5 Tips to Identify an Ideal Supervisor for Ph.D

1. 1 5 Tips to Identify an Ideal Supervisor for Ph.D Earning the highest academic degree itself takes a lot of efforts that starts right from the beginning. Before undertaking the doctoral programme, student must decide two crucial things that will influence their entire research experience. First, they have to choose their niche of interest on which they will continue their research work, and second, they have to look for an ideal supervisor, who will guide them thoroughly. The primary task of supervisors is to provide research scholars with resources and a strong platform to advance their career. Now, students often get confused while choosing their supervisors as they are often not sure what criteria they should follow in order to make the right choice. So, here is a list of 5 tips to help Ph.D candidates in identifying the right guide for them. 1.A guide with shared interests: After you decide your research topic or area, you should look for a supervisor, who has similar interests like you. To know that, you should search the profile background of different supervisors. You must collect information about their specialization papers, research works, and teaching areas to know if they ever had

2. 2 2.worked on the same field that you have chosen. A supervisor can only guide you well if they have shared knowledge and interests with you. 3.Have some initial visits: Before you undertake your research work, organize some meeting with your guide in person. This primary visit with your supervisor is essential to discuss your research plan and potential. Take his advice and present your opinions to build a foundation of partnership. This will also help you to know more about your supervisor closely. 4.Talk with seniors: Another best way to know your supervisor is to discuss with senior research fellows, post docs from the department. Ask them about the supervisor’s mentoring skill, his/her nature, working relation, commitment etc. Seniors will know better about these things as they may have some working experience with the supervisors. 5.Collect different feedbacks: Try to collect feedbacks about the supervisor on- How does he/she guide students? Does he/she have any negative record?  How does he/she care about students or maintain healthy work relationship?  What opportunities does the supervisor provide to his/her students?  How many years of supervising experience does he/she have? 6.Broaden your network:For all these information, you need to broaden your network with faculty members, present and past students, lab assistants, and senior research fellows under the same guide to have a much better understanding of what the supervisor is like as a person.

3. 3 A supervisor is not a teacher. He is a different kind of a person with whom you have to make and manage good working rapport. Therefore, you need to do some work in establishing, thinking about, and identifying their expertise.