I appreciate that it’s early days and I need to learn techniques but I don’t really seem to have “my project.” I got a bit confused in one of the lab meetings about an experiment that had started the same week that I arrived in the lab; my supervisor was asking me about it and I asked whether this experiment was part of my PhD project. He seemed quite put out by my question and I think he thought I came across as selfish, he told me no one “owns” the experiments and if I required this one for my PhD then maybe I would use it but if my PhD went off in a different direction then I might not. Basically I feel like there is a lot of lab work happening that I help with that would be happening regardless of whether I was there or not.

I started my PhD in October and I really struggled at first with the lack of structure and was also terrified of practical work. Now 3 months in the practical work is definitely less scary however I’m still struggling with the lack of structure. When I applied for my PhD I didn’t have to write a research proposal or anything as the project was already set up. My team had also just received 2 nice big grants as well! However I’m really struggling with how the team seems to be organised. Basically the group works as an ensemble group so everyone is pretty much involved in everything. Now in theory this sounds great as there is the potential to get my name of some papers quite quickly etc. But I’m struggling to see where I fit in, I’m not in control of anything.

Hi Julia222,

I started my PhD in October. I did an anatomy based undergrad degree so was more used to dissection than molecular biology which is more what my PhD is. My undergrad project was totally data analysis and I didn't even see the inside of a lab! No one ever questioned that I had no lab experience - not the interview panal or my supervisor! However it has been a slight baptism of fire for the last 3 months. I've found that you have to keep reminding the people teaching you that actually things are not always that obvious (it's just they've been doing that technique for the last 10 years). And be prepared to ask lots of very stupid questions. I reckon as long as you're honest and enthusiastic you should be ok - after all your supervisor would be a bit silly to chose someone who could do lab work already over someone who couldn't but was a better author or who was more enthusiastic - lab techniques can always be taught!

Thank you everyone. It's good to hear from others who have felt a similar way! I do appreciate how early it is and maybe I just have to chill out a bit. Unfortunatly I find the whole thing so terrifying that's easier said than done. I really need to get my backside in gear and focus on the reading, I seem to have groundto a halt already and am finding it easier to do nothing than get on with things. I also have just moved to London for this and the city life is not really agreeing with me either, hopefully that will improve. As for the experiments in my team it is the responsibility of hte first year PhD student to run the radioimmunoassays and apparently last year the student left out a crucial step by mistake and lost some important results another team member was waiting for! I don't mind messing my own stuff up but when it's other people's it's a bit scary. Thank you for all of your comments, will try an dplough on with some reading!

I also am finding the lack of structure difficult, I think possible coming from a work environment where I had tight deadlines, I feel quite aimless and quite like I’m drowning but no one apart from me knows. I have no idea what to do and am seriously considering leaving before I’m too far in. Does anyone have any words of wisdom or similar experiences that have improved and if so how did you make them improve.

Many Thanks.

Walrus

Hello,

This is the first time I’ve posted for advice on here but I have been lurking for quite a while! I started my PhD in October (neuroscience) and I’m really struggling. The subject area is quite removed from my undergraduate course and I’ve had 2 years out working in another unrelated area. I’ve also never done any lab work before. I started about 5 weeks ago and quite honestly I have no clue. I’m in the lab most days to learn techniques, I’m very nervous of the lab work and am paranoid about cocking it all up! I did some reading but am finding the subject really hard to get my head round especially at a molecular and neurocircuitry level. My supervisor is a lovely guy and got me some papers to read to start me off when I first mentioned I was lost, unfortunately they are proving very hard to get my head round. I’m terrified of my supervisor talking to me about anything as I don’t feel I have sufficient knowledge to actually have a conversation about the topic in detail.

(cont!)The way my team works is that everyone mucks in with lab work as the theory is that I will learn by "osmosis". However I am helping in the lab but don't have a clue what is going on, feel as useful as a chocolate fireguard and to top it off I don't know when I'm due in the lab as everyone is in the office all day so do things as and when, so I'll have just planned my day and then be taken off to the lab. (I did ask about this and a lab meeting was called but no useful info actually came out of this!). And the rest of my team don't talk much and I seem like a slacker as I arrive at 9.30 and leave 5.30-600 and they're always still there! Finally, I've just moved to London for this and it's really scary! Phew, sorry for mega-rant this has been building up for the last week and, having just found the forum, I'm glad it's not just me!

Hello. I've just started too. And I was really excited about starting but by lunchtime on the first day I had this huge feeling of dread that this really was a bad idea! I too am far removed from my undergraduate subject area and I've had 2 years out working in the "real world" in a totally unrelated area. I feel hopelssly out of my depth and my supervisor keeps changing his mind about what I need to read, and this is after he just left me to it for the first few days and didn't do any form of formal induction / hello etc.