🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <31BFB24C.405F@ix.netcom.com>, Jane Harper <jharper@ix.netcom.com> says:
>
>I spent 10 quarters in the PhD program from UC San Francisco.  My 
>adviser and I came to a very contentious parting, and I left UC.  Today 
>I opened the alumni magazine and discover that this former adviser has 
>been funded for a pilot study with exactly the same title as my 
>dissertation proposal!!!
>
>Is this common practice?

No, but it does happen. It is easy to contend that your proposal was
"only" an idea. I would try to secure the submitted proposal. After all,
if your exact words were used... If not, "all" that individual has done is
"stolen" your idea.

>Is it ethical?

Definitely not.

>Is it legal?

Maybe. There have been some legal cases where (former) students
won suits based on having their research data appropriated by
(former) advisors. But, again, if it was only an idea, without data....


>I'm fit to be tied.

You should be, and should at least "make noise" about this. Again, I
would try to get the proposal for the pilot before proceeding.