Does anyone else have the option of flexible hours? The reason I ask is because I am an early riser and have other 'commitments' in the early evening. Therefore, I like to st art at between 6.30 and 7am and finish at between 3.30 and 4pm. My supervisor doesn't have a problem with this (he's here at about 7am) but as I really supervised by one of the postdocs I just wonder.

We have never seen eye-to-eye since I started and, as she comes in at about 10am and feels like she has to be watching over me all the time, I don't want to annoy her. I am about 6 years older than the other PhD students in the lab and am about to start my 2nd year. They all usually come in about lunchtime. I was wondering if anyone else has any experience of this as I am very much a morning person. Also, it means I can get access to the equipment before anyone else gets.

While I remember to say, I realise that I do need to make myself available for meetings etc, but as a general rule I would like to stay with what I am doing at the moment as I feel most productive and no-one else in the lab has a problem with it except my postdoc.

I have the same circumstances as you, i am older than the others and as i am married i leave at half five every evening and start much earlier than every one else. My supervisor doesnt have a problem with this but the others in the lab are a bit funny about it. There is a new post doc starting soon and i am hoping she is ok with it. I have little patience with explaining adult commitments to those much younger and living a student lifestyle.

I'm glad I'm not the only who has this problem. Personally, if it was physically possible for me to get in (I live quite far from the university and have to rely on public transport) I would start even earlier. I mean, I do work anything up to 9 hours a day, not including what I do at home. I hope things go well with your new postdoc.