Will interviewers think I lied?

[Homestar Runner]

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Ok so here is the situation (using new account for this question). I had been on a recent interview, where I had mentioned a paper that I had helped on, because my PI had informed my group that the article was published. Come to find out yesterday, this article may actually not have been published after all. The journals that we had considered do not have a record of any submission from our group. Now, wires could have been crossed and I got the journal name wrong, but this doesn't seem likely. I've tried to get in touch with the PI about this situation, in a subtle way, but no response there yet. So either my PI is just straight up lying, or it's a big misunderstanding (obviously hoping for the second).

But with all that said, do I have to email the interviewers and let them know that this paper may actually not be as far along as I was led to believe? On one hand, I don't know for sure what the deal is here, so it could be nothing and a correction email would be unnecessary. On the other, I don't want to wait too long to try and figure out the situation, because I feel like that could look worse, like I was trying to get away with a lie or something like that.

I recognize how ridiculous this all sounds, and I am completely baffled. And yes this is the whole story here, I'm not leaving anything out. I have email threads to prove that I, and my co-author, were both informed that it was accepted.

Help??

 

[piii]

You didn't lie to your interviewers. Your PI told you it got published and so you passed that info on to your interviewers. You didn't do anything wrong - you didn't purposefully lie. So stop feeling guilty. This stuff happens. The interviewers aren't going to go sit at home and look up your paper and decide if they want to admit you once it shows up. I personally wouldn't contact them right now because any additional contact may "bother" the committee and sway them one way or the other. I'd just let sleeping dogs rest.

 

[Homestar Runner]

You didn't lie to your interviewers. Your PI told you it got published and so you passed that info on to your interviewers. You didn't do anything wrong - you didn't purposefully lie. So stop feeling guilty. This stuff happens. The interviewers aren't going to go sit at home and look up your paper and decide if they want to admit you once it shows up. I personally wouldn't contact them right now because any additional contact may "bother" the committee and sway them one way or the other. I'd just let sleeping dogs rest.

Yeah makes sense. I was leaning towards this anyway, since the whole situation sounds a little ridiculous and would be hard to adequately explain in an email.

 

[Moko]

I had been on a recent interview, where I had mentioned a paper that I had helped on, because my PI had informed my group that the article was published. Come to find out yesterday, this article may actually not have been published after all. ... do I have to email the interviewers and let them know that this paper may actually not be as far along as I was led to believe?

You're fine. Relax. No one is going to hold you accountable for what you said during the interview, people understand that research is unpredictable. No need to email the interviewer either, in all likelihood, they've already forgotten who you are 😛.

 

[Homestar Runner]

they've already forgotten who you are 😛.

I don't know ... I'm pretty adorable 😉

 

[Noctámbulo]

Is it possible that the paper was accepted, but still just in press (and unsearchable)?

 

[ChrisMack390]

Unless you claimed to have cured pancreatic cancer, your interviewer is not sitting up late at night scouring pubmed for some paper you may or may not be the 5th author on.

 

[Homestar Runner]

Is it possible that the paper was accepted, but still just in press (and unsearchable)?

I wondered this, but the editorial boards that I spoke with for each possible journal both said they have no record of any manuscript submitted under either my name or my PI's name, which to me says that it was never sent in at all. But I'm not well versed on the submission process, so maybe if it's moved into the acceptance stage, then the editorial board no longer sees it? Not sure how that works.

 

[trini818]

I wondered this, but the editorial boards that I spoke with for each possible journal both said they have no record of any manuscript submitted under either my name or my PI's name, which to me says that it was never sent in at all. But I'm not well versed on the submission process, so maybe if it's moved into the acceptance stage, then the editorial board no longer sees it? Not sure how that works.

They would be able to find it. Did you search Pubmed? Also, some journals send an email to all authors when there is a submission. It is also very possible that the first author (assuming you are not the first author) has delayed the submission possibly to review it more or add something. AND, sorry one last thing, it is also possible that the paper got rejected really fast from these journals and the lab is in the process of a rewrite.

 

[Homestar Runner]

They would be able to find it. Did you search Pubmed? Also, some journals send an email to all authors when there is a submission. It is also very possible that the first author (assuming you are not the first author) has delayed the submission possibly to review it more or add something. AND, sorry one last thing, it is also possible that the paper got rejected really fast from these journals and the lab is in the process of a rewrite.

I am 1st author though, so I would know if we were re-writing! And yeah I never received any email noting a submission like you mention, even though the PI told me several months ago that it was "under review" at that point in time. It's a little comical at this point, to be honest. And it's compounded by the fact that I've sent several emails and texts to my PI asking questions about all this, with no response at all.

 

[Ochemphd]

Are you sure you are still on the paper? Many an undergraduate has contributed to a project, left long ago then just left off authorship lists.

