The clash of supervisors on PostgraduateForum.com

Zd_Nomad
6 years ago

Hi all,

This is my first post and I come to seek advice on how I should approach my main supervisor about the infinite changes being made on my research, every time I have a meeting with both of my supervisors together.

I'm about to submit my first year's report to be upgraded to PhD status, and I still haven't managed to identify my research grounds, as I keep jumping from one area to another due to the advises I get from both supervisors. I want to know how can I approach my main supervisor and let himknow that I need to stick with one area that I can search in depth instead of touching the surface of multiple areas.

I'd like to mention that my second supervisor is great with the advises they provide, it's just that he started his supervision at the end of my first year, so they aren't fully aware of my research direction. And I honestly don't like the approach he's taking, as I don't have the background or knowledge of the area I'm being dragged into.

Many thanks,

Zd_Nomad

P

pm133
6 years ago

Quote From Zd_Nomad:
Hi all,

This is my first post and I come to seek advice on how I should approach my main supervisor about the infinite changes being made on my research, every time I have a meeting with both of my supervisors together.

I'm about to submit my first year's report to be upgraded to PhD status, and I still haven't managed to identify my research grounds, as I keep jumping from one area to another due to the advises I get from both supervisors. I want to know how can I approach my main supervisor and let himknow that I need to stick with one area that I can search in depth instead of touching the surface of multiple areas.

I'd like to mention that my second supervisor is great with the advises they provide, it's just that he started his supervision at the end of my first year, so they aren't fully aware of my research direction. And I honestly don't like the approach he's taking, as I don't have the background or knowledge of the area I'm being dragged into.

Many thanks,

Zd_Nomad

You should knock on your supervisors door and tell him exactly what you have written here.
Alternatively, pick a path of your own, write up that as your proposal going forwards and let them both discuss it with you in the same room. Try not to leave the room until you get agreement on the way forwards between all three of you. After that, you may wish to stop meeting up with them so much and get on with your agreed package of work.

Z

Zd_Nomad
6 years ago

You should knock on your supervisors door and tell him exactly what you have written here.
Alternatively, pick a path of your own, write up that as your proposal going forwards and let them both discuss it with you in the same room. Try not to leave the room until you get agreement on the way forwards between all three of you. After that, you may wish to stop meeting up with them so much and get on with your agreed package of work.

Thank you for your reply,

I would really want to do that, telling both of them about how I feel about it. However, I consider our relationship is at its best in terms of not mentioning personal feelings, which I fell it might ruin how they would interact with me on the long run. As it happened once with a genuine reason, but the reaction I got from them wasn't pleasant.

And due to the fact that I'm still stuck in the initial stages of the PhD, they believe I need to meet them once a week! which I think its not enough time formulate rigorous discussions, as I take my time to fully understand what I'm reading.

but from your advice, I might bring up the previous meeting minutes to the table and state what I have done, and where I should go from there.

Thank you again pm133!

Regards

E

Englishlit92
6 years ago

Hey there,

Your comment hits quite close to home. On my PhD I have three supervisors, and I feel as though I can never satisfy them all (as they often make different comments). Again, similarly to you 2/3 of my supervisors joined my team when I was about a year and a half into my degree and wanted me to go into a new direction which I wasn't comfortable/experienced in. I am now in a position where I am on probation, because I have had two failed attempts at transferring from Mphil to PhD level due to being unable to satisfy the criteria my supervisors have set.

Do you send your supervisors the same work and see them separately? If I were you I'd recommend trying to make your supervisory meetings group meetings, that way your supervisors will be unable to contradict each other. Ultimately your main supervisor will have the ruling opinion, but it would be wise to try and have group meetings from now on so that your supervisors are aware of what the other is recommending.

I hope this helps!

A.W

Z

Zd_Nomad
6 years ago

Quote From Englishlit92:
Hey there,

Your comment hits quite close to home. On my PhD I have three supervisors, and I feel as though I can never satisfy them all (as they often make different comments). Again, similarly to you 2/3 of my supervisors joined my team when I was about a year and a half into my degree and wanted me to go into a new direction which I wasn't comfortable/experienced in. I am now in a position where I am on probation, because I have had two failed attempts at transferring from Mphil to PhD level due to being unable to satisfy the criteria my supervisors have set.

Do you send your supervisors the same work and see them separately? If I were you I'd recommend trying to make your supervisory meetings group meetings, that way your supervisors will be unable to contradict each other. Ultimately your main supervisor will have the ruling opinion, but it would be wise to try and have group meetings from now on so that your supervisors are aware of what the other is recommending.

I hope this helps!

A.W

Hi A. W,

I apologize for the late response.

I was on probation for about a month since I had my annual review, as I disregarded my supervisors comments and continued working solely based on the external examiner's comments. I managed to pass with a congratulation email from my supervisor who told me that they don't think I would pass it!

Thank you for the advice on having group meetings. And I hope your transferal becomes successful.

best regards,

Z