Im one year into my PhD which has been stressful because of the toxic lab environment and the fact that i was asked to come up with my own project and to DESIGN from scratch a device that can deliver mechanical force to cells.

Was rocky in the beginning but i managed to get the device working and got some data here and there. A senior in the lab advised me to move on to the next step of the project asking me why am i wasting my time at this step when its already showing u the results you want to see. Move along kinda thing so i kinda agree.

So i showed my prof the data and the next future step but my prof suggested that i dont rush through things. Dont be too eager is what she said.

How does one evaluate whether he or she is going at the right pace or not?

Hi Iwan

I am not in your field - just a disclaimer : )

A couple of things though. Advising someone not to rush isn't necessarily the same thing as saying slow down. So it may be that your pace is fine, but she may just want to warn you to stay cautious and focused on detail (because things will come back and bite you later if you haven't thought about them in enough detail now). Is there any context here? For example, did she say she was pleased with the device you'd designed, or that it could do with a little more work? If in doubt - ask.

For me, my pace has been a bit too slow. I know this because I have a clear timetable that outlines when I should be reaching certain milestones in my project. Do you have one of these? It can give you some reassurance when you feel like you're floating around. Also, if you come up with a timetable and agree it with your supervisor, then you will both be on the same page regarding the measure of your pace and progress.

I hope this helps.

T