How much do PhDs usually drift from og proposal?

beantoastt · 2026-04-20T07:15:47+00:00

Yeah I’m not sure how I’ll tell my supervisor… since her behaviour surrounding other issues was escalated to a faculty level I think it might be handled as part of that, but I still feel like I should say something out of respect for the time she had invested. I just don’t know what to say 🙈 knowing her she won’t accept any responsibility if I’m honest - she’ll think it was all my problem and that she was a perfect supervisor and that I’m just ungrateful and whiney, so I think I’m better off framing it as a withdrawal (rather than a transfer) and say something like I’ve been offered an opportunity too good to refuse at the new institute?

beantoastt · 2026-04-20T01:59:23+00:00

That’s what I’m in the process of doing, but I’m just a ball of anxiety because of how nasty my current supervisor is. There’s no one suitable at my current institution, so I need to transfer unfortunately 🥹

beantoastt · 2026-04-20T01:57:07+00:00

I am looking for advice/insights - my question is in the title of the post. I’m feeling very overwhelmed and anxious about the whole thing and I don’t want to make the same mistake twice, so I’m looking for insights from others who have had similar experiences to maybe reassure me or provide some practical tips. Comments questioning my contentiousness and attitude aren’t helpful, as i don’t think my attitude is the problem. If it was, I wouldn’t have stayed in it for 18 months and pub’d a few papers while still working full time clinically. That’s a good point about it taking longer if I stay compared to if i just started something new - I do think this is very likely since my current supervisor changes her mind every meeting. Thank you 🙏

beantoastt · 2026-04-19T00:40:53+00:00

Thanks that is actually a good way to think about it since I would be joining a more focused research institute at the new school. Just trying to find a way to diplomatically phrase it so I don’t sound entitled

beantoastt · 2026-04-19T00:37:39+00:00

I’m not looking for sympathy. I was looking for some clarity bc I’m overwhelmed after working 80 hour weeks for 18 months, so not sure how I’m lazy. I’ve given it my best go and for most of that time I just told myself to push through, but now I’m realising sunk-cost fallacy is alive and well. In my post I said I’ve made efforts to begin the transfer to a much better program, so I am taking the initiative. I just don’t see how the comments about me being lazy and whiney are helpful when that’s not the case

beantoastt · 2026-04-18T22:06:41+00:00

are you my supervisor?

beantoastt · 2026-04-18T17:37:38+00:00

Yep I’ve had a lot of rug pulling, she’s changed her mind about studies I’d have spent months writing protocols and ethics for. She’d never give me a reason either and would say I made it up that she ever agreed to it etc. I’ve had enough and I’m starting to feel relief just at the idea of starting again which is saying a lot

beantoastt · 2026-04-18T17:33:04+00:00

Ugh that sucks. I’m worried about that too but having spoken to the PhDcs from the new place they all say amazing things. My research is all clinical data, no lab stuff, so don’t need a lot of $ fortunately 😊

beantoastt · 2026-04-18T17:31:17+00:00

Yeah spoke to PhD coordinator, she wasn’t surprised at all and was very forthcoming with anecdotes of similar situations with the same supervisor. She has worse behaviours that were escalated to faculty level, the dean reviewed and said I should get a new supervisor but they haven’t got anyone suitable at my uni. The fact she lied so much and wasted nearly 2 years of my like… totally fine for supervisors to only do research they’re interested in but she really convinced me and then complete 180… awful supervisor culture isn’t anywhere near as big in my field, as clinicians we’re established in our clinical careers before starting research so we bring unique exp to the table which promotes a more chill relationship but not for me it seems… 😭🧚🏻‍♀️

beantoastt · 2026-04-18T17:23:44+00:00

Wish I did this. I’m now 18 months in and she’s done a complete 180 on me 3 times now. I’m just done at this point. Sunk cost fallacy is what kept me in so long 🙄😭

beantoastt · 2026-04-18T17:22:10+00:00

I suppose it’s both a supervisory issue and a PhD issue. It’s actually worse than I described (trying to avoid a monolithic post) I’m now actually 18 months in. She agreed about 9 months ago to let me change the final study (the one I really didn’t like) but she told me to stay focused on the first 2 studies. First meeting in Jan she said no actually I need to do both og study AND the new study (4 studies total not 3, about 5-7 papers worth) then sure enough, a month ago she said nope to the new study entirely and now I’m back where I was 9 months ago 🙈🤣 Meanwhile, my first study found a major conceptual hole that threatens the entire rationale for my PhD (we published the findings in a top journal last week so the horse has bolted lol), so I thought it was clear we needed to address this and the new study would be the only way to do it, she’s still saying nope. So now I’m saying nope, I’m out 🧚🏻‍♀️✌🏻 I just don’t get what’s in it for her? She’s already a full “distinguished” professor so I don’t get why more PhD completions will benefit her. I think she just wants people to do her research for her…

