Читать книгу Fulfilling the Potential of Your Doctoral Experience - Pam Denicolo - Страница 22

We are assuming that, in preparation for your application or interview, you have looked up the specialist interests of your supervisors and the recent research conducted in your new department or school. If not, this is the time to do so in addition to finding out about the interests of other academics and researchers who inhabit that zone. You might also investigate other sources of support or expertise in the locality. See more about this in Top Tips 1.1.

Top Tips 1.1 Choosing the right supervisor for you

1 Email potential supervisors and ask about opportunities:Even if they are not advertising doctoral projects, they may have availability.Ask about potential funding, being clear about whether this is a necessity or simply something nice to have.

2 Google potential supervisors:Look at social media to find out about experience, interests and qualifications.You will be working closely with this person over many years; it is good to have someone who shares some of your same values.

3 Read potential supervisors’ papers:Consider whether the research you would like to do might be of interest to them.Check that their approaches would be interesting to learn more about.

4 Talk to potential supervisors ahead of time:See if you feel comfortable with them.Determine if your current research interests are aligned, both in topic choice and approach.

5 Visit potential universities if possible:Try to get a feel for the ambiance of the campus: how welcoming are the implicit messages.Check notice boards in the faculty that interests you for the tone of the messages displayed.Contemplate whether it is a place in which you could spend a good deal of time over the next few years.

6 Meet with their current doctoral researchers:Weigh up how contented they seem with the support they receive.Reflect on how supportive of each other they are.

7 Try to establish how long it takes their doctoral researchers to complete their degrees:Check if there are figures for the department, and for your potential supervisor. This can give you an idea of how long the programme is likely to last. Sometimes reality is different to advertised programme descriptions.Keep in mind some doctoral researchers may be part-time and therefore take longer.

8 Find out how many publications their doctoral researchers typically produce and, if possible, what their next career steps are:Co-authored papers with doctoral researchers are likely listed on each academic’s profile page of the university website.Career data may be harder to find; however, LinkedIn may prove useful.

9 Investigate what collaborators they work with:You may be able to determine this from co-authored papers or from projects described on the internet.International or inter-sectoral collaborators may signal potential for you to work with these partners as well.

10 Be open with potential supervisors about what you want from your doctorate and what your expectations are of them.

You can ask your prospective supervisors for a list of recommended reading about the topic and about research methods so that you can begin to get a feel for the nature of language used and issues considered important, as well as noting significant journals in your area which you are likely to need to access.

You might also begin to compile your birthday present list of equipment that will help speed your progress (IT gadgets, marker pens and sticky notes for study and a slow-cooker for domestic support, perhaps). If you accomplish all this before your official start date, then go on to the next chapter, which will give you more ideas on gaining a great start to your doctorate.