How to find the perfect PhD supervisor

Don’t just count citations. Count successful alumni.

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Deep discussion with a good supervisor go a long way. Image generated with the new DALL-E.

Picking your PhD supervisor might be the biggest choice you’ll make in grad school. I’ve seen it play out hundreds of times. Good and bad. This relationship shapes your whole academic journey.

Here’s what fascinates me. Some smart students bump into major challenges with the wrong advisor, while others absolutely take off with the right mentor by their side. I’ve have several undergraduates, who weren’t top of their class, but their future supervisor believed in their ideas and supported their growth. Some of them are now publishing at CHI and absolutely flourishing in grad school. The truth is simple. Find someone who wants you to succeed. It makes all the difference. Today, I’ll show you five clear steps to make that happen.

1. Find Your Perfect Research Match

When I first considered pursuing a PhD, I was starstruck by big names in my field. But I quickly learned that reputation alone isn’t enough to get you through. And I certainly didn’t spend enough time on my own choice of PhD supervisor, so I learned this the hard way during my PhD.