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PhD lead supervisor won't reply?

I had submitted my application but it was rejected because the supervisors wanted me to revise it. However, two supervisors were willing to supervise me so they included a condition on application decision, asking me to revise my proposal based on 4 recommendations and that they are happy to re-consider my application if I revise and resubmit.

I followed their recommendations and revised my proposal exactly like they wanted.

My second co supervisor (I know him since I have worked for him and he also helped me get a job in the university research office) told me to get in touch with the lead supervisor.

I emailed her before easter but she was out of office. However, she was back in office after easter yet I did not receive any response.

I emailed her again updating her about my revised proposal but no response either.

The second supervisor is off sick until 10th so I can't contact him.

Ultimately I sent my revised proposal to doctoral college who said they will add the proposal to my existing application and then it will go for the final review.

But I'm worried. She doesn't respond to mails so it doesn't seem like she's interested in my research.

What are my chances?
(edited 6 months ago)
Hard to say what the chances are. It's only been 5 working days, which isn't a long time in academia!

Anyway, I just wanted to say unfortunately I'm experiencing very poor health at the moment and my brain is too broken to deal with anything other than the very light-hearted on TSR. I wish you all the best but please don't tag me any further, or expect anymore comments from me on any threads of yours :nah:
(edited 6 months ago)
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
Hard to say what the chances are. It's only been 5 working days, which isn't a long time in academia!
Anyway, I just wanted to say unfortunately I'm experiencing very poor health at the moment and my brain is too broken to deal with anything other than the very light-hearted on TSR. I wish you all the best but please don't tag me any further, or expect anymore comments from me on any threads of yours :nah:

For whatever its worth, I would second this, everything takes forever until its deadline day.

Unless Im misunderstanding or indeed you're in a very special place supervised by the elites, them shaping and refusing your study to suit their own aims is a little "on the nose"
Original post by wanga_wanga
For whatever its worth, I would second this, everything takes forever until its deadline day.
Unless Im misunderstanding or indeed you're in a very special place supervised by the elites, them shaping and refusing your study to suit their own aims is a little "on the nose"

Yes they wanted a lot of revisions so I'm assuming my proposal wasn't that good I guess
Original post by BlueEyesHypnotiz
Yes they wanted a lot of revisions so I'm assuming my proposal wasn't that good I guess

Ah to the proposal, and I know this is conflated but not to change fundamentally what you wish to study?

Supervisors do have choices, but it shouldnt completely change what you want to do but of course this has to go through ethics, have sound methodology and etc which Im sure you are very aware of being a potential PhD candidate, its disappointing I know but try to hang on.

I personally had a converse experience, I was accepted onto the doctorate programme assigned supervisors then they tried to change everything, but this was after I was enrolled so felt a bit "better" as in, Im in! But then theres a problem at every turn and one of my two supervisors is sending me information I dont agree with so it ends up being a bit like "is this my or your research", they tell you its yours and you have to be interested as its a slog. Then simultaneously change it. But they have to supervise it too so its hard to not see some things personally and such.

Nevertheless, just hang fire, its the 10th on Wedneday, distract yourself and deal with what comes. use your best anxiety management techniques
Original post by wanga_wanga
Ah to the proposal, and I know this is conflated but not to change fundamentally what you wish to study?
Supervisors do have choices, but it shouldnt completely change what you want to do but of course this has to go through ethics, have sound methodology and etc which Im sure you are very aware of being a potential PhD candidate, its disappointing I know but try to hang on.
I personally had a converse experience, I was accepted onto the doctorate programme assigned supervisors then they tried to change everything, but this was after I was enrolled so felt a bit "better" as in, Im in! But then theres a problem at every turn and one of my two supervisors is sending me information I dont agree with so it ends up being a bit like "is this my or your research", they tell you its yours and you have to be interested as its a slog. Then simultaneously change it. But they have to supervise it too so its hard to not see some things personally and such.
Nevertheless, just hang fire, its the 10th on Wedneday, distract yourself and deal with what comes. use your best anxiety management techniques

I'm hoping they don't ask to change anything because then its just annoying.
It's my research like you said no theirs so why insist so much on changing unless the proposal is very poorly written
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
Hard to say what the chances are. It's only been 5 working days, which isn't a long time in academia!
Anyway, I just wanted to say unfortunately I'm experiencing very poor health at the moment and my brain is too broken to deal with anything other than the very light-hearted on TSR. I wish you all the best but please don't tag me any further, or expect anymore comments from me on any threads of yours :nah:

Hmm strange how your brain is broken only on my threads but whatever
Original post by BlueEyesHypnotiz
I'm hoping they don't ask to change anything because then its just annoying.
It's my research like you said no theirs so why insist so much on changing unless the proposal is very poorly written

As covered in the previous thread, that's not how research proposals work for PhD's in the UK. If they are engaging with you and asking for amendments then that is generally a good sign. If your proposal was hot garbage they would either say no or would just blank you.

