A good supervisor impact the life of PhD students, so it is very important to find one and know how to maintain good bond with them.
These are the top 5 ingredients for a successful PhD supervisor/student relationship:
Effective Communication
Clear and honest communication is the foundation of a successful relationship. It's crucial that PhD students are comfortable speaking about their research aspirations, worries, and difficulties with their supervisors. Likewise, supervisors should make themselves accessible for frequent meetings and be willing to offer support and criticism. Setting up a clear means of communication from the beginning can prevent confusion and guarantee that both parties have a shared understanding.
The professor should act as a catalyst for creativity and idea generation. Likewise, the student will also make an effort to learn the state of the art so that he or she may suggest different approaches to the creative process. From the outset, the student should contribute original ideas that can enhance the project.
While it is common for the professor to have established research themes and funding for their work, the student should adopt the ideas as their own and work to broaden the scope of the project through their own contributions.
Manage Differences in Opinions
If any discrepancies in opinions occur during the progress of the work, the student should engage in a conversation with the professor. A situation like this occurs when either the professor or the student performs poorly, and the only way to resolve it is through conversation.
Before initiating this dialogue, clear communication should be established, with an effort made to explain the situation. If this rule is not followed, a lack of trust and potentially hostile attitudes may develop between the student and professor and might lead to the failure of the project.
Supervise work
The professor must constantly monitor the student's progress. They should assist the student in finding solutions to any issues that may arise during the course of the work. This oversight can take many forms, such as evaluating research advancement, giving suggestions to tackle difficulties, and providing psychological support.
Knowledge transfer
The student must understand that by accepting the professor's supervision, they play a crucial role in disseminating the knowledge that the professor has accumulated. Knowledge dissemination is of utmost importance, and both the professor and students should view it as a primary objective of their research. This can be achieved through various means, such as publishing papers, obtaining patents, creating spin-off companies, and spreading knowledge through scientific communication.
The relationship between a PhD supervisor and student is established while working on a doctoral thesis, usually under the direction of a professor. This relationship lasts only for a certain duration, however; it can lead to enduring bonds that persist beyond just a work connection established to complete the project.
Moreover, joining EDAMBA PhD community and PhD summer academy can provide additional opportunities for students and supervisors to form connections, strengthen relationships and foster collaboration beyond their thesis work.