Are you a good supervisor?
I had my share with supervisors! (believe me…)
In my academic life I had 1 supervisor in my bachelor, 1 supervisor in a specialization course, 1 supervisor in my master and now I have 3 supervisors in my PhD (not complaining, love them all :).
I know that there are several supervision styles. Just like clothes, people have their own preferences, we cannot judge them, we cannot expect them to be the same as we are…the supervision style is like your personality, or sense of style…its yours.
I understand that sometimes supervisors can also be influenced by their own old supervisors and their academic careers. And that is fine, as long the influence is for a good cause ( and not like: my old supervisor was evil so now I will be Satan).
After having so many supervisors, knowing many supervisors and also listen to friends talking about their supervisors…I learnt somethings about their style that I would like it to share…
The “I´m your friend” supervisor
This supervisor is young, almost your age and wants to be your friend. He treats you like you are bros, and honestly you feel confused.
No, you don´t need to be your student´s friend to be a good supervisor. Your student needs academic guidance not another friend. You don´t need to go out to the bar, to get drunk in the Friday beers…that is not a requirement to be a good supervisor.
The “I know more than you” supervisor
We know you have more knowledge and experience than us and that is the reason YOU are the supervisor and we are the students, right?!
There is no need for you to have a huge ego, to treat your students bad (like if they are incompetents) or to be rude (there is no excuse to be rude).
Just share your knowledge, be a partner, a guide…be like Yoda! (but don´t hit your students with a stick!)
The “I don´t reply your emails” supervisor
Ok, sing with me:
“I´m busy
you are busy
we are all busy!”
Yeah, your students know you are busy and believe me, your students are also busy reading papers, writing papers, doing reports, looking for funding, looking for conferences, doing data analysis…but when the supervisor sends an email we stop everything to read and reply. But…sometimes the supervisor doesn´t read or reply our emails! ….ever!
Ok, I know there is a hierarchy thing…but please be polite!
The “no” supervisor
“Can I go to this conference?” — “NO.”
“I am thinking to do a paper on…” — “NO.”
“I found a research stay in…” — “NO.”
“Can I get a second opinion on my analysis?” — “NO.”
“I think this will be better if I do like this…” — “NO.”
“Can I…” — “NO.”
“ Maybe…” — “NO.”
— “NO.”
— “NO.”
— “NO.”
Ok, but why?!
— “NO.”
The perfect supervisor
There is no perfect supervisor. We all know that.
Just be a normal human, who is collaborating and guiding another human to be a good researcher and have a good academic life.
We never know who will be our collaborators in the future, maybe your student today will be a kick ass researcher tomorrow and then you will be super proud to be his supervisor and to collaborate with him!
pictures from StcokSnap