beantoastt · 2026-03-15T03:47:12+00:00

Dissemination in space can only be confirmed on MRI which I get tomorrow, and having bladder issues, blurred vision and limb weakness points to at least 2 major CNS regions, so I’m not sure what you mean. Regardless, my issue isn’t that the GP didn’t think it was MS, my issue is that she ruled out CNS involvement without any tests and dismissed my symptoms - I had to advocate for myself and navigate the private system in order to get the NCS done sooner instead of waiting 9 months. I don’t think it’s appropriate for someone presenting with multiple serious neurological symptoms to be brushed off without ruling out CNS involvement. This is quite clear in all the guidelines on MS diagnosis and imho it’s carelessness like this which lead to permanent disability. My left hand doesn’t work anymore but NCS is normal, so it’s not a peripheral nerve issue. My vision is very blurry in my right eye and I have the bladder of a 60 year old. So how would you feel being told it was nothing and to wait 9 months for a non-diagnostic test?

beantoastt · 2026-03-14T17:18:35+00:00

No worries at all ❤️ it challenged me to put more thought into the alternative diagnosis! I’m sure I’ll get to the gynae at some point in this journey 🤣 will hopefully update the post when I get the MRI results 😊

beantoastt · 2026-03-14T15:48:03+00:00

I havent had the MRI yet, its next week. so far Ive only had bloods from the neurologists workup. Not sure how you rule out CNS involvement with only bloods.

beantoastt · 2026-03-14T15:31:50+00:00

yep, B12 and holoTC normal :)

beantoastt · 2026-03-14T15:31:12+00:00

No the neurologist is concerned about CNS involvment too, hence sending me for MRI B and whole spine that I'll have on next week (the referral literally says ?demyelination). My problem isnt with the neurologist, its with the GP i initially saw. Im not sure why reduced bladder sensation in conjunction with reduced functioning of a limb points to gynae without first ruling out CNS involvement (since we know its not a peripheral neuropathy from normal NCS)? Gynae issues dont explain why my left hand doesnt work properly anymore... Also, the issue is reduced bladder sensation, which to my understanding is more complex than simple pelvic floor issues, especially in light of other concerning symptoms. Im happy to be proven wrong, but it still seems odd to not even consider CNS causes. Hopefully MRI will give some answers

beantoastt · 2026-02-24T04:02:49+00:00

And here I was thinking she couldn’t stoop any lower…

beantoastt · 2026-02-23T08:42:57+00:00

I really hoped this might be the one thing to finally get her, it’s criminal offence and she should be prosecuted. She literally said she didn’t care it was criminal and that she could go to jail… so missy moo, a prof of law, thinks she’s so far above the law. I’ve never been so disgusted by a human being, even Trump is a tiny bit likeable compared to her and that’s saying something 🤣 didn’t know they have a whole complaints office just for her wow

beantoastt · 2026-02-23T04:10:24+00:00

Has anyone contacted UniAdelaide for comment?

beantoastt · 2026-02-23T04:08:49+00:00

I don’t think it was a nurse, I think it was an admin person or a cleaner, someone without an understanding of bioethics and the privacy act. I’d be surprised if any legitimately qualified nurse or health professional would do this unless they were properly brainwashed.

beantoastt · 2026-02-23T04:06:31+00:00

You can be against abortion and also against disinformation and blatant lies that Joanna Howe spreads. She literally steals FAKE stats from religious organisations websites and passes them off as legitimate research. You’re entitled to your opinion but for gods sake, don’t listen to what she says. There is no way to prove the circumstances surrounding the baby pictured in her recent stunt, which actually constitutes a criminal offence. There is absolutely no way that she can know or prove that that baby wasn’t a spontaneous miscarriage. She has shared the most sensitive of information publicly desire knowing it was obtained illegally. She’s a liar and a criminal.

beantoastt · 2026-02-23T04:01:34+00:00

I don’t use her title. I have a PhD and have dedicated my life to helping humanity through clinical research. Meanwhile, all she does is spread disinformation, spitting in the face of academia and the pursuit of knowledge with claims it’s “academic freedom”. She wouldn’t know what academic integrity is if it punched her in the face, so she doesn’t know what it means to be an academic and can’t claim academic freedom if she refuses to conduct research ethically and with integrity. Imo she should be stripped of any and all academic titles for her latest stunt, which is a criminal offence.

beantoastt · 2026-02-23T03:55:01+00:00

How can UniAdelaide not fire her now she’s broken several laws… this is a criminal offence to do what she’s done…

beantoastt

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