Hi all, this is my first post on here. I've been reading a lot of the posts and I know 'quitting your PhD' seems to be fairly common, and I've tried read a few to see if they relate to me, but I think I'm just in a bit of a unique situation! Let me explain.

My undergrad degree was quite research heavy and, having found a supervisor I got on really well with, I really enjoyed the work. We discussed getting funding for a PhD together after I graduated, and I was very happy with that. I got a place on a BBSRC 1+3year PhD programme, in which my supervisor had submitted a project. The format for this is during your first year, you take 2 lab rotations, and the idea is that you pick one of those rotations to take on as your PhD. I picked two different lab rotations to make sure I definitely wanted to work in the field I was planning to - they were okay, but not for me. I met some nice people but knew in the back of my mind that I wanted to go back to my old supervisor, and lab. After this year when I'd chosen my PhD, he informed me that he got a job in the US and was leaving. So I was stuck with his PhD and palmed off onto another supervisor, who as it turns out, works very differently. I get no feedback, no praise, no support. It's not really even her field. She's now pregnant and leaving, so I'll have a 3rd supervisor soon. I hate experimental work now without my old supervisor around to keep me motivated, and I think I've made a huge error in taking on this PhD. I'm a year in now - so 2 years out of the 4. I want to quit so badly, but worried that it'll affect my career - I want to go into science communication, so it's not even academic. Any advice? Thanks!

I should point out - I know it should be me who's motivated, not my supervisor, but the project was really his idea and I was motivated for a time, but that initial excitement has really died off. I'm so miserable, I'm lethargic and I find any excuse not to do work. I don't see how I can continue the next two years like this. I've got a meeting with the careers people at work tomorrow to ask about whether a PhD will really benefit me or not, but if any of you have any general advice about what to do, I'd really appreciate it! Feeling really low right now.

It can be really difficult when things change. Adjusting to a new way of working and new people can be really hard. You situation is very different to mine because you are in the sciences by the sounds of it, so my advice can only be general. My advice is just to wait a bit (I wouldn't go to the careers service but just carry on 'as usual'). This one needs time to settle IMO. Give it a couple of weeks with the new supervisor and then think about it some more. For now, try to forget about it, and motivate yourself to do (very) small chunks of achievable tasks each day. Whatever you do, don't decide anything when you're in this state of mind...It's OK, normal, natural, understandable, not your fault that you feel low, but its not the state of mind in which to make decisions other than to wait where you are for now.
*hugs*

Hi ApolloBullit, thanks for getting in touch! Waiting is good advice, I definitely won't be making any snap decisions. With regard to my new supervisor though, I didn't explain myself very well - she's actually been my supervisor for the last 9 months, and things haven't improved. She's rude, uninterested, and was actually consistently on her phone during one of our meetings! I just don't get on with her, and I've been to the graduate school a few times so they're up to date - they're really good actually, but obviously they don't want me to make any rash decisions. Meeting with them again tomorrow and hopefully they'll see how upset/annoyed I am and make things change! I heard today too that my current supervisor wants to stay involved via Skype during her maternity leave, which seems ridiculous to me - if she can't be interested now, how is she going to be when she has a newborn to look after?! I just want one, solid supervisor who's around and can guide me when I need it, and instead I have multiple supervisors who are all sort-of interested and all suggest different things. I know it's supposed to be my project, but it's getting very confusing and undirected and I'm losing all interest in it as a result! The fact that I don't want to go into academia is also putting me off staying, though the careers people tomorrow can shed some more light on that. Thank you for your advice :)