people think or do. I fell into this trap before and all it gave me was depression. It doesn't help. Be brave and stay positive. Skigs or Pineapple feel free to pm me if you need a chat. ;-)

Thanks for bringing the topic back to attention R :)

By the way, I am a humanities gal.

At the end of my PhD, I am struggling to publish my first proper academic article (I have to resubmit it but I am determined to do so). I have however published several book reviews and conference reports in online academic journals. Do these look good on the cv? How are they valued in academia?

Are you encouraged by your supervisors to publish book reviews and conference reports related to your field of research?

Chin up!!!!!!!!!!! And take it easy.

Look back and think how much you have achieved so far. You should be proud of yourself. Try to kill any bad memories you have from the viva. That's what I do - and it works! Focus on the future. Resubmission is a drama on its own, so don't let anyone or anything upset you and give you negative thoughts.

Not long to go now. xxxx

======= Date Modified 25 Jun 2012 11:03:41 =======
======= Date Modified 25 Jun 2012 11:03:06 =======
Hi guys,

Good luck Pineaaple and Dalmation. Good luck to both of you!!!
I sympathise with you. Your stress levels must be ridiculously hight. Chin up!! Think positive, stay focused and remind yourselves that hard work and the magic word (PERSEVERANCE) bring success!

I was abroad for over 1 month, for research purposes. I did not do any work while being abroad - there was no time for anything.

However, I came back 'stress-free' and I am about to attack the thesis now. When I say 'stress-free' I mean that I feel much better now, less depressed and more positive. I know that this will not last long though.

At the same time I had a confidence boost when one of my papers got accepted for publication and two of my academic book reviews are about to be published during the summer.

I do work but not as much as I should. I have a schedule. I do too many things at the same time, and working (although part time) doesn't help, but I am pretty sure I will catch up with my work soon.

Some times I feel like I should abandon the PhD but a friend, who is an academic, advised me not too. He said I am too close to the target to say good bye now. He is right. I might as well give it a (second) chance.

I had to tell my advisor about my depression (via email) and about how the R&R made me feel. He did not comment on it at all. I was hoping he would be more supporting.
I will see him soon and I hope he encourages me a little bit.

As I said, I have 9 months to go and I am given the chance to take an extra 6 months if I need them.

Instead of panicking I am trying to breath in, breath out and survive it...
;-)

Dear 'R&R thesis' people, long time no hear. So, how are you getting on?

Nine months until I resubmit mine and I am taking things easy at the moment - but I know that the stress will hit soon.

Keep trying
We will get there in the end.

xxx