Hi everybody

I have been having a very long PhD process and had my viva in December 2011 with the outcome of minor corrections.
I began my PhD 2004 and "finished" 2012 (still waiting for acceptance of corrections).

The main reason why this has taken so long is partly because of my supervisor (who just do NOT care about the amount of work I do and just wants more and more and more) and partly because I had two kids during the process.

My situation is this. I have not published any of the material and I am dying to do so, in order to get a post doc. However I cannot stand working with my supervisor anymore who appears to think I am his personal slave :-).

He refuses to make deadlines and tells me he cannot commit to any real strict plan in order for us to publish. He is the most stubborn person who wants everything done his way and I am sure it will take another 3 years to get the stuff published (I am not kidding). A a person, he really just think he knows best and he is impossible to work with.

I have taken the initiative all the time during the PhD, he takes two months to answer that he want something else, regardless of how long time I have been using, then I end up doing what he wants eventually. A real nightmare. And my thesis was 400 pages and I did not even present all my data. I knew I was being used all the time but he never once said OK lets submit. He told me that he did not know if I would pass. And honestly, the VIVA was ridiculously easy. I should have handed the stuff in in 2008 and I am so bitter now.

I really do not know what to do ? Can I just publish the material myself ? Who has the rights to the material I have produced during my time as PhD student ? What can I do ?

Hope somebody in here can help me, as I just do not want to let it all go but on the other hand I have been used for so many years that I just can take it any longer.

HI

Thanks to both of you for taking your time to write a reply. It means allot to me :-). I Always felt stressed around my supervisor who always complained about my English and the way I present things at talks and even poster presentations etc--maybe he felt that was his job to do so---however it had the opposite effect on me. Today I feel worse about my presentation skills than before I met him and it is this insecurity I have to overcome before the VIVA or else I will give a horrible defend....Just the fact that he will be present at the VIVA will be an annoyance.

I do think practice is the best way forwards and I am spending as much time as I can presenting with friends and family.
I will look though older threat...thanks for the advise :-)

Hi everybody

I just found this forum and wanted to express a fear I have for my approaching VIVA in about 14 days. I am a non-native speaker in English and my English is rather poor in comparison with with someone born in the UK.
I been in my home country for the last two years and have finally submitted and will have to go and defend.
My biggest fear is that I can't find the words to express and defend my thesis to a degree that would be considered acceptable.
Anybody in here who has been in a similar situation ? I am also not a very confident speaker in general so combined with poor English skills I am sure it will be horrible. I have a tendency to give short answers instead of reflecting about the answers because I an never able to find the right expression so I quickly say something which makes me appear insecure and not to trustworthy.

If anybody have any similar problem or things to add that might help me I'd appreciate it
C