Hey all,

We've had PLENTY of supervisor stories on here, sob stories, neutral stories, happy tales, as the archives show...So with all the shared wisdom between us, what have you all realized (are realizing) about what Sups look for in an 'ideal' student? Think back to the good times to find out what you did right, or the bad times, where you realized that sup is looking for something else....

Keep it up!!!

I think my supervisor looks for a working pair of hands - as long as you can hold a pen to label tubes you're in. And also preferably an inability to say no. In reality what he should look for is fluet mandarin, incredible hand eye coordination and excellent design and technology skills all combined with an indepth knowledge of neuroscience and the ability to mind read! That would be his perfect student - unfortunately I am none of these!

AWWW Walrus, I'm sure you're fantastic, nobody can be all of what you said huh....fluent knowledge of subject, 24/7 hard work and dedication, goshh!

My main supervisor said she could only work with students if she respected their work and what they were doing, so mutual respect in that situation is ideal.

I've noticed both my supervisors really like it when I surprise them with new ideas or material that they don't already know about - you should anyway in a PhD as it's an original contribution to knowledge etc, but it's great when you can do that, as you feel sometimes that they must know practically everything as they've been working in that area for so long and then you come up with something extra.

Agree with Ruby - new ideas are the route to my supervisor's heart. Oh - and the ability to work without actual supervision is essential ;-)

In my department there are PhD students everyone gets on with and then PhD students that people don't particularly like.. So these things will probably help you get on..

* Enthusiasm is a must
* Be able to think for yourself and not be waiting for someone to tell you what to do
* Don't sing your own praises all the time in a one-time-at-bandcamp-esque manner - Obviously don't hide your skills but there is a modest way to get them across lol. We have one guy who worked in the US for a while and he is constantly going on about 'When I was in America I did....'
* Be prepared to help other people cos you never know when you might need a hand
* Tidy up after yourself when using communal equipment and if you use the last of something order a refill/replacement

======= Date Modified 27 Sep 2008 14:21:08 =======
======= Date Modified 27 Sep 2008 14:17:30 =======
Following on from what Tricky said really, about getting on with people....

Keep your ego in check. It might feel like your research is the most important thing in the universe, but others will have the same opinion about their own work as well. An inflated sense of self-importance or a clash of egos is an ugly thing and does not endear you to fellow students or research staff. You really don't want to get a reputation for being the 'pushy one' or make the hearts sink of any beleaguered staff members you approach when you come into college on a mission to further your own ends. PhDs take years to finish and life will be harder if you quickly become a bit of a diva.

Go easy on the perfume/aftershave if that's your thing, but on the other hand don't forget basic personal hygiene, however stressed or busy you are. You really don't want to empty a room because you stink, and you don't want to give your supervisor or fellow students some allergy-related rhinitis thing either. Particularly relevant if you're working in a communal space or shut in a small office with someone else. This might sound weird, but I'm serious - it is *really* awkward to sort out these things, as a member of staff. It causes no end of atmospheres, and I don't just mean the smelly sort.

I think a lot of supervisors like it when you challenge them and disagree, although not for the sake of it! You have to be careful though coz some sups HATE that and only cooperate if you massage their ego enough!

i hear what you're saying about not being pushy and stuff like that, but I have a fellow phd student who has been doing that - he's pushed for what he wanted and has gotten it, doesn't seem to be doing 1/2 the work the rest of us are, and many people in the department know he cares about his own topic. but i don't see any accountability at all toward him, so I'm beginning to think that it doesn't matter if you do push... how do you know that other phd students might be "in trouble" for being pushy because in all honesty - it really seems like he's their star pupil...

======= Date Modified 28 Sep 2008 10:36:37 =======
Academia is a small world, more so when you're working in a specialist area. If you get a reputation for being obnoxious or difficult to work with at PhD level, it won't do you any favours if you're planning on staying in that field post-doc. Unless you're such a genius that people will want you anyway, regardless of whether you're a bit of a pushy prat, can you really imagine a supervisor recommending you for a post-doc post, or singing your praises to their high ranking colleagues in other institutions if you're going to be really impossible to work with? If you are unable to work collaboratively with other people, it won't go unnoticed by those around you, regardless of how it looks superficially in the way you are treated, and is likely to limit career choices further down the line.

Anyway, how do you know staff aren't just enabling him to finish so they can get rid of him and are secretly counting the days until they never have to work with him again? Unless he's got that annoying talent for appearing charming to those in positions of power, so it's just his fellow students that suffer! It's just my observations from working in a research area for long enough to see what goes on, though I'm sure there are plenty of variable examples elsewhere.

hmmm, interesting discussion, keep it up folks! So, what sups want is:

Summary:

1. Hard work.
2. Good behaviour/not diff to work with
3. Interest/enthusiasm
4. Intelligence/asking questions/mentioning articles etc etc
5. Good personal hygiene!!
6. And?

Please keep adding....8-)

6. A lab monkey.

Hmmm any inputs from the non-lab folk? The arty or social science types?

Umm, I am an arty/social science type...

btw I was wondering how useful all this advice actually is to you, and on your other threads, if you haven't actually started yet - are you memorising it or something? :p

Uhmm..I dont think all the threads on this forum are meant for ONE person's sole benefit, for instance the tips list thread that seems to have a sticky for some reason...also, i've started, third, fortunately it IS useful, though the proof of this rests inside my head LOL, and fourth, no, i am not memorising anything R, left that habit way back in kindergarten...