I started as a PhD student straight out of undergrad in a lab that wasn’t 100% of my interest but loved the lab and the work they were doing. I’m more interested in microbiology but this lab was biochem-based from a microbial standpoint if that makes sense. I just finished my 3rd semester (now halfway through my 2nd year basically) and my committee doesn’t believe I can pass quals due to what they call “a lack of knowledge or curiosity in parts of the project”
I talked with my PI and I’m switching to a master’s but I have the option to reapply for my PhD after completing my master’s and joining a lab that is microbiology based unlike the one I’m currently in. The idea sounds great and I think that’s what I want to do—but I’m that if I finish my master’s and then go and restart a phd in a different lab, that it won’t be the same outcome. I feel like I might just be going through a little dip of imposter syndrome but it’s still a worry of mine
Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)