posted about 1 week ago
Hi amyg,
I know it can be stressful seeing someone publish work very similar to your own but it is very common. Yours doesn't sound that serious as it is only 1 out of 3 results which still leaves 2 completely novel results. If you still do the overlapping research, you are confirming their results or contradicting them which you can link with your other work. Your thesis does not need to be 100% novel and even the smallest change in methodology or results can be considered novel anyway. Your supervisor will know far more than us but stuff like this happens all the time and nothing to worry about.
That said, there is a guy in my department who 6 months from the end got completely gazumped. Another group published a paper that used the same materials, methods, modelling technique and application as him, however in far more depth. It was way too late to change project and he is dreading his viva. If you were like that I would worry but you should be fine if you talk with your supervisor.
