Often the supervisor will have a chat with the external in the days leading up to the viva. It's not unusual for hints to be dropped which the supervisor can then pass on to the student ahead of the viva.

Your postdoc sounds like a bit of a nightmare (though I detect some paranoia from your end too, especially with the idea that anyone would deliberately put paper over your car keys).

You haven't really made a significant discovery if it's going to take so much work from other labs that you'll be relegated to a mid-author. More like a 'significant lead with a tonne of work left to make it meaningful'.

I would just encourage you to think about what you need to finish your thesis, write it up as soon as possible, then move on.

Make a conscious effort to maintain this for at least a few weeks. If you find after that after this time the situation has not improved, then you need to take on a second supervisor and distance yourself from your current one. It doesn’t matter if they lack the expertise of your current supervisor, it’s likely nobody does, and it will become a practical exercise in working more independently. If you don’t do any of this, you’ll almost certainly regret it and likely hurt a lot of people in the process. Lamp, I can not sufficiently emphasize the gravity of your situation.

. If you're still having awkward blushing moments in your meetings, ruin the moment immediately by talking about a paper you were reading for example. Occupy the void that is left with positive things, interacting more with other colleagues, extra-curricular activities and so on until your mind is no longer distracted with him. Make a conscious effort to oppose the slightest feelings you have for him with thoughts of being professional and getting your PhD. Bring yourself to account each day and consider how your efforts improved the situation and how you can improve further the next time a particular situation presents itself.

Snap OUT of it. Of course it will be difficult, but I know -- unfortunately, from experience -- that these situations can escalate and create huge problems, both professional and personal, and need to be stopped quickly. Avoid saying or doing anything that would confirm there is something going on; even confronting him about his feelings would be a huge mistake and would escalate things. My first suggestion is to avoid non-essential communication and e-mails. Obviously don't initiate this kind of contact and if your supervisor starts, change the topic to something related to your work. Go into your meetings with a list of work-related points, discuss them and leave.

My supervisor is very strict about working 0900-1700 or 0930-1730 as a bare minimum and any additional work outside of these hours is never praised or even acknowledged. He basically wants to see that the work is getting done and that the quantity of data being obtained is proportional to time spent in the lab. I've been increasingly working late evenings and at least a few hours at the weekend and my supervisor has no interest in this whatsoever. I don't need him to appreciate this though; I work because I want to, because I enjoy what I'm doing and because I'm excited about getting the next result and watching the story unfold in my research.

I feel a bit better after venting, but I think my original purpose in registering here was to ask about prospects after finishing a PhD without references from supervisors? Would it be possible to direct employers towards postdocs in the lab for references? There's not a chance I'd allow my current supervisors to in any way influence the opinion of my future employers!

Right now, I have been banned from that lab and from seeing said postdoc and moved to my other supervisors lab (not because I'm at any more fault, but because this isn't an option for her). I know I'm more than able to meet the demands of this PhD, but the biggest crises of my personal life seem to have transpired right in the middle of my studies and I concede it's affected my work but my supervisors haven't a trace of compassion! I really enjoy the work and am passionate about it, but my relationship with my supervisors has completely deteriorated throughout all this and I've come so close to just leaving. I try to tell myself to persevere as there's only a year left now, but I am highly tempted to just leave and try to remember what it feels like to be a happy person again.

Rahhhhhh! I've very nearly had it with this PhD! I had a great start in my first year but the demands of my studies and the long-distance nature of my relationship with my wife placed a great strain on my marriage which affected my work in a big way. This culminated with me and my ex agreeing to divorce at the beginning of my 2nd year, at which point my work suffered even more drastically. Then a couple of months later I got involved with a postdoc in our small lab on the rebound and I can't even begin to tell you what a mess that situation has become; it turned very sour and our supervisor/boss got involved.

Rahhhhhh! I've very nearly had it with this PhD! I had a great start in my first year but the demands of my studies and the long-distance nature of my relationship with my wife placed a great strain on my marriage which affected my work in a big way. This culminated with me and my ex agreeing to divorce at the beginning of my 2nd year, at which point my work suffered even more drastically. Then a couple of months later I got involved with a postdoc in our small lab on the rebound and I can't even begin to tell you what a mess that situation has become; it turned very sour and our supervisor/boss got involved.

The minimum funding for the 05/06 year was £12,000. Apparently for 06/07 it is ~£12,300 and for 07/08 it seems to be ~£12,700. Does anybody know if, as a 2nd year PhD student, I am entitled to receive the increased amount? My first months' cheque for this year was still £1000. I was really rather looking forward to the extra £5 a week. What?

At my University, Information Services can give you the CD of most software, Endnote 8, Refman 11, Microsoft Office, etc. for £10 each. There are certain conditions of use, and the cost is billed to your project code at no expense to yourself.

You're new to that side of the project; you know that and so does the supervisor, so I wouldnt worry too much about your supervisors' expectations. If you feel you need more time grasping the basics of a subject before getting creative and developing your own ideas, just explain that, and they'll very likely understand. I know of one student who is doing an interdisciplinary PhD in maths and genetics, yet knew next to nothing about genetics when he started. Discussing those less familiar topics with your fellow students could also help you pick up the new concepts more quickly.