The Different Types of PhD Supervisor – How to Choose Your Yoda Part II

#3 Extremely hectic and vitally important

Overview

This individual is ambitious and involved, handling the business of the department, heading a variety of projects, and going to conferences. This person is a goal-oriented busybody. They are analytical, logical, and ordered in their thinking. They will let you develop your topic anyway you want, but they will be honest with you if they think you are doing something foolish.

Pros

This premium supervisor package comes with a tonne of different chances to improve one's skills and advance one's career. Having access to their extensive network of connections could prove to be an invaluable asset for your future career, regardless of whether you plan on working in industry or remaining in the academic field. Meetings with your supervisor can also be quite beneficial; but, in order to get the most out of each one, you will likely need to learn how to ask the proper questions and plan beforehand.

Cons

If you feel that you need more direction (particularly in the early stages of your PhD), you may discover that you are working with a supervisor who is demanding of results but is difficult to get a hold of or who never has time to come down to the lab to show you things. This can be a challenge, especially in the early stages of your PhD. If you thrive on seeking alternate sources of assistance or information and enjoy working independently, this position may be a wonderful fit for you. Be aware, though, of the difficulties that come along with dealing with someone who can only react to your emails once a month and in abbreviated form because they only have a few minutes to spare.

#4 Pleasant, oblivious, and scattered all over the place

Overview

This supervisor is encouraging and supportive, and he or she thinks highly of all of your suggestions. Even while they can appear to be a little disorganised, at least you won't have to construct Rome in a single day if you work for them. Even if they take a very laid-back attitude, you may find yourself becoming anxious because there is no standard to which your progress can be compared, despite the fact that they take this method.

Pros

If you already know what you're doing but could need some guidance, someone to check the accuracy of your work, and advice on who to call and how to accomplish it, this supervisor is a fantastic option to consider.

Cons

You run the risk of being very much self-managed if they don't know why they chose to supervise you, aren't aware of the deadlines, or have no concept what you're doing. In other words, they don't know why they opted to monitor you. Another red flag would be if they haven't published anything new in a significant amount of time, or if they believe that meetings ought to be an annual event that are followed by cake, and they start by asking you what your name is once more.

#5 An eager but unskilled novice An overview

It is likely that this supervisor is still quite early on in their own professional journey. It's possible that they don't have many former or current PhD students, but despite this fact, it's likely that they have a strong memory of their own PhD experience. This indicates that they will be reasonable in their expectations of you, talk at length about your ideas, and provide input while making it clear that the project is ultimately your responsibility. They will be kind and easy to communicate with, and they are excited to have you join the team.

Pros

Younger researchers have the advantage of being more inclined to be honest with you, which is a positive trait. They will be able to explain what they know pretty well, understand where you are coming from, and assist you through the difficult times associated with the PhD. They will most likely also have more time to sit down with you and go through your project, discussing any problems that may arise and attempting to find solutions.

Cons

Because to this individual's lack of experience, it is possible that they will not always be particularly effective (while this is not necessarily the case, it is something to keep in mind). For instance, if you go to them with an issue and ask them to solve it, it may take them some time because they may need to get advice from a more experienced person first. In addition to this, it is possible that they are not as well known in their profession and do not have as many connections. This is not necessarily the end of the world, but it could potentially limit the options that they can provide you during or after you have completed your degree.

The bare essentials

There are creatures of every form and size in the academic universe; nevertheless, we have only addressed a select handful of them here. Your imagination may be filled with images of starships bound for glory and escape pods drifting aimlessly across space. The escape pods may hold the discarded remnants of rejected academic papers and possibly failed PhD candidates. But does the choice of your mentor really have that much of an impact on your future? Almost certainly not.

Although it is possible that a significant portion of your PhD experience may be determined by the manner in which you are supervised, it is important to keep in mind that your own efforts and tenacity will be the primary factor in determining how successful you are academically. Choose carefully, and don't lose sight of the fact that, in the end, your PhD will be exactly what YOU make of it.