I agree with the above btw, 5 working days is absolutely nothing.

Original post by BlueEyesHypnotiz
Hmm strange how your brain is broken only on my threads but whatever

I appreciate this is frustrating but please keep things civil. You are getting a lot of quick, free advice from people well positioned to answer your questions. You had circa 50 replies about your proposal/appplication in one thread and 30 in another.
Reply 9
It is the Easter break when a lot of academics are going to conferences and trying to catch up on their own research. 5 days is not long.

Also, the supervisors said revise and resubmit - which you have now done. It will now go to be reviewed. I’m not sure what response you were hoping to get from the supervisor in the meantime, but she may not be able to get into personal correspondence about an application that is still pending final review.
Original post by xyz1234567
It is the Easter break when a lot of academics are going to conferences and trying to catch up on their own research. 5 days is not long.
Also, the supervisors said revise and resubmit - which you have now done. It will now go to be reviewed. I’m not sure what response you were hoping to get from the supervisor in the meantime, but she may not be able to get into personal correspondence about an application that is still pending final review.
I was encouraged to contact them and the email said they would be happy to advise. My second supervisor said to contact her so that's why I did
Original post by BlueEyesHypnotiz
I'm hoping they don't ask to change anything because then its just annoying.
It's my research like you said no theirs so why insist so much on changing unless the proposal is very poorly written

That's not exactly what I said, I may not have explained myself properly. I conflated some of the information and the question you were asking.

What I'm saying is unless you are training at a super elite faculty to join THEIR research and branch it for your own doctorate its unusual for them to strongarm you too far away from the research you propose/want to do. Your supervisor is the "principal investigator" its their arse.

What a supervisor can do is say they don't want to supervise you unless X Y Z. What post doctorate people are in a unique position to support you with is proposing properly. "Properly" meaning to meet requirements you may not be aware of yet and believe me there are a lot, apologies if you already know this. Using the right methods to achieve your question, narrowing down your question to something achievable - this I'm personally still up against as I'm constantly adding potential variables. It is challenging but should not reshape what you want to study so much it doesn't actually answer

Not knowing your subject matter the politics could play a part as upon completion and successful viva you are going to have your thesis in the public domain with your university named on it. I have personal thoughts on this but they're sort of moot as it is what it is.

Wait until you submit ethics!
Original post by BlueEyesHypnotiz
I was encouraged to contact them and the email said they would be happy to advise. My second supervisor said to contact her so that's why I did

news?
Original post by wanga_wanga
news?

Received the offer but the second supervisor stopped replying to me and I think he has removed himself from the supervisory team as his name wasn't mentioned in the acceptance letter
Original post by wanga_wanga
That's not exactly what I said, I may not have explained myself properly. I conflated some of the information and the question you were asking.
What I'm saying is unless you are training at a super elite faculty to join THEIR research and branch it for your own doctorate its unusual for them to strongarm you too far away from the research you propose/want to do. Your supervisor is the "principal investigator" its their arse.
What a supervisor can do is say they don't want to supervise you unless X Y Z. What post doctorate people are in a unique position to support you with is proposing properly. "Properly" meaning to meet requirements you may not be aware of yet and believe me there are a lot, apologies if you already know this. Using the right methods to achieve your question, narrowing down your question to something achievable - this I'm personally still up against as I'm constantly adding potential variables. It is challenging but should not reshape what you want to study so much it doesn't actually answer
Not knowing your subject matter the politics could play a part as upon completion and successful viva you are going to have your thesis in the public domain with your university named on it. I have personal thoughts on this but they're sort of moot as it is what it is.
Wait until you submit ethics!

Ever since my proposal was significantly improved and he came back from leave he completely stopped replying to my emails. He never gave any feedback or anything and stopped replying. I sent him 3 emails but no reply to any of them.
Finally I asked my first supervisor and he straightaway replied and said that he's positive that the outcome is good. I got the acceptance letter 2 days later but the 2nd supervisor stopped communicating and never emailed
(edited 4 months ago)
Original post by wanga_wanga
You're a pain do you know that?
ACCEPTANCE letter

What the f is this?
Original post by Admit-One
As covered in the previous thread, that's not how research proposals work for PhD's in the UK. If they are engaging with you and asking for amendments then that is generally a good sign. If your proposal was hot garbage they would either say no or would just blank you.
I agree with the above btw, 5 working days is absolutely nothing.
I appreciate this is frustrating but please keep things civil. You are getting a lot of quick, free advice from people well positioned to answer your questions. You had circa 50 replies about your proposal/appplication in one thread and 30 in another.

This makes more sense now.

You're welcome...

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