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COMSATS Institute of Information Technology

Explore the crucial role of a PhD advisor in academic and research careers. Learn traits to look for in a supervisor and how to find the right mentor. Understand the advantages and drawbacks of advisors at different career stages. Get insights on questions to ask potential advisors and their former students. Join this informative seminar to enhance your PhD journey.

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COMSATS Institute of Information Technology

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  1. COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Information Seminar on How to Select a PhD Advisor? Date: June 02, 2017 Day & Time: Friday 10:00 am Venue: Old Senate Hall Organized by COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari Campus Seminar Series on Study Abroad

  2. PhD advisor is the most important person in someone’s academic and research career

  3. Supervisor and his responsibilities • Giving guidance on research – usually strong guidance in selecting topic • Being accessible to student when advice needed • Giving advice on scheduling of successive stages of the work • Arranging for the student to talk about their research • Ensuring that the student is made aware of inadequacy of progress or of standards of work below that generally expected

  4. Why is it important to select a supervisor? • What traits do we need in a supervisor? • Good scientist • Someone who is doing good science • Good mentor

  5. How to find a good scientist? • PubMed them • Quality of research • Number of research articles • Find their H-index • Ask for advisor’s CV • Ask senior faculty and his students • Winner of any distinguished scientific award • Have funding

  6. How to find a good mentor? • Avoids scientific trivial questions • Ask his trainees • Has lot of students • Check his trainees list • Acknowledges his students

  7. Good mentor help students.... • Formulate good questions • Formulate good experiments • Create a happy lab environment • Give good talks and write good research papers • Independent and confidant over time

  8. Finding a supervisor on the basis of their careers Young faculty advisors • Advantages • Enthusiastic and energetic • Have links with their advisors • Tend to be web savvy • Are more active in recruiting students • Work alongside their students

  9. Disadvantages • Demands a lot from their students • High expectations from their students • Suffer early burn out • Tend to stick to their graduate research • Tend to underestimate the time

  10. Mid-Career faculty advisors • Advantages • Are at the peak of their research performance • Achieved recognition • Have strong circle of contacts • Administrative roles

  11. Disadvantages • Often networking at conferences • Sabbatical leaves away from group • Dominate research ideas and projects

  12. Senior faculty advisors • Advantages • Long track record of research • Achieved significant recognition • Alumni from their research group • Personal connections with industry • Have strong collaborations • On editorial boards of many journals

  13. Disadvantages • Close to retirement • Lack of energy and enthusiasm • Out of touch with the lab • May have arrogant behaviour • Out of touch with career issues

  14. Questions you might ask a potential supervisor • Project • Supervisory style • Expectations • Funding • Track record

  15. Questions you might ask the former students of the potential advisor • Supervisory style • Expectations • experience

  16. Always hope for the best but prepare for the worst

  17. Thanks

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