New PhD, new project... old bad memories, traumatised student... - (Nov/25/2008 )

Hi, everybody

I know there are other topics like this, and I have been reading them with great enthusiasm and attention. I am starting my new PhD next week and I am absolutely terrified and extremely enthusiastic at the same time.

I've started a PhD before, and although I think I liked the project, I had a very (very!) hard time with my supervisor, who was absent and very judgemental, and I was working in an extremely competitive and aggressive environment. I also was not sure, back then, of what were the expectations towards me, and what were my rights either.

I sometimes I think I have some "gaps" in my knowledge, since I've changed areas a couple of times, but at the same time I absolutely love learning and I believe I am good at it and quite quick, if I know which direction I'm going. I'm starting a new PhD with the project of my dreams (really), with a PI that seems like the most great PI ever, although he's very busy and won't be looking after me at each step.

So the question is… how should I behave there in the first days? I'll probably be the only PhD student around a horde of post-docs…

My future PI seems extremely bright, and this for me is a dream…although very intimidating as well! I guess the main problem is, I am completely enthusiastic about the project…but I don't know how to draw the line between how much I can ask and would be taken as a nice initiative, and how much of it could be annoying or could be a proof of insecurity/lack of confidence/independence.

Basically, what I'm most afraid of is…when can I say "I don't know"? When can I say, "I'd love to learn more about that, can you suggest me how to do so?" When can I say, "how am I doing, how can I improve?"

Besides, my new boss wants us to go to the bench from day 1, and I must confess I'm totally traumatised about lab work itself, I don't even feel like doing it, it was such a bad experience I had before with the fierce competion in the lab… I don't want to make mistakes or sound foolish... I guess I'm just very afraid of being tested… and fail.

Any advices?

Thank you so so very much for reading!!!
And sorry for such a long post. Take care,
Meg.

-Meg_Synaptic-

QUOTE (Meg_Synaptic @ Nov 25 2008, 06:17 PM)

Hi Meg,

Welcome to the forum. We can write a whole new dissertation just by answering all the questions you posed.

IMO, since you'll be the most junior member in your lab in terms of time served and status....it's always safer to take prudent/conservative scenic tour at least during the first weeks. You behave like you always do- naturally, politely (you're not a psycho afterall), observe carefully and take cues from people. Did you say only postdocs are in this lab..hmm....then perhaps reconnaissance is a better term if you're in one of these high-stress, highly competitive labs?

Seriously, get to know the lab and the people first and let them get to know you. Right now, it would be very difficult to have a set plan on how to react, how to ask/demand for something etc. if you only have vague ideas or impressions about the lab and its people…the one concrete thing you have now is a very high opinion of your PI (which may or may not change later on) and this is a plus. So I’d suggest that you don’t stress yourself out from the beginning, settle down first, get the hang of things and when the time comes, you’d know how to deal with the issues or problems as they arise bec you’d have become more informed and therefore more prepared. Remember too that you don't have a monopoly on making mistakes or of failing after being tested- you're not that special girl (at least not in this case)

. And lastly, for mere or more venting and letting off of steam….you know where to go. Goodluck…

casandra

-casandra-

Agree....just look how things are handeled in the lab, keep quite for the frist weeks and then you will know how things are handeled in your new lab, whom you can ask and who is a no-go.

I think you should ask any question reguarding your work, no matter how stupid it seems. Especially when starting a new project there are many details you cannot know, and better to ask at the beginning than doing things wrong for years
I prefere to say "I do not know" and "How does this work" before I get things wrong and have to start again. Try to look things up yourself, but never be afraid to ask. And if person one is not able to answer your questions, ask someone else until you understand....

Good luck!

-gebirgsziege-

I also have terrible experience with PhD. I had two bad mentors for more than two years.
Now, I have an excellent mentor.

Do experiment very slowly. If other people take two hours to do it, then you may use up to four hours.
Try to improve your skills...aim to be as good as or even better than the person that taught you the experimental methods.

I agreed with gebirgsziege about saying "I don't know." rather than pretending to know and make mistake.

Ask the post-docs what their projects are about... what techniques they are using...see whether these techniques would be useful for your project.

Read, read and read.
Read the Current Protocol.
Read the pinned posts, which are relevant to your project, in this Bioforum.
Read plently of journals.

If you will be doing tissue culture, read Rhombus's posts in tissue culture forum.
He is an expert in tissue culture, and he probably has more knowledge and experience than your PI.
I learnt a lot from him than from my mentors.

Hope this may help.

-Minnie Mouse-

Dear friends,

Thank you so very much for the warm welcome and the great suggestions!!! So far, not much has happened in my PhD, my PI asked me to play a major role in preparing my own project (reading/proposing milestones etc) which I guess I really liked!! It feels more like it is *your* project! But I must confess I so want to impress him I end up a bit blocked...let's see how it goes!

Thank you so much for your wise advices, I'll keep you posted!

Best,
Meg

-Meg***-