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One of my supervisors used to point out various pieces of lab equipment and equated it's value to X PhD's. It was funny and a bit depressing at the same time.
by gww 8y ago
One of my supervisors used to point out various pieces of lab equipment and equated it's value to X PhD's. It was funny and a bit depressing at the same time.
EDIT: I do think the culture of referring to trainees as slaves needs to stop. Even in jest it can be quite disheartening to be reminded how beholden to your supervisor you are.
- foobarian 8y agoI was at lunch once with my advisor and some visitors from a government lab who was sponsoring us. At one point conversation went into hours and productivity (which was particularly constrained at a government facility) and I distinctly remember my advisor bragging about how he could get his students to work nights and weekends to get something done. I sure don't miss it.
- gww 8y agoIt's ridiculous that it's a point of pride for supervisors to overwork their students. Along a similar vein one of my supervisors used to come in on weekends just to see who was there and he would deprecate those he didn't see on Monday.
- Fomite 8y agoIt is. It's something I actively try to combat in my lab.
- Fomite 8y agoOne note (because the abuse of trainees is unacceptable), is that sometimes the "This thing cost X PhD's" thing is used as gripe, not a way to put down students. Basically, making students realize the equipment they're using is expensive, and that tradeoffs exist in the lab.