Did I do the right thing?

[SomeDude007]

I'm a PhD student in a lab working with a Post-Doc (meaning post-PhD) on a joint project in which we are contributing equally, meaning there really isn't a hierarchy between the two of us. This project has two aspects to it; a computational side (dry lab work), and in vivo (wet lab work) side. 

 

I have been working hard on the computational side of it and have been really exploring many different computational approaches to better our project and get it to a more high impact journal. This involves weeks and weeks of frustrating trouble shooting, talking with experts, many late nights, etc (I am not at all a computational expert). I've been doing this of my own volition, because I find it very rewarding, I love the science that is coming out of it, and again it will greatly improve the paper. 

 

The issue is with my coworker, the post doc. After spending all of this time figuring out this stuff, she constantly just asks me for the code to run it on her own. Not a problem if she was applying it to her own projects, but since she wants to use it on the joint project, it's kind of a waste of time since it would be both of us doing the same thing on the same data sets. Kind of like if I were to dig a hole, then have her ask me for my shovel to only fill the hole and dig it up again (and have it be easier, since the dirt is loose aka I've done all of the trouble shooting). And I will admit that I am a little defensive; this has taken me a lot of time to figure out, so I would want to do the analysis myself. 

 

I've been complying with her asking for it, but it has gotten really frustrating and has led to the project to become kind of stagnant since we're both kind of spinning our wheels. I've talked to her a few times about how there needs to be more communication, but that really hasn't resolved. 

 

I finally talked to our supervisor about it one on one, and expressed my frustrations. She was also getting the sense that something was stalling the project, and said that she would talk with the three of us together to better split up the tasks between the post doc and I. I was very careful not to badmouth the post doc, mentioning that I don't think the post doc is doing it maliciously (which I really don't think she is). 

 

My supervisor is very nice, so I know that she is going to do it in the most tactful way possible, but I can't help but feel a little guilty/shameful about going to her. I know that the post doc is probably just really excited to explore the data and is probably also feeling a little protective about her placement in authorship or something like that. Idk, I guess I'm just feeling anxious about it. Did I do the right thing here? 

 

 

 

 

[Mr. Lucky]

32 minutes ago, SomeDude007 said:

I'm a PhD student in a lab working with a Post-Doc (meaning post-PhD) on a joint project in which we are contributing equally, meaning there really isn't a hierarchy between the two of us. 

 

 

 

 

I wonder if your post doc partner agrees with this?  She seems somewhat happy for you to do the heavy lifting, at least computationally, while she benefits.  Does she contribute proportionally in other ways?

 

Regardless, more communication is usually a good thing. Your approach seems appropriate...

 

Mr. Lucky 

[Eternal Sunshine]

I think you should clarify the authorship order. She may feel less in need to control this project that way. If the project can lead to more than just papers, it gets muddy.

I have been in your position before and I refused (politely) to hand over the code. You really need to look out for yourself here, otherwise you may find that you are doing a lot of work for others to take the credit.