 

[Homestar Runner]

Are you sure you are still on the paper? Many an undergraduate has contributed to a project, left long ago then just left off authorship lists.

Yes I'm sure because the PI included me in the last email update. It just seems that what they reported is not true, according to the journal's editorial board.

I suppose I'll just keep trying to get in touch with the PI. I do appreciate all the input from everyone though

 

[ChrisMack390]

I am beginning to suspect that OP is testing the waters on whether one can get away with lying about this sort of thing (or maybe already did).

 

[Homestar Runner]

I am beginning to suspect that OP is testing the waters on whether one can get away with lying about this sort of thing (or maybe already did).

I know SDN always assumes this, but I really do have emails showing the PI tell us that first it was submitted and under review, and then the next update about being accepted. I understand the skepticism, I really do, because it sounds so strange.

 

[trini818]

I am 1st author though, so I would know if we were re-writing! And yeah I never received any email noting a submission like you mention, even though the PI told me several months ago that it was "under review" at that point in time. It's a little comical at this point, to be honest. And it's compounded by the fact that I've sent several emails and texts to my PI asking questions about all this, with no response at all.

If you are first author, I am confused as to how you would not be in the know. As a first author you did not just "help" on a paper. Did you come up with the tested hypothesis, produce most of the data, and write the paper? If so, don't short change yourself. Not sure how it goes in your lab, but every lab I have been in (and that is many as I am now a postdoc), no matter the rank of the first author, they are the ones who submit the paper. Also, even with your PI as corresponding author, it is a little odd that he is not updating you. It does not take reviewers months to review a submission. Are you still in the lab (sounds like no if you are emailing the PI)? Maybe it got rejected and the additional work need to resubmit he/she gave to someone in the lab and is just not telling you?

 

[trini818]

I know SDN always assumes this, but I really do have emails showing the PI tell us that first it was submitted and under review, and then the next update about being accepted. I understand the skepticism, I really do, because it sounds so strange.

How long ago was it supposedly accepted? Many journals publish material online as proofs before actual legitimate publication.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

I know SDN always assumes this, but I really do have emails showing the PI tell us that first it was submitted and under review, and then the next update about being accepted. I understand the skepticism, I really do, because it sounds so strange.

Obviously, I can't speak for how every journal operates but I've had a few pubs this year. I received multiple emails letting me know first that the paper was submitted, then that it was under review, then accepted or rejected. (In my experience, it has sometimes taken a few months to hear back.) Whoever submits the paper usually has to submit the email addresses of every author so that they can be notified of updates and so that they can review the proof, if accepted. Also, each author usually has to disclose any conflicts of interest before the paper is published. Really curious to know what happened here... But either way, I don't think adcoms will notice or care. On the off-chance that it comes up in an interview, I would just say that your PI told you that the paper had been submitted and accepted but there was a misunderstanding and you are still in the process of trying to get it published. As long as you've done the work to merit a first author pub, I can't imagine this being a big deal.

 

[Goldslugs]

You'll never understand how interviewers think, and if they think you lied just move on because there's no changing that. You'll never know what narrow-minded misconceptions interviewers will have that ultimately screw you over, so it's best just to explain the best you can and move on.

 

[Homestar Runner]

If you are first author, I am confused as to how you would not be in the know. As a first author you did not just "help" on a paper. Did you come up with the tested hypothesis, produce most of the data, and write the paper? If so, don't short change yourself. Not sure how it goes in your lab, but every lab I have been in (and that is many as I am now a postdoc), no matter the rank of the first author, they are the ones who submit the paper. Also, even with your PI as corresponding author, it is a little odd that he is not updating you. It does not take reviewers months to review a submission. Are you still in the lab (sounds like no if you are emailing the PI)? Maybe it got rejected and the additional work need to resubmit he/she gave to someone in the lab and is just not telling you?

How long ago was it supposedly accepted? Many journals publish material online as proofs before actual legitimate publication.

Yeah "help" probably was a short-change. I did produce the hypothesis, data, and wrote the paper largely from my own work, with some more specific and technical input from the PI on the language of scientific writing. He also helped quite a bit with some more in depth statistical analysis, but it was my brain-child.

It is definitely odd that he is not responding. A co-author has also been trying her hardest to get in touch as well, but it's usually just silence. I received the email about the supposed acceptance last week. At this point, I'm tempted to just scrap this and try and submit it myself to a new journal, with my other colleagues' permission and input. And maybe give my PI one last chance to let me know where we are.

