16. "Um, Will You Be My PhD Supervisor?"

Where did you ask your PhD supervisor to be your supervisor? If you were like me, it was over coffee. I was so nervous it was almost like proposing marriage! These are my tips to make you calmer, and hopefully allow the academic to say 'Yes!'

My Experience of Asking An Academic to Be My Supervisor

In "Should I Do a PhD?" I told the following story about when I knew I wanted to do a PhD. This story is relevant for so many career lessons. This week, I focus on the conversation it sparked with my soon-to-be PhD supervisor.

I can’t even remember where I was when I experienced my epiphany:

“Research is the career for me!”

I do remember I had recently finished my Masters in Criminology and was working at the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) when the epiphany hit me. I am quite an impulsive person and quickly found myself sitting across from my manager, excitedly telling him about my epiphany and my decision to do a PhD in crime research.

My manager said: ‘if you want a career in research, you need to do a PhD. But doing a PhD in crime research will reduce your job prospects as there aren’t many jobs in this field in Australia. Do your PhD in another field, like psychology, and make sure it has a crime element. Then, if you apply for a job in crime research, you have a translatable skill set.’ His advice was my first glimpse I had into the strategy behind a long research career.

This was sage advice, and I followed it.

This was the first time I thought strategically about my research career. It felt like a new door opening, and I was seeing a light I never knew existed.

So I thought 'what qualities do I want in a PhD supervisor?'

I had been bullied in a previous workplace so for me the most important quality was a supportive supervisor who would make me a better researcher. My supervisor was the most important thing to consider, as I have a curious mind I knew I would be interested in any PhD topic.

At this time, I had worked for an Associate Professor for about a year. She was really smart, but caring. For example, when I asked her if I could work at BOCSAR part-time she was happy for me, and completely understood why I wanted to get some research experience in the field I did my Masters. In addition to seeing me as a person, I knew she would push me, and make me a better researcher.

She ticked all of my boxes, so I arranged a meeting with her to ask if she would consider it. If not, I knew she would be able to recommend someone else.

I couldn't believe how nervous I was for this meeting. She had no idea why I requested the meeting. I should have taken my own advice from last week, included the reason for the meeting in my email request. Oops. So she was effectively blindsided. (See "How Do I Talk to An Expert").

At the meeting, we started chatting and I relayed to her the conversation I had had with my manager at BOCSAR. I can't remember the entirety of this conversation as I was so nervous. At some point I built up my courage to ask 'Would you be my PhD supervisor?'

After she got over her shock, her academic brain kicked in and she asked me a number of questions which formed the basis of The Seven Questions You Need To Ask Yourself Before Considering A PhD (see "Should I Do a PhD?").

1. Why do you want to do a PhD?

2. What skills do you want out of your PhD?

3. What content area do you want to focus on for your PhD?

4. Who will be your PhD supervisor?

5. Do you think you can do a PhD?

6. Will you do a PhD via publication or thesis?

7. Is a PhD financially viable?

She also asked me logistics questions of when I was planning on starting, what is my topic, why did I want to do a PhD, and why I wanted her to be my supervisor.

Then we just sat there in silence while she thought through my answers.

This was the most nerve-racking time of all. I had pleaded my case and I was waiting for the decision. I thought she was going to say no so I broke the silence and said, 'If you can't be my supervisor that's OK, but could you suggest someone else who might be a good fit?' I was giving her an out so it would be less awkward between us.

But she agreed!

Then we spoke logistics. I believe we had this conversation in September and I was going to wait until halfway through the following year to give myself some time to prepare for the PhD. She suggested I apply for a PhD scholarship straight away as I may not be successful the first time.

As these scholarship applications were due VERY soon. We strategised about what my PhD topic would be, what I would ACTUALLY study during my PhD, and the topic I would say I would study for the PhD scholarship application.

Her specialty was prescription drugs and big data, I wanted there to be a crime element, so my PhD would be examining prescription drug abuse using health claims data. But, neither of us knew much about this topic. As the scholarship application was due soon, we decided to be strategic. We had recently completed a systematic review on resource utilisation at the end of life in cancer patients. We could easily fill up two pages on this topic, so we did for the application.

Next hurdle was actually getting the scholarship, which is a story for another blog entry.

