Working with your supervisors
A/Prof Sam Richardson
Former HDR Coordinator
School of Medical Sciences
9th April, 2015
Aims of your PhD:
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Publish!!!!!
Network
Conferences
Practise presenting
Practise writing
Get known
Most easily achieved with support from
your supervisors!
Publish
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PhD: change knowledge at an
international level
Number and quality of publications will
determine your career
If you supervisor is not publishing – get
another supervisor!
Network
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Within your School
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Within the College
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Other HDR students
Seminars
SEH HDR conference
HDR research culture sessions
Within the University
Conferences
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Local, national, international
Discuss with your supervisors
Conferences
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Present your data
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Network
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Writing abstracts
Preparing posters
Oral presentations
Answering questions!!!
Talk to strangers
Go to the conference dinner
Potential employers, collaborators, referees,
reviewers
Easier with your supervisor’s support!
Practise talking
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Lab meetings
School seminars
Conferences
Local community
Scientists in Schools Programme
(CSIRO)
Anything!
Practise writing
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Conference abstracts
Publications
Milestone documents
Awards
Thesis chapters
Get known
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Student rep on a committee
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Start an HDR student group
Professional societies
Ask questions
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Seminars, conferences
Assessors/reviewers of applications
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School: OH&S, PG, Research Committees
College: HDR Committee
University: Ethics, SGRAB
Fellowships, grants, jobs, conference abstracts, publications
Easier with support of your supervisor!
Supervisors
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More than one (referees, contacts etc)
Communication is essential
Own your PhD
Mentors / collaborators after you
graduate
While everything is going well…
No problems 
Problems along the way…
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Relationships
Friends
Family
Financial
International student
Housing
etc
Communication with your
supervisor is critical!!!
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Start of candidature
Mid-candidature
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Be brutally honest with milestones
If you suspect a problem – discuss it now!
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Light at the end of the tunnel…
The final stages (stress!!!)
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Keep communication open
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At the start of candidature…
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Tell your supervisor
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WHY do you want to do a PhD
What MOTIVATES you
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Will probably change during candidature
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Honesty is critical
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Your supervisor has probably had a worse student
than you!!!
Tell them about you
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Strengths/weaknesses
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Procrastination
Time management
Starting / finishing / perfectionist
Issues with writing
Punctuality
Morning/night person
Formal/informal
PT work
Family
Establish expectations and
responsibilities now
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Discuss and agree on (make notes):
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Senior supervisor’s expectations
Senior supervisor’s responsibilities
Student’s expectations
Student’s responsibilities
Associate supervisors’ roles
Will probably be slightly different for
each student-supervisor relationship
Things to discuss now
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Their expectations of you
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PhD candidature (3 years or 4? Duration of scholarship?)
Working hours (weekends? paid work? public holidays? 4 weeks?)
Communication (regular meetings, text/email)
Change knowledge at an international level (are all aims defined?)
Level of independence during candidature (increase?)
Publications (authorship, writing, timing, choice of journal etc)
Your expectations of them
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Coping with constant stress and pressure (perseverance and
resilience)
Communication (availability, regular meetings, day-to-day
supervision)
Feedback on written work
Other…
The biggest problem:
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Breakdown in communication between
student and supervisor
Loss of respect and trust
Both the supervisor and the student can
consult
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Other team supervisors / mentors / collaborators
School HDR Coordinator
DHoS(R&I)
Other HDR students
At the end of the day…
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Motivation and successful completion of a
PhD is ultimately up to you!
Supervisors/advisors can only guide/advise
Open and honest communication with your
supervisor is important
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Help you through the tough times
Supervisors are on your team!!!
Supervisors are only human – we are not
perfect 
Good luck!!!
I hope this has been helpful 