Turn down funding for PhD
Yesterday a big thing happened.History:
I am a student working for my PhD. Interested in robotics. Till i get a good topic I was to work for an investor on a start-up company. I was working on Thermography to detect breast cancer. I did not like it, but worked for money. I told my professor and he was ok till i find a project for my PhD. Recent months he started reject all my ideas for my dissertation (research topic).
Past few months:
All my ideas about lab improvements and grant proposals were bluntly denied. I was finally told that I got to do PhD in thermography. I said NO. Prof said he'll fund me only if I work in that project since he has no money for other projects. I saw another professor working in robotics field. I have already worked for him outside class. So asked him can he accept me as a PhD student. He said ok if my current professor is ok with it. Both the professors talked to one another and gave me the choice.
Choice:
Do thermography and get payed for my PhD. Or change professor and i will not get funded until the professor gets a grant or some support from department. Being an international student, my fee every semester is $10,000.
What I did:
I spent all my life so far with no pleasure to do something i like to do for the rest of my life. So i turned down the funding and decided to go with my area of interest. Motivation is the only energy that can help someone finish his/her PhD. My professor is currently not happy with the move. I also asked him if i can work for the investor and also do my PhD as personal/weekend stuff. He said no. When all my doors were closed to do research in my interest i decided to move. My friends in the lab are not happy about this.
I worked in that lab for 3 years. I go there everyday at 7:30AM and leave later than 8:00PM. I spend more time there than my home. I know where every piece of anything lay in the lab. Starting tomorrow and weekend I will be cleaning my spot. I will not be funded any more. I did not tell my parents and will not tell. Recently my sister told I am no use for the family because i am not helping my parents. (She and my dad are the only earning members). I will not quit my PhD. Did i make a bad decision?
Nothing more.
Comments (3)
I am presently 63 years old, retired and held over 50 different jobs by the time I was 30 years of age when I stopped counting. I have attended 5 years of trade schools and am still studying to learn new things that I am interested in.
You are a highly talented and intelligent man that has his whole working career still ahead of him. You need to do what is in your heart, not on someone else's agenda. Being your own man is what makes you the man you are, and are striving to become. Don't ever back down from what you feel is right, you have to live with yourself for the rest of your life, no matter what other people say or think.
I believe in you for one reason, you stood up under the pressure of public opinion. That takes more courage than all of the degrees ever signed for people none of us will remember, but you my friend will be remembered.
The best of luck to you and I will remember you in my prayers and don't give up and never ever give in...
rowdyrufus, respecter of people with guts
@G..Nastics : Good to hear, but thats not my favourite
After you get your PhD what will you do ?
Either work for someone else, or start your own company.
If you start your own company, you need a lot of financing.
So, either you work for someone else doing what THEY want you
to do, or you work doing what those who finance your efforts want you to do. Either way, you are likely NOT going to be doing exactly what you would like to focus on. Unfortunately, those are the realities of life. After you become rich & perhaps famous, THEN you can focus on whatever the heck you want to focus on, or perhaps do that in your SPARE time. Regardless, until then, my advice is to flow to where the money is and try to incorporate as much as you enjoy into it.
If you are truly smart, you can do that.
What you don't want to do is to create powerful enemies within
your department. Your success depends upon successfully defending whatever your thesis becomes to a committee of their colleagues. They will be much more loyal to them, than you.
After you graduate, you'll be gone. They will still be sharing power.