I commenced on my PhD in August and 4 months down the line I am starting to think the odds are stacked against me. Sample this: 1. It is in a relatively new area from my MPhil (topic floated by dept) 2. The techniques/equipments we are relying on are relatively new to me and even to my main supervisor making optimisation and troubleshooting rather difficult. 3. Our lab is the first in the country so we lack experienced colleagues locally yet right now we have a dead set-up in our hands for the last month. 4. Which could well be first, I am pursuing it overseas in a 3rd language different from my Mphil yet coursework credits is a major component towards the degree. 5. The usual hurdles we discuss in this forum daily. I find myself reading the threads about quiting in this forum rather faithfully. Comrades, what do you think are the odds of pulling it through under these circumstances? I am ready for the hard naked truth!

the odds are stacked against you in most PhD research, the biggest hurdle to overcome is your own confidence. I am sure that the other things you mention will not be allowed to come between you and your PhD - it wouldn't be in the institutions interests to allow this for a start. Plough on with confidence, its going to be hard whatever. You can and will do it!

Thanks drwhoknows. I think you are right it all boils down to self confidence. I'll focus my energies there this Dec and hopefully start the new year with a different attitude

I say you are in a fantastic position!! Sounds like whatever path your research takes it will all be ground breaking and new and you have the potential to both provide new insights as well as providing a base for others to build research on! Commit to it and really give something original to your research community!!