To those of you who are looking for a PhD supervisor, please remember that finding the right PhD supervisor is a critical aspect of a successful and fulfilling doctoral journey.
Sometimes, knowing what to avoid is just as important as knowing what to look for in a potential supervisor. Here are what came to mind.
Lack of expertise in your research area
Avoid supervisors who lack recent publications or have limited expertise in your research area, as they may not provide the necessary guidance and support. Make sure to thoroughly research their publication records and projects before deciding. You are going to learn to do your research well, so make sure he/she knows way more than you!Inadequate student selection process
Steer clear of supervisors who accept numerous students without a thorough selection process. These supervisors may be more focused on their own success than their students' needs. They may think that each student is an asset that can help them with their research, so they tend to accept many students. Don't be one of them!Poor interpersonal skills
Be wary of supervisors who appear dismissive, arrogant, or unapproachable, as these traits may hinder effective communication and collaboration. Observe their interactions with colleagues and students to assess their interpersonal skills. If you can't talk to your supervisor or find it hard to bring up your ideas, he/she is not the right supervisor.Vague expectations
Avoid supervisors who do not clearly communicate their expectations or provide vague guidelines. This lack of transparency may lead to misunderstandings and conflict during your PhD journey. If you can't avoid it, to deal with this, you may have to take notes and show him/her the notes after every meeting!Uninspiring and unmotivated
Be cautious of supervisors who display a lack of enthusiasm or passion for their field. These supervisors may struggle to inspire and motivate you throughout your PhD journey. Those nearing retirements tend to be less motivated... just saying.Unwillingness to provide guidance and support
Avoid supervisors who appear disinterested in your research ideas or unwilling to provide guidance. This may hinder your project's development and leave you feeling unsupported. Some academic staff are very capable, but they may not want to share their knowledge. Avoid them!Low student completion rates
Be cautious of supervisors with low completion rates or a history of students taking significantly longer to finish their PhD. This may indicate inadequate supervision and support. This is the best tell tale sign!Inadequate or overly critical feedback
Avoid supervisors who rarely provide feedback or are overly critical without offering constructive suggestions. This may hinder your progress and damage your confidence. Eventually, your motivation may wane.Poor conflict management skills
Be wary of supervisors who avoid addressing conflicts or leave their resolution entirely to the students. This may create an unhealthy working environment and impede your progress. This is poor leadership!Lack of commitment to research quality
Be cautious of supervisors with limited publication records or whose students consistently publish in low-impact journals. This may indicate a lack of commitment to research quality and impact your future academic career. Again, you want to learn from the best, so publication record is a good indicator.Unwillingness to address challenges
Avoid supervisors who appear unwilling to address potential challenges or do not offer practical solutions. This may hinder your ability to adapt and progress during your research. You want someone tenacious to emulate!Neglect of research standards
Be cautious of supervisors who do not emphasize research integrity or have a history of ethical breaches. This may negatively impact your research and reputation. Something no one should compromise!Lack of support for professional development
Avoid supervisors who do not prioritize their students' professional development or neglect to support them in attending conferences, workshops, and networking events. Good supervisors always watch your back!
Conclusion
By being aware of these red flags, you can avoid choosing the wrong PhD supervisor and instead find a supervisor who will support, guide, and inspire you throughout your PhD journey. Remember that finding the right supervisor is a critical aspect of your success, so take your time, do your research, and trust your instincts when making this important decision.
Great guidelines. I never wrote a doctorate but did have to write a "thesis" which was at the end of my 5y academic studies. Since my area was translation, I didn't need to be careful for so many issues like people with a sience study would have to do... !LUV
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!LUV
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A very good guide on this critical topic. Thanks for sharing your points around it with us.
Best regards from Cuba.
This is a great guide! I agree, finding a right supervisor is critical to complete a PhD research successfully and to grow as a researcher.
Sadly most students are guided by PhD funded project/scholarships first with limited option to choose the right supervisor. But at least those who get to continue in same university have the opportunity to know more about the potential supervisor.
Finding a supervisor whose overly ambitious or a perfectionist can also be a setback. They will try to get a student to do three PhDs in one😅, or all trials and error trying to answer every gap that comes from preliminary results.
That is true. Overly ambitious supervisor also doesn’t do good.
Thanks for engaging with my post.
Been trying to fill this niche of academics within Hive. Would need more support and interest.
This is a great initiative and it's great to finally have a community where academics can engage and grow intellectually. Looking at what you have been posting so far, I do get your vision to build this into a community that inspires and empowers each other!🙂💫
I am happy to share ideas and my support on branding the community vision, goals, and community rules and to make it more inclusive - whether one is a student, researcher, just interested in learning or is in the industry focusing on the application of research. This will encourage diversity and broad perspectives, and not entirely make it high level for post-graduates or academic settings.
And to make the community more engaging, perhaps one can consider using weekly prompts in the future, also posting Studentship/bursary opportunities we come across, Free training tools to make research or study more efficient or even training programs that are accredited and provide a certificate upon completion. For example Coursera or those organisations like FLUXNET, and UNFCCC-GIR-CASTT which run funded training for scholars and researchers. It would be great to put in a description and encourage people to also post similar initiatives across different disciplines.
The community can also target career insight, especially for students and graduates who aspire to study further or need exposure to choose careers that bridge academic research and industry needs considering that some disciplines are not easy to thrive outside of academia or to even position skills to get funding from the private sector that are looking to integrate research in their business model. This will encourage people to share their knowledge and experience across disciplines.
Thanks for your support! I have limited experience in getting the community going but what you suggest seems like a great ideas.
Academics are writers. I believe it will be good for Hive if we have more writing about academic life.
True, writing is a key component of academic work.