What detection system are you using (MS? UV? etc)? As long as all your compound peaks are fully resolved, there shouldn't be a problem running your cali plots using samples containing known quantities of a mixture of the compounds. Have you checked accuracy and precision yet? Usually worth running this part of the validation before doing the cali plot. Good luck :-)

The definitive guide :-)

http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/pdf/sp811.pdf

Best wishes

2000 characters or 2000 words?

Best wishes

Congratulations Dr Kikuka!!! Your outcome (pass with corrections) is, I believe, the most common outcome following a PhD viva so you should DEFINITELY see this as a PASS, hurrah!!! I remember feeling quite spaced out (and exhausted!) after my viva and it didn't sink in for days that I had actually passed, the end of a very long road! :-)

1. No, sufficient notice should be given. University supervisors and administrators understand that people need to arrange time off from work, organise travel etc.

2. Sure, give them a call or drop them an e-mail. It will ease your mind to know how the application is progressing and will make you appear keen :-)

3. Relevant work experience is a bonus so don't worry about this!

Good luck with your applications :-)

Hello

What classification did you get for your BSc?

Best wishes

Ann

Hi there

Essentially, a PhD is about being trained (and training yourself) to be an independent researcher. So if you can see yourself working in research, then a PhD is likely to be highly beneficial for your career aspirations. As for the topic, well, it's always going to help if your thesis work aligns to the dream job you later want to apply for but it's not essential to have an exact match in every aspect. In the example you've described, I would have considered that research experience in materials science to be a good enough match to get you on the interview short list!. Good luck! :-)

Hello All

I just want to comment on the pre-collected data issue, as it seems to be causing some controversy... :-S

Personally I don't see an issue with this at all because presumably, the PhD project would be focusing on the analysis of this data and that's where the academic rigour and novel research would be generated. It's perfectly reasonable for a PhD project to pick up and carry on from another person's research (indeed, this is often how it works), as long as there is transparency over who did what.

Best wishes :-)

Hi Sciencegirl

If you really want a research career then a research degree (Mphil, ideally PhD) will be a huge advantage. A PhD is really a must if you want an academic career. Sure, it's not something to be undertaken lightly and you are doing to right thing to find out as much as you can about it. If you have the stamina and drive to plough on when things are tough, choose to work on a topic that you find fascinating and have a good supervisory team behind you, there is every chance that you will succeed and will enjoy the journey. Go for it and good luck! :-)

Could you talk to one of your Masters course academics for some advice? Sounds like a research degree (Mphil/PhD) might be the way to go if you are interested in pursuing a research career. Have you identified a research group who are working in a educational research field that you are interested in? If so, perhaps you could contact them to ask about any openings for research students. Good luck :-)

Hi there

I sympathise with your situation . Unfortunately, as I understand it, you will have to demonstrate to the university before you start your research program that you are able to meet all costs related to your postgraduate study (fees and living costs). This makes it difficult to try to pay your fees by working as you go. As you say, you'd have to work a lot to find the funds and that amount of work probably wouldn't be compatible with the amount of work you'd need to be doing to succeed in your research programme. Most universities allow fees to be paid in installments but that's still a huge sum to find even if you are paying on a termly basis.

I think the reason for the higher international fee rate is because the Uni only receives HEFCE funds for home/EU students, hence international students have to make up for the money not provided by HEFCE.

Are you working for an academic institution currently? Any chance of doing a part-time PhD at a staff fee rate? Good luck with your search for a scholarship.

Best wishes, Ann

Hi Sylvester! I shall do my very best to pop in more frequently. Hope everything is going well for you and all the rest of my old forum friends 8-)

Just thought I should clarify that when I said I'd 'been a bit manic' I meant I'd been really busy...AFAIK, I've not literally been experiencing mania in it's psychological definition...

Loving the new forum :-x

Am amazed to see I'm 3rd despite not posting for ages!! (been a bit manic!) Hello everyone :-)

Well done Sue - brilliant news!!!