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[grasshopper]

There were/are students in my department like the ones aristophanes mentioned, and early in my grad school life, they scared me to death.  It seemed as if they were soooo accomplished, and I felt like a colossal loser compared to them.  But then I realize that most of it is just talk.  All I'm saying is that if a grad student can't walk the walk, then perhaps s/he should zip his/her lip up a little bit. Maaybe?  Just my thoughts.

Maybe. In an ideal world, people wouldn't brag about stuff they haven't done. Although I have to say, if someone asked me not to present myself as confident in my abilities because it makes them feel like a loser, I don't think I'd be willing to oblige that request. While I know that I have a lot to learn, I am confident of the abilities that I do possess. Why should I pretend that I'm not?

And anyway, the OP isn't going to change the colleague's behaviour. Besides, from the OPs posts and comments, it sounds like this particular colleague is walking her talk. After all, she knows the material well enough to impress half the faculty. It also sounds like the OP is a little jealous and bitter that the colleague is getting credit for walking that talk, since the talk that is being walked was initially the OP's. Fully understandable, and I would be jealous and bitter, too. But that doesn't make the colleague a braggart who doesn't know her stuff. Maybe she really is that accomplished. If not, she's certainly pulled the wool over quite a few people's eyes, and has been doing so for a very long time.

This colleague did a nasty thing. She stole the OPs ideas, and passed them off as her own. But why didn't any of the senior faculty realize that another grad student was already working in that area? How come no little bells went off in the chair's head... "now, isn't that student... what's the name? Aristophanes?... the one working with Professor Brilliant... isn't that student working on something similar?"

That tells me that the OP has got to step up and start playing the game.

[ludicrous]

I'm with historygradstudent on this one. The other students in my program have been incredibly helpful - helping me fine-tune ideas, suggesting literature in subjects I'm not altogether familiar with, proofreading. And having the opportunity to discuss preliminary ideas is a really good way to expand those ideas out into a viable research project. Intellectual solitude is a nasty piece of business any way you cut it.

As for this...

I don't want to point the finger, but how come your chair doesn't see you as being an up-and-comer in the field? Why is the chair behind this person, and not behind you? Why is s/he impressed with your colleague's work and not yours?

Because my colleague announces everything she does (even though I do it first) and kisses butt by making herself seen at every event -- whereas I have a spouse and a long commute to school and can't realistically be "on-call" to the department at every moment of the day, whereas she is younger, single, lives within walking distance, and loves to socialize.

... the only suggestion I can offer you is "suck it up." There will always be someone else out there with an edge. That's not unfair. That's life. Part of the game is political, and if you're not willing to play it, then you're not going to be as competitive.

The 'star student' in my department is a close friend of mine. He has 2 kids and a wife, lives out in East Nowhere about 45 minutes from town, and supports his family alone. He's published more than any other student in the department, and last year, attended more conferences than some professors in the department. He also attends almost every single departmental function. But, you see, he made this his priority. Others (myself included) haven't. Is it his fault that I'm not as high-ranked as he is? Nope. That's my fault, and mine alone. I've prioritized other things. I could have done more. I didn't. I made that choice. So have you. You've apparently chosen to prioritize family. And that's fine! But don't hang that on your fellow students.

This colleague of yours doesn't owe you anything... well, except maybe intellectual honesty. But she certainly doesn't have to be less visible in the department, just because you have a family and don't live nearby. And she isn't going to step down, so that your star can shine. If you want to be competitive, you're going to have to step up.

If you have brilliant ideas - ideas that are worthy of getting stolen, and that bring praise and glory to the thief - then tout them. Make some noise. Make a point of attending some of these social events, and talk your ideas up. If that's not something you want to commit to, then drop by the chair's office when you are on campus, just to chat about your research. (You might also be able to work in a self-satisfying comment about some of your earlier research - which the chair has thought all along was your colleague's - and discuss how it's led you to your current project). Make yourself shine.

My last post was tangential.  I apologize.  The original post is about a colleague stealing the OP's ideas.

My question for grasshopper is this:  Isn't plagiarism still very possible if someone loudly touts their ideas?  Actually, I think it would increase the chances that someone will rip off the idea. What if the plagiarist publishes a paper based on the idea, but does not use any of the same data or anything.  Does that still constitute plagiarism?  The final question is:  Does the person with the original idea have ANY recourse at all if an idea is stolen? 

I'm guessing that aristophanes' problem happens a lot more than we think.

[prof_mom]

My question for grasshopper is this:  Isn't plagiarism still very possible if someone loudly touts their ideas?  Actually, I think it would increase the chances that someone will rip off the idea. What if the plagiarist publishes a paper based on the idea, but does not use any of the same data or anything.  Does that still constitute plagiarism?  The final question is:  Does the person with the original idea have ANY recourse at all if an idea is stolen? 

Nope. If you haven't published it, it isn't plagiarism. If someone moves on your idea before you do, you lose. How could they cite that it was your idea even if they wanted to?

The world is not really round (guy in hall, 2006).

Also, just because someone did something you were thinking about should not take away from your ability to do it. There is always another study, a new way to advance the theory, etc. You should cite that article and move beyond it.