Can I just ask how you can get on with postdocs? The one I have to work with is so intent on making my life as hard and miserable as possible. We have talked and I have talked to various other people and nothing has changed. It is getting to the point where I feel like quitting.

Hi Neil, I'm sorry to hear that your working relationship with the postdoc is still problematic. How exactly is she/he making your life difficult? Does he/she treat other students in the same way? I hope this can be resolved. All the best.

Hi Ann. She doesn't treat the others the same. There are two of us who work directly with her (the other is almost 10 years younger) but he is treated as the 'golden boy'. A good example is that we have to give a talk in germany today, but i was the only one who she wanted to look at slides for. I feel belittled even though I have been in this business a long time.

Hi Neil
Do you think it is possible that your postdoc feels 'threatened' by your experience? If you are similar ages and have similar amounts of research experiences (apart from the obvious fact that she has completed her PhD), then perhaps she feels the need to assert her 'authority'? This is just a bit of (very) amateur psychology but if you can figure out why she has a 'problem' with you, you may in a better position to try to resolve things. Good luck :o)

Hi Ann. The postdoc is actually is actually quite a few years older than I am. I have pinpointed the problem in that we work very differently. I like early mornings, and she prefers later starts. She is very outspoken while I am very quiet and like to get on with things (though not shy or introvert).

Early on, I realised these differences and we had a quick chat and offered to meet each other half-way (i.e, I would do my own thing but if I needed any help she would be there for me). It worked, for a while but it has gone back to normal again. By the way, the talk in Germany went well!

Hello Neil, I'm glad it all went well in Germany. Do you think it would be possible for the two of you to meet with a 3rd (hopefully impartial) person (perhaps your supervisor?) so that you could discuss things openly and professionally? The fact that you have managed to talk and make some progress before is encouraging.