tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931229053785314543.post4549465408995746287..comments2023-05-30T04:48:38.284-04:00Comments on Periodic Boundary Conditions: This is the project that never ends....Miss MSEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06529587231142371243noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931229053785314543.post-70240277678936628772011-07-11T19:27:55.906-04:002011-07-11T19:27:55.906-04:00Maybe you should just say that you want to convert...Maybe you should just say that you want to convert your side project into your main project. If your advisor says no, then it gives you a reason to argue that you will then need to stop working on side project and focus entirely on main project. Whichever way it goes, you will be forcing the issue for the good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931229053785314543.post-56415548543319924182011-07-11T12:51:58.528-04:002011-07-11T12:51:58.528-04:00Alas, my advisor does still believe this is a side...Alas, my advisor does still believe this is a side project, yet keeps coming up with things to tack on to it. I would be totally fine with this becoming my main project, but I'm also supposed to produce data on the other project for funding review meetings, and more than once he's mentioned I really ought to be focusing on that. I don't want to simply neglect the "side project" though, because the manuscripts are pretty well advanced. I may be stuck juggling for a while longer.Miss MSEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06529587231142371243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-931229053785314543.post-54530429794880777462011-07-10T22:56:24.546-04:002011-07-10T22:56:24.546-04:00First, funding: As long as your advisor has not in...First, funding: As long as your advisor has not indicated otherwise on the availability of the funding, you should not worry about the source of funding that is supporting you—that is, which project it belongs to, how long it is for, etc. It's the responsibility of the advisor to shield the students from the funding issues and let them focus on their research.<br /><br />It seems to me that in the mind of your advisor, your side project has now turned into your thesis project. This is entirely normal. One often starts with a particular topic, only to find something interesting comes along on the sides which then takes a concrete form as a thesis-worthy project. I suspect that is what is happening. <br /><br />It is also possible that you do not like the idea of having the side project as your main topic, but I think that may not be the case. Your work is now worth two years and three publications—something quite difficult to achieve if you do not like what you are doing.<br /><br />If your advisor still believes that this is only a side project, then of course there is a problem and you need to talk. It does not make sense to do a side-project for two years, and then do the main project for next five years. But if that is what you really want, then I think it is best to say that you do not like the side project anymore or want a change in direction (if that is what you really want) toward your original topic, without mentioning anything about the funding.<br /><br />Best luck and keep posted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com