No you can withhold it if you want. Although its only an equal opportunities form so should be only used by HR and separated from your application. So I would declare it in this way. People make decisions over your employment, people you work with, your future referees shouldn't see them. So it shouldn't make any difference!

If it was asked anywhere else in an application I would think hard before I declared it even if asked directly. It would depend on the circumstances regarding my current depression, treatment and the likelihood it might interfere with my work. I might ask the advice of my GP before I did too.

Hey Hey

Ill join in! Florence at least you know have a plan to show your supervisor. Don t be hard on yourself Im sure you are not rubbish! Its the nature of a PhD you will at times lose motivation and have bad weeks! Why has the last few days been crap?

My story so far. Just started this month 2nd year of medical sciency type PhD.

My goals for the week are.

Finish my presentation for an external meeting on Tuesday.
Not get drunk at the wine and cheese after the meeting
Carry out a set of calibration experiments
Make alterations to my report in light of my supervisors comments. Double check for mistakes etc.
Submit (late) My first year report.

Down stairs loo of his ex-wifes house!!!!!!!! Were toilet visiting rights part of the divorce settlement?

Like laura said it comes with practice. Some other tips, which may or may not be useful.

If I'm doing a lot of pipetting in one sitting I make sure my arm is stabilised. either on bench or against my body.

If you have trouble with getting the tip to the well accurately use the index finger of your other hand to stabilise the tip of the gilson (not touching the actual tip though, just above the tip), this cuts out any shakes in the hand.

When I'm pipetting small volumes into or out of eppendorfs I always hold it up to your eye level so you can see the liquid drawn up, and expelled.

Don't draw liquid up to quickly or it creates bubbles in the tip and draws up an inaccurate amount.

Generally just work on your technique, and try to keep it consistent.

Like Laura said You'll get the hang of it :O)

The obvious one depending on your PhD area is demonstrating to undergrads. I’m doing about 6 hours a week, plus 2/3 hours marking for 15 weeks next academic year and getting over 10 squid an hour for it which should be a boost( although I was never on 2 grand an month after my masters I too have returned to a PhD after working for several years, so was in a bit of a panic about how to finance my penchant for M&S deserts.....) Plus it looks good on your CV. If not that maybe the uni will have something else, I know here at mine they have advertised several other jobs admin jobs with flexible hours that would suit a postgrad.

Doooooh!!! Gutted. I’ve had that happen before due to a dodgy seal which came away from the door so it didn’t close properly.

Last year someone in a group meeting said he didn’t think the fridge in our lab wasnt working(except for the light inside) A newer member of the group then announced." That hasn’t worked since I started (6 months earlier) I just thought you were using it as a cupboard to store things in"

Company website has changed since I was last on....

http://www.discoverysciences.com/product_Vials.aspx

Ive had 300ul crimp top ones off them many times and they were pretty good. US based but despatched from Lancs pretty sharpish. Youll have to check and see if they do 100ul ones though.

Try Alltech. They might have some.

Yes. Give them a brief intro of yourself and experience and interest in the project and ask based on that, if they think you should apply. If you are unsure of the level of experience or type required for the project then this is the best approach. Plus it might also give you an indication of the level of competition you may face, one person I spoke to told me the level of interest he had for the project.

I have just been offered a PhD at Nottingham for which I contacted the supervisor directly first informally so it does no harm.

Some people reply, some don’t, out of maybe 8 I emailed 5 replied.

Good luck :O)