Being a supervisor - (Jul/04/2008 )

U are right,Iam doing extra work because I love to do this.

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Rose,

Since you're just beginning your PhD you have a great opportunity to get some very important and relevant experience...

Take on things like
- ordering lab supplies
- lab chores that others don't want or don't do
- get involved when purchasing decisions are made... (new equipment, etc...)
- Help others during their presentations, set up, food, etc...
- Learn about the research the others in the lab are doing... Learn their protocols that you aren't doing... Many people MISS this opportunity and graduate without knowing basic things like how to:

- do a western blot
- use a confocal microscope
- do flow cytometry analysis

Learn by doing...

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I will do this, this is a precious advice.

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Learn to explain! The most important thing is to explain people WHAT they are doing, WHY they are doing it and HOW to do it SAFELY!!!

Be patient, as most people entering the lab know much much less than you! So you will have to explain again and again and it is getting boring, but it will effect the work of your group positively to share knowledge (I hate the people hiding papers or don't answering questions just because they want to keep your knowledge behind theirs).




Hey doc t thats unfair! Not everybody is working with this stuff! I could add lots of things which are very important in microbiology labs you probably never have heard of

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Yes that's very true... I only meant to give an example.... you would have to taylor the experience you need to the job you want...

and yes you could name LOTS of things I don't know... You probably don't have enough time to list all the things I don't know...

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is there a word limit for posts? Otherwise I would try when I have time

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Let us know after the forum server recovers

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I think the point is more to take advantage of opportunities around you. Certainly different fields have different assays and equipment and there will always be some techniques you won't know but if someone around you is doing something that you don't know, it would be in your own best interest to learn. However, this does require being aware of the work going on in your lab and those surrounding you ~~ always the sign of a good PI.

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yes, it won't be difficult. my supervisors don't know anything about what I'm doing. we don't even see each other much. and when we do they just listen to me, without giving me any guidance. and nobody tells them anything or can remove them from their positions. they just sit in their offices and earn good money. they are no help to me, I do everything by myself.

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sad but true; have some of these too.....just sitting around and collecting stamps or playing tetris on their computer all day BUT if somebody comes round they find time to tell them for at least half an hour how stressed they are....but lots of them will retire soon (I hope)....nevertheless here those people do not take on supervising people anymore....too much work and this would include work to write grants or papers

On the other hand: I have grown into supervising people during the last years and I try to explain everybody undergraduate, technican or master/PhD student WHAT they shoud do and WHY they are doing it and HOW the method works. But some do not listen and do not want to know what they are doing so those just ignore any guidance they could get.......and when they should finish their thesis they are running to the head of the department and complaining that they have been neglected and nobody cared about them....and that is the reason why they have no results and of course they do not mention the fact that they have been around only three days a month and took of for the whole summer and when asked if the work proceeds everything was ok......

but I will stop now and maybe continue this in the venting section....

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