I had just decided what I would like the layout of my first PhD paper to be, when I spoke to my supervisor and found out that a chapter or two couldn't be included.
Basically, I wanted to examine the taphonomic characteristics of fossils from three different vertebrate classes, to determine (among other things) whether specific characteristics were a.) environment dependent, regardless of class, b.) class dependent, regardless of environment, or c.) environment and class dependent.
However, one of the fossils has not been formally described and named, and is unlikely to be before I finish my paper. I don’t want to include the taphonomic characteristics of an unpublished specimen, so unfortunately that part will have to wait.
But it’s not so bad! There are plenty of good ways to structure this paper, and other ways of presenting and comparing taphonomic features present. I can also still conduct a comparison between the remaining two classes.
So what’s the important lesson here? Always keep in contact with your supervisor! Even if you haven’t scheduled an official meeting, it’s always a good idea to run preliminary plans by them, just in case you’re on the wrong track. Luckily it's only put me back a day, but you could potentially spend weeks researching or writing off-topic. And hey, after a quick chat you might find you're on the right track after all!
Basically, I wanted to examine the taphonomic characteristics of fossils from three different vertebrate classes, to determine (among other things) whether specific characteristics were a.) environment dependent, regardless of class, b.) class dependent, regardless of environment, or c.) environment and class dependent.
However, one of the fossils has not been formally described and named, and is unlikely to be before I finish my paper. I don’t want to include the taphonomic characteristics of an unpublished specimen, so unfortunately that part will have to wait.
But it’s not so bad! There are plenty of good ways to structure this paper, and other ways of presenting and comparing taphonomic features present. I can also still conduct a comparison between the remaining two classes.
So what’s the important lesson here? Always keep in contact with your supervisor! Even if you haven’t scheduled an official meeting, it’s always a good idea to run preliminary plans by them, just in case you’re on the wrong track. Luckily it's only put me back a day, but you could potentially spend weeks researching or writing off-topic. And hey, after a quick chat you might find you're on the right track after all!
Image courtesy of iandseniff
