Hi all,

I'm hoping to get some insights bout how best to proceed. I'm currently 1.5 years in a 4 year programme. My supervisor, who I worked with during undergrad , has been on leave (maternity) for a year w/ no date of return.

Even when she was 'in the building', contact and feedback was sporadic. I'm her first PhD student. However since last April, I've spoken to her 4 times total. I've waited anywhere up to 3 months for feedback, and coupled with my own lack of confidence, I have lost time, momentum and even more confidence as I see peers begin to gather pace. I'd guess I'm about 6 months behind them, maybe less.

Aside from lit review drafts, we were to submit a paper recently. She suddenly disappeared again, and I was left to author alone (with no prior experience). I submitted the paper and she replied stating she was experiencing severe family issues. Naturally, I didn't want to insist on communicating so I waited again. She never resurfaced, and meanwhile I was doing what I could but also neck-deep in teaching duties. As a result, two+ months have passed to receive an email from her to say we should 'catch up'. I reply giving as much availability as I can, but 2 days later, nothing. At the moment, I have a million things to prepare for including my annual evaluation, summer schools and lit drafts. But to be honest, I can do nothing.

On top of this, there was a death of a close family member so I find myself totally lost/down. I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. I want to do my PhD but I need support. No 'cover' was offered in her absence as she said she would be fine to supervise remotely. Plus, our school doesn't have a research head to discuss the issue with atm. I'm afraid to complain as I need teaching hours so can't look weak.

Any advice welcome, thanks.

How irresponsible, to not get you a second supervisor while she is on maternity leave. Would you consider changing project and supervisor completely? Your supervisor has not guided you properly and is very inexperienced (first time supervisor), plus you have no idea when she is coming back. Don waste time. Talk to your Grad School or overall postgrad coordinator. Have a look around for more experienced and responsible supervisor. Talk to students of supervisors you are interested in. Changing supervisor is not a sign of complain or weakness. Quite the opposite, you are strong enough to find s solution to a problem and willing to try again. Don let her false promises of "things will get better" and "you have to be loyal to me" hold you back, if she does throw them at you.

Hi all,

Thank you for your responses. I'm definitely going to take them on board. I'm quite nervous about it as I feel it'll really rock the boat in terms of future teaching posts etc. But without the PhD, or at least in the pipeline, a lecturing role is out of the question anyway. I just hope she's willing to either step aside or let someone come in temporarily to help out.

Thanks again for taking the time to respond to me.