Hannah Novak
Sep 23, 2026
My PhD advisor left and took my project with him
Year four of a PhD in neuroscience. My advisor got an offer at another university and took his grant, the lab equipment, and basically my dissertation project with him. I couldn't …
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In short
Four years into my PhD, my advisor left with the grant and project I depended on. Starting over could add years; leaving with a master's feels painful too. I am weighing a future that no longer looks like the one I planned.
There’s a comeback in this one. Leaning towards taking the master's and leaving. Talked to three people who did the same thing and none of them regret it.
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