Hi everyone. First post.

Ill try to keep this brief.

Basically I have recently started a PhD (2 weeks ago) after finishing an MSc. I have always wanted to do a PhD. I wanted to do a PhD with my MSc project supervisor but he didn't have anything at the time so I looked elsewhere and accepted a PhD at the uni I am at now. However,my current supervisor is quite inexperienced (Im his first ever PhD student) and a bit disorganised which worries me, even though he is helpful and really friendly, its not a very social environment either - basically I really miss where I was working for my MSc.

Recently an opportunity has come up with my old MSc supervisor who I got on really well with, and I was thinking of applying for it whilst sticking with my current PhD until I find out if I get this new one, although it is for a highly competitive studentship. I really enjoyed where I was for my MSc and I would love to go back and wouldn't consider doing this unless it was my old supervisor, but at the same time feel conflicted about applying for a PhD position whilst just starting another PhD.

Any advice would be great as this is stressing me out.

Thanks

You've got nothing to lose by applying for the studentship with your old supervisor, but if you don't get it, perhaps you could see if you could have them as your second supervisor on your current PhD? I don't think it's unusual to have a second supervisor at another university.

Also, give it some time. I know it's really hard leaving somewhere and starting somewhere new. I'm 2 months in and I still wish I could go back to my old lab, with the equipment, supervisors and friends that I was used to... but I know I can't and I have to make the best of the situation I am in now. I'm sure when it's time to leave here I won't want to go either!

Have you spoken to your old supervisor about returning? That might be your best starting point.

I had similar experience during transition from MSc to PhD, my MSc advisor was retiring so he could not take me and I was introduced to a join supervisory (interdisciplinary PhD) of two profs, one young prof in my field and one older one in another field. It did not work well. There was no communication between the two and I had no research subject for 8 months. After 8 months the younger prof left for another position in a different country and the older prof became uninterested in technicality of the issue (he was not a sciences prof) so I had to find a different prof. If I were you, I would go to the prof I enjoyed doing MSc with and do not worry about the apparent conflicting issue, find the right thing for yourself.

Great advice I second that.

Thanks everyone. I think the best bet is to contact my old MSc supervisor and get his opinion on it all and my chances of getting the studentship. I do feel bad because my current PhD is also funded and im not sure how easy it is to quit? But contacting my old supervisor is good advice.

Just to introduce a note of caution...

It can be hard to predict how a PhD will turn out. Your current supervisor may improve as he adjusts to his role. Your old MSc supervisor might not turn out to be so great for a PhD (or may leave the uni, or acquire more responsibilities, which reduce the time he is available to help you). So there is no guarantee you'd be better off by switching. Also be aware that this might lead to a negative perception of you in your current department (though whether this matters in the long term may depend on the size/nature of your field). The worst scenario would be for your to apply for the other PhD, NOT get it, and then your existing supervisor to find out - could be very awkward.

Sorry to be a little negative, but I think these are factors that might need some consideration.

Thanks, I do agree with the risk involved. Its just the fact my current supervisor has never supervised before really does worry me and doesn't give me much confidence

That's quite understandable. However, you should have at least one other supervisor and/or other support such as a postgrad tutor/advisor. For his sake and yours, he shouldn't be the only source of support in this process.

Being new, your current supervisor may have more to prove and go out of his way. Do not under-estimate the value of having a 'helpful' and 'friendly' supervisor as you describe him

I agree but it does feel like im being supervised by a post-doc at times.. Although I do have a secondary supervisor who is quite experienced, but I will have little or no contact with him as he doesn't even work on the same topic, so i'm not exactly sure what hes there for really.