The Lessons of Asking An Academic to Be Your Supervisor

If you are thinking of doing a PhD, ask yourself the seven questions above. If you still want to do a PhD, then ask yourself these additional questions that related to Q4, considering who should be your PhD supervisor.

• What qualities should I look for in a PhD supervisor?

Think of a workplace in which you have thrived. What are your strongest work qualities? What were the qualities of past managers who you have worked well with? What were the qualities you have not worked well with? Write down these characteristics for yourself, and your past managers. This will give you an idea of the type of person you work well with, and try to find these qualities in a PhD supervisor.

My Experience: I was lucky enough to work for my supervisor prior to her becoming my supervisor, so I knew what I was signing up for. I would advise, where possible, try to work for your potential PhD supervisor, you want to know you can work with them, otherwise the PhD will seem like a very long 3-4 years!

For me, the supervisor was much more important than the topic, and I would choose my PhD supervisor over and over again. She taught me your name means something, and she also wanted her PhD students to be of a certain quality, who would be able to run their own lab when they finished. She taught me how to think strategically about my career and how to question research, methods and research findings. She wanted me to succeed and did everything she could to give me the opportunity to succeed. I still hear her voice in my head sometimes when I am questioning my methodology.

• Read any potential PhD supervisor's publications

If you are considering a supervisor, read their recent published work. Is this the area you want to do your PhD in? Ideally, the supervisor would be a prolific publisher so you can see how they think and if you agree with their methods and scientific approach to the field of study. If you have questions about their papers, ask them when you meet them. This will show you have done your research, and a curious, questioning mind.

• Where do you want to do your PhD?

I have recently learnt PhD programs differ greatly by location. If you want to do your PhD with a specific supervisor who is overseas, look into the program requirements of their university and how supervisor's are chosen/assigned.

My Experience: In Australia, you ask an academic to be your supervisor then put your scholarship application in with their blessing. However, this week I did a Twitter poll asking who knew their PhD supervisor before starting their PhD. The answer surprised me, over half of the 2300 people who voted, didn't know their supervisor! I was shocked as I could never have signed up to a 3-year degree without complete confidence I could work with my supervisor.

My Twitter colleagues informed me that overseas, PhD students may choose their supervisors after rotating through multiple labs to decide who the best advisor would be. This model is great, nothing like real world science conditions to figure out who you work well with. In other jurisdictions, a supervisor may be assigned to you, or you may apply for a PhD program at a particular university, and then choose a supervisor.

• What skills do you want to get out of your PhD?
  

This is one of the questions above, but I want to dive a bit deeper. Do you know what you want your topic to be? Is there a specific topic you are interested in? Do you want better research skills? Think about what type of researcher you want to be at the end of your PhD, and pick a supervisor who can give you that. If you need a specialist in a certain field, seek them out, whether they are local or international. If you need a methodologist, seek them out. Have lots of conversations so you know you are making the right choice when you decide who your supervisor should be and the topic.

My Experience: I did a PhD because I wanted a career in research and I wanted to teach at a university. I needed a PhD to do both of these things. I also wanted to be a 'better researcher,' but probably would not have been able to elaborate further about what this meant. The more you can think about what you want to get out of your PhD, the more likely you will achieve those skills.

• Why should they say 'Yes?'

You have a unique skillset. Through all of your life, research and academic experiences, you have accumulated many skills. Write them down. Literally make a list. Tell them why they should supervise you, and what skills you want to get out of your PhD. This will allow them to decide if the partnership is a good fit, or not. If not, they may be able to recommend another supervisor for you.

• Plan any interactions/conversation you will have with a potential supervisor.

Follow my advice from last week, in "How Do I Talk To An Expert?". In short, the advice is to respect the expert's time by being well-prepared for any emails you send or meetings you have. Write down all the questions you want to ask the expert. Also, be honest and brave. Tell them why you want to do a PhD, and why you want them to be your supervisor. If they cannot take you on as a student, they may be able to recommend another supervisor. If they are interested in your project, they may work with you on some PhD papers/projects.

How did you find your PhD supervisor? How did you approach them to be your supervisor? Were they your boss? Did you interview for the PhD? Let me know your experience by leaving a comment below or emailing me at AuthenticResearchExperiences@gmail.com

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Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Related Posts

"Should I Do PhD?"

"When Should I Do My PhD?"

"How Do I Talk To An Expert?"

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