We have 24/7 swip card access also. Nothing better than setting a PCR plate up late in the evening with no distractions (like people wanting to strike up a conversation when your on well 200 or so of 384!!!). The only stipulation in our department is that if your working outside of normal working hours you have to have an "Out of Hours Form" complete - once complete this doesn't expire. This is mainly a measure to stop people who are not deemed competent (normally very new students) from working outside of hours but is granted without questions to 99% of people.

Hi,

12-13K per annum sounds about right for the minimum funding level for UK PhD's. Do remember that this is non-taxable though so in effect it translates to a salary of 12.5 + 25% (for tax NI) £15625 which is much more than minimum wage! My stipend works slightly different as I am linked to a big pharma company but even at the minimum rate, I would imagine you can live a rather comfortable life on that amount of money. To ditto previous posts, I would imagine you will get the £12940 (paid monthly or quarterly), and as for fees, you don't generally have anything to do with them as university wil usually pay them on your behalf without you having to be involved. As for the budget, its a really good idea to setup a basic excel spreadsheet with all your outgoings and income on. I am living by Nottingham so the cost of living is modest but I account for £50 food (me and my partner), £20 fuel, then car, mobile, gym etc. Make sure you remember the little things which add up!!! Rent is likely to be your biggest outgoing but if you are able to share with other students you can cut the cost massively. When you run the sums in many cases you will probably have more left than you think! In any case, enjoy your research, I am now in my 2nd year and it has been the best year of my life :-)

(4) Calibration! I think with Gilsons you should pipette a volume of water at the lowest and highest volumes possible (5 replicates) and take the mass on a 5 digit balance. If they are really bad (some times there is a slope i.e. they are higher at the lower volumes and lower at the higher if that makes sense! - I would send them off for a full service in this instance).

Hi Walrus,

I regularly run assays with volumes of 2ul of less so have been through exactly what you are describing! I come from an NHS background but the area I worked in previously involved the use of relatively large volumes (200ul +). I have found the main factors in getting your % CV down for small volumes are;

(1) Ensure the tips you are using are v. good alternatives (if Gilson brand are not being used).

(2) Pipette onto the side of the eppendorf/well so that you ensure you get the full volume - this also helps to prevent aerosol.

(3) Centrifuge all solutions if possible prior to pipetting as this helps disperse air bubbles somewhat. Obviously this does not apply if you’re working from stock bottles!!!!

I'm in work too, got a whole load of gene expression data that I'm just too excited to leave!

Where I lived during my undergraduate years, you could get a gents full hair cut for £3-50, those were the days!!! P.S This was only two years previous!

I'm a current PostGrad at Nottingham Uni. Excellent reputation, excellent facilities and support - In particular a great graduate skills department running free courses in anything from molecular computing to presenting to peers. I've been here nearly a year now and have no complaints at all. Obviously depends on your supervisor as to the experience you will have.

I was 22 - I graduated then worked for the NHS for one year before starting.

Just to get the ball rolling...

I start at around 8am to avoid traffic
Have a cup of coffee around 11
30 mins or so for lunch at 1 ish
Leave around 4.30 - 5.00pm
In the evening I may read a paper but never any more
At the weekend I may work for a couple of hours Sat am only if essential

Some people would say I am putting in about 20 hours too few a week!

Even so, I socialise at least twice per week and never work more than a few hours over the whole weekend.

Studying for a PhD is also about personal development – its no good spending three years in the lab/office and coming out at the end with no social skills and severe dermatitis from lack of sunlight!

Maybe this is because I am studying in the UK were we tend to be treated a junior members of staff, but the horror studies I have read on this forum regarding abusive supervisors and people working 24/7 7 days a week will do nothing to attract people into the profession.

(sjo4 and i00t2000, its nice to see some other students are living in the real world too!)

Hi everyone!

Sorry to vent my frustration but this forum really doesn't give a good view of what I consider to be the average PhD students’ experience.

I am studying for a PhD with a very reputable university in collaboration with a huge pharmaceutical company and research council. I have tight deadlines to keep (data presentation most months) and several supervisors to keep happy.

Hi,

I studied Biomedicine at undergrad so am quite familiar with clinical science and the associated entry problems. Places are very competitive as you may well know. Studying for a PhD is normally part of the clinical scientists training, normally between grades B and C. The normal entry requirements are a good degree in a pure science. I would be inclined to apply straight off through the NHS clinical scientists web site. If you have no luck I would consider a PhD then. Hope this helps

Hi, I'm not sure whether this advice counts for all funding bodies but here goes...The PhD advertisments within my department all state that a minimum of a 2(i) is required. This is not just to ensure the best candidates it is a regulation of many of the funding bodies. This happened within my dept. when one of the profs wanted to give a PhD place to a 2(ii) candidate as he was very good but the funders would not allow this. However, a masters degree does help and as stated above, 2(ii) plus masters is as good as any 2(i) degree in terms of competition. Hope this helps

I'm confused...poor PhD's, colonial arrogance, is someone forcing these people to come to the UK?! I was under the impression that people studied here by choice. Therefore if you don't like it, and you feel that the PhD system is substandard in some way then go elsewhere.

I think Girigoriya may have a case of chronic, verbal diarrhoea. Only my UK educated opinion though.