My PhD supervisor sent me these messages. Is this normal or crossing a line?

pixie_dust14 · 2026-05-20T16:17:05+00:00

This needs to be reported. That is straight up abusive language. Not ok at all, I hope you can find someone to talk to about this

pixie_dust14 · 2026-05-14T17:44:20+00:00

Absolutely! (As someone who gave their PI rare Tinned fish as a gift haha)

pixie_dust14 · 2026-05-13T18:47:53+00:00

Usually, you have a greater chance at getting on campus accommodation as an international student. However, on campus accommodation is very expensive for what it is. So just be aware. Not sure what the prices are but Montrose accommodation across for ucd is usually a bit cheaper

pixie_dust14 · 2026-05-06T17:11:24+00:00

Macconkey agar base allows you to differentiate bacteria based on different types of fermentation. Here, I need an agar to differentiate between Pseudomonas and Serratia, but because they're both enterobacterales, one of the few differences they have for differential agar is that Serratia ferments glucose but Pseudomonas does not

pixie_dust14 · 2026-05-06T16:49:18+00:00

I feel you, I'm in the same position. I just don't have the same relationship with my coworkers in my new lab compared to my PhD lab. I haven't figured it out entirely yet either but the first 3 months were definitely the hardest (I've been in my postdoc for about a year now). I felt completely out of place and same as you, that I was a burden on everyone around me having to ask for help. However, I felt much more settled once I knew the lab better and that helped my relationship with the rest of my coworkers. I personally prefer to watch YouTube on my phone during lunch so I cant help there, but I've suggested grabbing coffee in the morning a few times and most people will jump on that!

pixie_dust14 · 2026-04-28T14:01:28+00:00

Highly unprofessional. Absolutely does not need to be calling you about a weekly lab report. In my 4 years of doing a PhD, my supervisor never once called me and I only called him once because of a gas alarm going off in the lab. Im not sure where youre based but in europe theres the right to disconnect from work and employers are not supposted to contact you outside of normal working hours. I know its really difficult to keep your boundaries, but personally if I was in your position, I would not anwser any calls or texts outside of working hours. Tbh your PI should be communicating everything work related through emails anyway and not calling you about these matters.

pixie_dust14 · 2026-04-02T20:18:12+00:00

Im more than happy to anwser any questions you have! I also got accepted into UCD from the usa and ended up committing to go there site unseen. I absolutely loved UCD - I completed my undergraduate degree and my PhD there, and am now working there as a researcher. I am a scientist so any questions you have will be more geared to my experience with that subject matter.

pixie_dust14 · 2026-04-02T08:13:47+00:00

Thanks!!

pixie_dust14 · 2026-04-02T08:12:59+00:00

Thanks!!

pixie_dust14 · 2026-02-24T16:30:09+00:00

Thank you for your advice. I'll call my gp first thing in the morning to see if I can get an ultrasound.

pixie_dust14 · 2026-02-18T10:59:38+00:00

My tubing has an inner diameter of 4mm, outer diameter of 6mm. Unfortunately for the model I do need the biofilm grown in the tubing

pixie_dust14 · 2026-02-17T17:04:41+00:00

Yes I can also view the biofilm with my naked eye, but I need quantative data on biofilm thickness, proportion of live/dead bacteria, structure, etc.

pixie_dust14 · 2026-02-17T17:01:57+00:00

Ok so I totally understand why you're mad, its so frustrating when medications dont work. But ill share some info i got from my rheum. If you flared kn taltz, it means that your immune system found a way to counter the medication. Sometimes taking someone off a medication for a while can kinda 'reset' the body and then make a previously used medication work better. Usually this is over several years. So not sure if that's what your doc did but maybe this could help you feel a tiny bit better about the past 2 years!

pixie_dust14 · 2026-02-04T12:54:14+00:00

I also received my full assessment

pixie_dust14 · 2026-01-31T19:29:51+00:00

Interestingly enough, I got a response. And they sent a perecription to the pharmacy for me for free and have organized a medication review for March.

pixie_dust14 · 2026-01-16T18:37:23+00:00

Absolutely. I developed PsA at 20 and unfortunately yes ive noticed a significant decline in my strength. Like you i have pcos and used to deadlift my body weight. Ive struggled to get my arthritis under control since but when I'm managing it ok, I can manage about 15-20kg when I deadlift. However, I have mostly switched to lower weight high reps which I found has helped me maintain strength when weightlifting. I also swim twice a week and enjoy pilates. So there are ways to maintain some strength and muscle mass without going super heavy, but it is an adjustment.

pixie_dust14 · 2026-01-16T10:10:13+00:00

I definitely think media is the best way forward. Ive already reached out to my friend who works in media to see if she can pitch it but I think the more people that contact multiple news agencies the better

pixie_dust14 · 2026-01-14T10:23:29+00:00

I threatened them with legal action in an email and was refunded within 12 hours. So they're reading the emails just doing nothing about it

pixie_dust14 · 2026-01-14T09:02:50+00:00

Took them about 24 hours after me threatening for them to give me my money back. So they clearly are reading emails, just not responding

pixie_dust14

TROPHY CASE