102
votes
How to deal with an abusively condescending professor?
As I understand you, you are being publicly shamed (in front of fellow grad students) by this professor by dint of your undergrad record.
If you are in the US, this is violating FERPA by revealing ...
- 7,932
95
votes
Accepted
What should I do after my PhD supervisor calls me a retard to my face?
Your supervisor has a problem, seriously. He shouldn't be doing this. Don't internalize it. It isn't you, it is him.
Do what you need to do to finish. After you finish and find a position is the time ...
- 384k
84
votes
Am I being exploited by my supervisor?
Yes you are.
Point 4 is downright abuse of power. You are not in any way obliged to provide free tuition to your advisor’s child! If your institution has reasonable management, you reporting this ...
- 28.3k
80
votes
Accepted
What can I do if a student in my lab threatens to tell lies about me, and my advisor doesn't want to fire her?
She has been mean to you, not the PI. He clearly signals that he likes you and your work. You say that he also realises she has an immature attitude. I think that you are in a good position here, ...
- 50.5k
72
votes
My wife got some serious issues with her PhD advisor: how should I get involved in the situation?
Clarification 1: My wife has not asked me to handle the situation, neither I have no intention of making a direct interference.
Well, there you go. Do not get involved.
Feel free to support your wife ...
- 843
69
votes
Accepted
Should I let my former undergraduate advisor know that my PhD advisor was abusive?
I'm sorry to hear about your experience, that sounds very distressing.
From what you've posted, it looks as if your undergrad advisor is sympathetic and thinks well of you. That being the case, you ...
- 10.3k
65
votes
How to respond when insulted by a grad student in a different department?
I'd probably document it (make a dated note to yourself someplace noting what occurred and exactly what was said, while you still remember it) and then ignore it, unless it becomes a pattern. The ...
- 126k
57
votes
Attending a conference that my abusive ex-supervisor is also attending, how I should react?
The best revenge is living well. You have a good start on that working on your topic with a nice supervisor, and attending the conference as a volunteer.
Ideally, treat him as just another academic ...
- 33.4k
57
votes
Removing unreal/gift co-authors previously added because of academic bullying
This will be an unsatisfactory answer, but my suggestion is to focus on the future rather than the past.
To do what you want to do is going to be an endless task where people will be reluctant to do ...
- 101k
56
votes
Student continuously makes insulting comments during my lecture - how do I handle him?
Before you pursue any of the other suggestions proposed here (return fire, kick him out), talk to him one on one about this at an opportune moment, i.e. after class or during office hours in case he ...
- 11.9k
53
votes
How to deal with an abusively condescending professor?
There are several possibilities. Some may be appropriate. Some may work. Or not.
Avoidance. If possible, just avoid this person. Don't have anything to do with him. Difficult, I know. There are ...
- 384k
52
votes
Should I let my former undergraduate advisor know that my PhD advisor was abusive?
Yes. Abusive persons in positions of authority are a huge problem in academia. A major reason for the continued existence of this problem is the fact that it’s often swept under the carpet and hushed ...
- 3,692
52
votes
Is this psychological abuse? Should I switch supervisors?
You write that your advisor said that you "committed severe ethical violations." But you don't say anything about what specifically you did, whether the accusations are true, or how you ...
- 33.1k
51
votes
Accepted
Paper with potentially inappropriately-ordered authors, should a journal act?
I would strongly encourage you to go for Option (1) - do nothing.
You are reading a lot into a very noisy signal. It's possible that something shady is going on, but it is also very possible that the ...
- 137k
46
votes
Accepted
Am I being exploited by my supervisor?
Obviously, as other answers indicate, yes, your supervisor is exploiting you - plain and simple. But here's a suggestion regarding what you should do about it:
Collect evidence on how you've been ...
- 39.7k
38
votes
What can I do if a student in my lab threatens to tell lies about me, and my advisor doesn't want to fire her?
Document as much as you can. If possible, you may want to have a neutral but trusted third person in attendance at your meeting with her.
- 1,582
38
votes
Advisor refuses to let me get my Master’s after my thesis defense
Your advisor is being completely unreasonable. It was very good you talked to the graduate school counselor. I think your best hope for a clean solution is that the dean will help resolve the issue.
...
- 8,821
37
votes
Student continuously makes insulting comments during my lecture - how do I handle him?
This is the adult world, not school.
What do you do or say when a student basically tells you that you are not a good teacher, to your face, in front of the entire class??
At the third level you ...
- 5,978
32
votes
What should I do after my PhD supervisor calls me a retard to my face?
Don't do anything.
Finishing your Ph.D. is more important than reporting your supervisor's behavior.
Just finish your Ph.D. and get the heck out of that university and never come back.
Even though I ...
- 5,828
32
votes
What should I do after my PhD supervisor calls me a retard to my face?
I get PhDs are a helluva process, and achievement, so potentially derailing one is a bear of a choice to confront. But I have a question for all these people advising OP to stick their head in the ...
- 461
30
votes
Advisor refuses to let me get my Master’s after my thesis defense
My suggestions …
Don’t turn down the job offer.
Make sure that your advisor understands that you will not continue in the Ph.D. Program, no matter how he tries to bully you, so his threats are futile....
- 1,776
30
votes
Harassment and intimidation by fellow students
While the behaviour of your fellow students is not something I'd consider ubiquitous, it is sadly common enough to be matter of concern in computer science. My estimate is that you got unlucky in how ...
- 44.9k
29
votes
Accepted
How to support students whom other faculty abuse?
Depending on how your department works there might be something you can do. People don't like their foibles and sins brought to light. Bad things happen in the dark.
See the caveat, below, but if ...
- 384k
28
votes
Is this psychological abuse? Should I switch supervisors?
It sounds to me like your professor has noticed a pattern of poor decisions on your side, and they cannot handle another one. Professors are human beings, and this one seems to have reached their ...
- 10.4k
27
votes
Am I being exploited by my supervisor?
Yes, definitely he is using you. Let's break it down one by one.
Point 1: Drafting professors' email is a thing that many Ph.D. students do occasionally. But requiring the student to stop doing the ...
- 379
27
votes
A jerk is becoming a professor, should I alert their faculty?
I doubt you will succeed in stopping A's appointment at A's university. You would however do considerable harm to yourself. First, for a non-psychologist, non-therapist, non-psychiatrist to make a ...
- 24.9k
26
votes
Graduate Program Director Congratulating Me on Failing Comprehensive
No one writes these letters "by hand," but rather cuts-and-pastes names to avoid writing the same thing dozens of times. It seems extremely likely to me that this person copied a standard "I'm pleased ...
- 10.3k
26
votes
My wife got some serious issues with her PhD advisor: how should I get involved in the situation?
Firstly, I see no reason why your wife should not deal with this issue directly, rather than acting through her husband. When a student has a problem with their supervisor there are actions they can ...
- 71.4k
23
votes
Attending a conference that my abusive ex-supervisor is also attending, how I should react?
Yes, ignore him as much as you can. But focus on the task at hand in your work. In professional company attacks reflect badly on the attacker, so work to ignore any negative messages from him. You ...
- 384k
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