What NOT to Do to Your Postgraduate Research Supervisor

Let's look ahead to research in progress. It may be very much in your hands how to maintain a good relationship with your research supervisor. Much depends upon what happens when you meet periodically. It's worth looking at some of the things that supervisors like least!

- Research students just not turning up for meetings. This alienates supervisors faster than anything else (not surprisingly). Being late is bad enough - it shows disrespect for supervisors' precious time.

- Students turning up unprepared. This too is interpreted as a sign of disrespect. Supervisors need to feel that you are valuing their time and energy. If you turn up well-prepared, even if they haven't done the same, they're more likely to prepare for your next meeting.

- Students who turn up unprepared, but don't admit it, and try to bluff their way out of the situation. This tactic is likely to damage any supervisor-student relationship really quickly.

- Students who seem not to have any ideas of their own, and who regard meetings with their supervisor as 'tell me everything you know about what I'm supposed to be trying to do' occasions. Supervisors can quickly tire of spoon-feeding research students. A fair amount of direction may be required at the outset, but it should not take long for research students to start thinking for themselves.

- Students who turn up very prepared, but completely on the wrong track. This is even worse! A supervisor is then likely to start to have serious doubts about whether the student is up to the agreed research program.