What would you do?

[PsychResearch]

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My situation is as follows: I am a doctoral candidate in Developmental Psychology yet the research I've done in graduate school has been in Clinical Psychology. For my last year, I got a fellowship to complete my dissertation -- I signed a contract to finish up and graduate in 1 year. Looking back at my decision, I am not sure I did the right thing in applying for the fellowship. Since the committment I took was to finish up in 1 year, I requested that I do less of the clinical work in the lab. The request was granted though I now feel I may need to stay longer not because I can't finish but because I need more pubs. I recently applied for postdocs and since my publication record is not where it needs to be (others in the past stayed 7+ years until they actually got a postdoc, I'm only in my 5th), I doubt I'll get accepted. The advisor is currently away and pubs are on hold until the Fall. I am unsure if I could request to delay my graduation, so I publish at least 2 articles before I apply for a postdoc again in light of what I described above (the request for less clinical work).

I would hate to graduate and have no prospects because I graduated too soon. How common/uncommon is it that people work with the Ph.D. advisor on pubs after graduation? Sometimes people stay longer in the lab as postdocs though this is unlikely because these positions are filled.

 

[psyman]

All that fuss over 2 pubs? Graduate and be done.

 

[zensouth]

I worked on research (not necessarily a pub) for about 5 months after I graduated. It shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Psychadelic2012]

Is the issue that you signed a contract? Who did you sign it with? What will happen if you don't honor the contract? From what I know, 5 years is not a very sufficient time for an experimentally-focused PhD program, especially without a postdoc. I would stay, but it depends on what that contract means and if there is funding, I suppose.

 

[PsychResearch]

Is the issue that you signed a contract? Who did you sign it with? What will happen if you don't honor the contract? From what I know, 5 years is not a very sufficient time for an experimentally-focused PhD program, especially without a postdoc. I would stay, but it depends on what that contract means and if there is funding, I suppose.

That's the thing -- once I accepted the fellowship, I was taken off the grant funding I had previously. I doubt it the advisor would put me back on the grant since I requested to focus on my dissertation for the last year. There are new people who came in who are eager to do the clinical work and one got my funding once I accepted the fellowship. If I don't honor the 1 year fellowship, then my department won't be able to nominate a student for next year's fellowship. I guess my dilemma is whether or not my advisor will be able to offer me funding again if I need to stay longer. Also, the advisor is away until the Fall (which doesn't help my situation to move along projects) and said that if I wanted I could defend over skype. However, I don't think this would be a good move because if I do that, I won't be able to discuss possibly staying longer and funding. Another option would be to ask the department for an adjunct/instructor position to teach undergraduate classes. I think that once I'm out, the support for me to get a postdoc will no longer me there (there are currently a lot of students in the lab and 1 advisor), hence my dilemma.

 

[thewesternsky]

Many people continue to work on research with their grad school mentor after defending. I recommend getting the diss done ASAP so you can concentrate on getting those manuscripts out.

Also, if it's at all possible to keep working on the manuscripts while your advisor is away (the internet is great for long-distance collaboration!), I would do so as well. 🙂

 

[thewesternsky]

That's the thing -- once I accepted the fellowship, I was taken off the grant funding I had previously. I doubt it the advisor would put me back on the grant since I requested to focus on my dissertation for the last year. There are new people who came in who are eager to do the clinical work and one got my funding once I accepted the fellowship. If I don't honor the 1 year fellowship, then my department won't be able to nominate a student for next year's fellowship. I guess my dilemma is whether or not my advisor will be able to offer me funding again if I need to stay longer. Also, the advisor is away until the Fall (which doesn't help my situation to move along projects) and said that if I wanted I could defend over skype. However, I don't think this would be a good move because if I do that, I won't be able to discuss possibly staying longer and funding. Another option would be to ask the department for an adjunct/instructor position to teach undergraduate classes. I think that once I'm out, the support for me to get a postdoc will no longer me there (there are currently a lot of students in the lab and 1 advisor), hence my dilemma.

Oops. Just saw this new post. It sounds like you have a lot of questions that you need to ask your advisor. Couldn't you send an email and set up a Skype meeting to discuss these issues?

 

[PsychResearch]

The advisor is on sabbatical -- technically, doesn't work with students until the Fall. I'd probably ask once I have a full draft of my dissertation done (by May) though I dont know if it is okay to ask over e-mail and especially given the sabbatical.

 

[Psychadelic2012]

The advisor is on sabbatical -- technically, doesn't work with students until the Fall. I'd probably ask once I have a full draft of my dissertation done (by May) though I dont know if it is okay to ask over e-mail and especially given the sabbatical.

So your adviser went on sabbatical in the middle of your dissertation year? And you signed a contract saying you'd be done? How the hell is that supposed to happen?!

 

[PsychResearch]

I applied last May and got the fellowship effective in the Fall 2011 for 1 year. I was happy to get it at first, but I don't know that it was the right move. I also did not know about the sabbatical until late Fall. I am esentially losing 1 year of working on pubs -- I can work on my own except that drafts change a lot between the feedback I get to the point that where the draft starts and where it ends it is very different. I also started on pubs late because we needed to defend thesis and pass quals before we could actually start.

 

[thewesternsky]

The advisor is on sabbatical -- technically, doesn't work with students until the Fall. I'd probably ask once I have a full draft of my dissertation done (by May) though I dont know if it is okay to ask over e-mail and especially given the sabbatical.

...!

Is this common? I'm in Canada, so the system is probably different, but I've never heard of a prof not working and communicating with graduate students while on sabbatical. Here it's conceptualized as a break from teaching to focus on research and collaboration... both of which would typically involve supervising grad students (albeit sometimes from afar over Skype and email).