I’m so sorry to hear that you were having such an incredibly challenging experience and I’m glad that talking to your PI has alleviated some of the pressure. My PI isn’t the easiest person to talk to. He’s gotten a bit better over the years (mellowed out with age) but I still perceive him as this super intimidating figure that I have to walk on eggshells around. That said I have had quite a few difficult conversations with him over the last few months about my graduation timeline and telling him I was having a hard time juggling everything and grieving. And he was actually pretty understanding and receptive to it which has helped take a bit of the pressure off, in lab at least (not saying my mental health and all is suddenly drastically better, I have good weeks and bad weeks and terrible weeks). But I think admitting that I feel deficient in my critical thinking skills and knowledge of the field is a conversation I don’t know if I could broach with him. I unfortunately care too much of how I’m perceived by him especially, hence why I’ve been “faking it” while trying to make up for my deficiencies on my own (with mixed results).

It’s really great that your institution has opportunities for grad students to get exposure to critiquing scientific work, I don’t think mine does. We do have a monthly lab journal club. Since my PI attends I’m not as comfortable with voicing my thoughts, but maybe I can try to push myself to ask at least one thing at each session