 

[Homestar Runner]

Obviously, I can't speak for how every journal operates but I've had a few pubs this year. I received multiple emails letting me know first that the paper was submitted, then that it was under review, then accepted or rejected. (In my experience, it has sometimes taken a few months to hear back.) Whoever submits the paper usually has to submit the email addresses of every author so that they can be notified of updates and so that they can review the proof, if accepted. Also, each author usually has to disclose any conflicts of interest before the paper is published. Really curious to know what happened here... But either way, I don't think adcoms will notice or care. On the off-chance that it comes up in an interview, I would just say that your PI told you that the paper had been submitted and accepted but there was a misunderstanding and you are still in the process of trying to get it published. As long as you've done the work to merit a first author pub, I can't imagine this being a big deal.

So are you saying an email to the interviewers would be good, just saying there was a misunderstanding? In no way do I want to lie, so I'm happy to alert them if I need to regarding this situation.

Edit - and by lie I mean, them thinking that the article was published, when it wasn't. I recognize that I didn't actively lie to them in the interview

 

[trini818]

Yeah "help" probably was a short-change. I did produce the hypothesis, data, and wrote the paper largely from my own work, with some more specific and technical input from the PI on the language of scientific writing. He also helped quite a bit with some more in depth statistical analysis, but it was my brain-child.

It is definitely odd that he is not responding. A co-author has also been trying her hardest to get in touch as well, but it's usually just silence. I received the email about the supposed acceptance last week. At this point, I'm tempted to just scrap this and try and submit it myself to a new journal, with my other colleagues' permission and input. And maybe give my PI one last chance to let me know where we are.

Whoa... I would not submit somewhere else without the PI's approval. They are the funding source and corresponding author. This is the quickest way to burn a bridge with a PI. I know it sucks, but you need to wait for word from the professor. You should really try to meet with the PI face to face if you can.

 

[Homestar Runner]

Whoa... I would not submit somewhere else without the PI's approval. They are the funding source and corresponding author. This is the quickest way to burn a bridge with a PI. I know it sucks, but you need to wait for word from the professor. You should really try to meet with the PI face to face if you can.

K good to know! I certainly won't do that then. I'll stay patient 🙂

 

[trini818]

So are you saying an email to the interviewers would be good, just saying there was a misunderstanding? In no way do I want to lie, so I'm happy to alert them if I need to regarding this situation.

Edit - and by lie I mean, them thinking that the article was published, when it wasn't. I recognize that I didn't actively lie to them in the interview

They probably will not look up the paper and have just assumed it is in the publishing process. I do not think it would do any good to email them. I know my faculty interviewer at my one interview 🙁 looked up my papers, but as a postdoc, they are probably looking at me to become a physician scientist.

 

[thatwouldbeanarchy]

So are you saying an email to the interviewers would be good, just saying there was a misunderstanding? In no way do I want to lie, so I'm happy to alert them if I need to regarding this situation.

Edit - and by lie I mean, them thinking that the article was published, when it wasn't. I recognize that I didn't actively lie to them in the interview

Sorry, I misread your original post and thought that you hadn't interviewed yet! No, I don't think you need to send an email. I really don't see this becoming an issue.

 

[Homestar Runner]

They probably will not look up the paper and have just assumed it is in the publishing process. I do not think it would do any good to email them. I know my faculty interviewer at my one interview 🙁 looked up my papers, but I as a postdoc, they are probably looking at me as a physician scientist.

Sorry, I misread your original post and thought that you hadn't interviewed yet! No, I don't think you need to send an email. I really don't see this becoming an issue.

Okay thank you both!

 

[lalex]

Your PI's behavior worries me. Does anyone have in-person contact with him?

 

[Ochemphd]

Yeah "help" probably was a short-change. I did produce the hypothesis, data, and wrote the paper largely from my own work, with some more specific and technical input from the PI on the language of scientific writing. He also helped quite a bit with some more in depth statistical analysis, but it was my brain-child.

It is definitely odd that he is not responding. A co-author has also been trying her hardest to get in touch as well, but it's usually just silence. I received the email about the supposed acceptance last week. At this point, I'm tempted to just scrap this and try and submit it myself to a new journal, with my other colleagues' permission and input. And maybe give my PI one last chance to let me know where we are.

This doesn't make a lot of sense. What kind of paper is it? What kind of lab is it? What kind of journal? The fact you think you can submit on your own shows me you don't know very much about the publishing process, which is ok. I really don't think the full story is here, perhaps because you do not have the full story.

Which journal's format did you write the paper for? This doesn't need to be very confusing. Was this a thesis project that he promised to publish later?

 

[Noctámbulo]

At this point, I'm tempted to just scrap this and try and submit it myself to a new journal, with my other colleagues' permission and input. And maybe give my PI one last chance to let me know where we are.

Not only would this put you at risk of burning bridges with your PI, as mentioned above, but also violating the rights of the journal that (may have) accepted your paper for their upcoming issue. Most journals require you to sign away your ownership rights of the paper upon submission and prohibit you from "double-dipping" and submitting to any other journals concurrently.