r/PhDStress

Hello all. Just wanted to know how common is it to receive two major revisions on the same manuscript and supervisor is just emailing me to do the revisions with zero input or zero discussion saying comments can be done quickly?

ChatGPT - Ph.D. Job Hunt

This is the GPT app I made for myself. I found some difficulties to find job opportunities for PhDs since they are often posted in individual company or institution websites, not general job search platforms, so I made it. This GPT is designed to search opportunities from individual websites and find suitable ones based on the user's needs.

I hope you find it useful in your job search!

P. S. Since there exists some randomness in search, the same inquiries do not necessarily provide the same results.

I've spent 3 years in this weird lab where the PI is barely present, plays mind games with all the grad students and has no ideas of their own. All the papers coming out are students own ideas and even the undergrad research that is guided entirely by the PhD students , with 0 PI involvement, have to have their name as the PI.

It has come to my attention that some of their research also has fudged data.

I've spoken with one really supportive committee member and they offered going to give me an LOR that covers the lab situation. The problem is I'm in the PhD program and I haven't told anyone other than that committee member that I'll be mastering out.

I've been told no major lab will take me without an LOR from the PI so what do I do now? I really do want to finish a PhD.

I have 2 A\* conference papers, and 2 A conference papers. But citations are low since I just started. I'm in Computer Vision.

I'm working in a lab this summer and go in everyday. The grad students have taught me how to do PCR reactions, run gels, gel purification, etc, and I have been doing those for them without supervision. However, a lot of the time I am just sitting there waiting for them to give me stuff to do. Sometimes I'll leave after 2 hours having not done anything the whole time. I have read their papers and they teach me a lot while I'm there, but I can't help feeling like I'm not contributing anything. What should I do?

I honestly don’t know what to do. I have waited years to finally build the courage to go back to school, and worked so hard for another masters to strengthen my odds for PhD apps. I got into my top choice even. I was so elated. However, a lot personal shit happened in a very short period of time. Deaths in the family, health/death scares, moving, births, marriages, big moves, financial anxiety. I apparently have high blood pressure now. I can keep going. I feel like I’m lost, while shit is happening around me. To top it all off a “situationship” lol (probably the major trigger alongside financial anxiety).

I feel like I’m losing my shit. I feel such intense dread about starting this program. I don’t know what it is, I feel like I’m going to fail. Like I’m not smart enough. That there is so much that it asks of us and I’m not up for the task. Which logically I know is not true, I just have to put in the work. It will be hard but I will make it through.

I think graduating and getting accepted to the program triggered some kind of existential dread. I’m exhausted and I haven’t even started yet. In parallel to all this, I have very little luck in my love life. I don’t know how to keep living life alone, I want to be in a relationship. Get married. Maybe have kids. Yet this has made me feel like it will never happen. It doesn’t help that every other post on reddit I have read has been about how someone’s relationship has failed because of their pursuit for their PhD.

I’m sure some of you will find this trivial. In many ways it is. I guess I’m just looking for advice? A reality check? I don’t know but I’ve been sick to my stomach.

I was feeling good about doing it late but still proud of doing it either way. But I felt a kick in my stomach when I was reminded of how slow I am progressing. And its unsaid but the consequences can be felt in how you are perceived. I am so mad right now, my ego is absolutely hurt and all I want is revenge by doing my work much faster than anyone expects. Maybe that's the point!

I am doing the PhD in the same group where I did my masters. It’s been a few months now, experiments were not working and I feel like I’m really lost and confused. I have started feeling anxious for increased periods of time now, which I’m sure is not healthy. I wonder if it’s because my master’s thesis went too smoothly and I am unfamiliar with when you have to struggle as a result.

I don’t know if anyone else experiences this, but some days phd work feels like you’re busy all day without actually moving forward.

Today I spent hours going through papers, saving things that looked useful, taking notes, and trying to understand how everything connects.

Then at the end of the day, I looked back and realized I had:

• a bunch of tabs open
• random notes everywhere
• several papers saved
• but no clear picture of what I actually learned

It’s frustrating because the information is there, but keeping everything organized feels like a separate job.

How do you all handle this part of your phd journey?

Do you have any system that helps you keep track of papers, ideas, and notes without feeling overwhelmed?

Quick edit: Thanks for all the suggestions. Reading through the replies made me realize that a lot of us are dealing with the same issue and I realize that there's no shortage of papers to read, but keeping track of insights over time is a different challenge altogether. I've been looking at a few approaches people mentioned here and also came across something such as wispaper it`s also aimed at helping researchers work through academic literature. But I am still exploring different workflows, but I thought I'd mention it since it's relevant to the discussion. I appreciate everyone who's shared their experience so far.

Hi,

I’m new to this subreddit. I hope this is okay to post this here.

As you know academic positions like TAing require full time enrollment to be eligible. Lots of students take “filler credits” to make up for this. Because we’re all basically done with course requirements.

A former advisor who has in the past given me a P for credit recently gave me an F for the same course. Note that I was already enrolled in this course with him by the time we had agreed I’d find another advisor.

I figured at least the kind thing to do would be to just give me a pass for this term during this transitional phase as it’s not like I’d enroll in research credits with him in the future.

But no I have an F on my transcript now and I’m really upset at how it might impact my employment opportunities. I think I’ve decided I’ll focus on industry and not continue to climb the academic ladder. But I also don’t want this to harm my opportunities for teaching/lecturer positions.

Is this something that I should be concerned about or is it not as serious?

I am looking for any late bloomer PhD students who wants a buddy to stay accountable for everyday progress in writing their thesis. At times submission process can push to be very efficient or crash so to remain consistent a support group can help. Reply to this post or DM!

Those who showed depression-like symptoms during their PhD, had already been diagnosed with depression, or did the PhD environment cause depression?

Recently submitted and struggling to manage the built up stress (it's just attaching to new things like my career prospects, existential fears around being behind my laptop forever, money etc.). I realise these are valid concerns and I'm also burnt out but feel like my brain can't relax at all now I have a bit of time. Any tips for getting through this and reviving myself?

Viva prep shouldn't depend on whether your supervisor has time for a mock.

I've heard some people get two practice runs with their panel. Others get none. A lot of people are doing it alone with their thesis and a lot of anxiety, and if you can't afford a viva coach (they charge £100 to £300 a session???) you're mostly on your own.

I built something to close that gap. You upload your thesis and it reads it. It's a proper conversation, not a generic question bank or Q&A. "Dr. Eleanor Marsh" is a bespoke viva examiner who reads your thesis and examines you on your actual arguments, methodology, and conclusions. You can run it as many times as you need before your viva. Run it until your defence becomes second nature.

https://getpanelready.co.uk/

Happy to answer any questions about how it works