While I think this was directed towards KB, I am afraid LarryDavid's attitude is far too common. I happened to get a post-doc before my viva and I happened to have a smooth PhD journey. As a consequence of these I lost all rights to having problems of any other kind. I have realised this rather belatedly, but now that I have, I think I will approach my interpersonal relationships with alternative expectations than before.

Thanks guys!! All suppport much much appreciated :)

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Hey so nice to hear this :) My viva is on Monday (yikes!) so am a bit tense now :(

Am in town briefly till Tues if you want to meet and get my oh so brilliant advice on dealing with phd stuff. wrote more on PM.

Hey I PMed you, go check :)

I do this sort of thing for job apps, but not in the thesis itself... what you describe above seems like an abstract, so why bullet it?

I dont know what counts to be sure, but if you have 2 high profile ones before evn having submitted, that's great!

Usually articles already published and those accepted for publication are counted... I have recently reviewed an article where the author has to have it published by October 2013 he told the journal editors (it was a high profile author from the UK so I assume that date says something about the REF) so I am assuming you have to have it out by then.

See here http://www.hefce.ac.uk/research/ref/

Generally do keep in mind that when hiring junior staff they will also have an eye out for "REF potential" i.e. someone who can make it for future REFs or someone who has things in the pipeline. And surely the interview cannot be "about" the REF, it will be about you and what you will surely bring to them :)

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The ESRC post docs have been discontinued as far as I recall. I think some options would be -

1. ESRC early career grants
2. ESRC small grants scheme
3. British Academy post doctoral funding
4. Advertised post-docs from other universities on projects etc
5. British Academy small grants scheme
6. Collaborating with senior researchers on larger grant applications
7. Marie Curie fellowships (although they reuqire a chnage of country, which you may not want)
8. DAAD - german acadmeic exchange fellowships (which would need you to go to Germany)
9. Mellon Foundation Post doctoral fellowships (at select universities only)
10. Oxbridge Junior Research Fellowships
11. Also in Germany, the Humboldt Foundation post docs

Some of these would mean a chnage of institution (which is fine as far as future plans are concerned) and some bring money in to your current instituion (ESRC for example). They will know that things look a bit dire so I doubt they will push you beyond this list :)

This has happened with me when I took up a phD. I accepted a big fellowship from a US uni and signed stuff and then dropped out 1 month before the start of the programme to take an almost negligible pay offer from a UK uni. The decision was totally worth it but the US uni was far from pleased! You should do what is best for you - others being chuffed or pissed is a bit secondary IMO

Hi Ady

My thesis is entirely unconventionally titled and chapter titled. The title is one word! The sub title is four words.

So title looks like this - "Mating: From apes to humans" (obviously this isnt the real thing, but this is the form)

And then every chapter is themed on that one word - mating, so - I have Transformations in mating, pursuing mating, the fulcrum of mating, consensus in mating, theorisations of mating, rituals in mating, patterns in mating and the last chapter is the thesis title itself.

On the other hand I wont know if it has worked till my viva, which is in 2 weeks!

And I do not study mating!

Cant emphasise this more. I too have learnt and am learning it that being open and emotional is not a good idea. At all. Absolutely at all. Unfortunately this kind of learning comes from hindsight, not from foresight.

KB havent been here in ages but it seems you passed your viva as we all expected!! CONGRATULATIONS!!

I have mine in under 2 weeks, and have a conference right before it, where my examiners will also be present yikes.

Lets see, fingers crossed!!

Bug