I explain how to choose a PhD advisor correctly and avoid bad supervisors. I also cover mentorship and why it's important, the role of publications and background of the potential supervisor. Finally, I provide an extensive list of questions that students can ask their potential advisors when they want to evaluate the fit (for each question, I give some explanation as to what to expect and look for). This episode is especially relevant to STEM students aspiring to pursue a PhD.
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Website: andrewakbashev.com
00:00 Intro
Part 1 - The big picture:
02:16 - General considerations
02:46 - What is a PhD and why advisors are so important
04:44 - Importance of mentorship
06:19 - Why good advisors are not easy to find
Part 2 - How to choose an advisor:
07:59 - Research topic
13:45 - Supervision vs Working Alone
15:18 - Mentorship
18:45 - Publications
23:43 - Personality of a PhD advisor
Part 3 - What to ask your advisor:
27:32 - Interviewing your potential PhD advisor
28:26 - How do you supervise research?
28:49 - How do you mentor students?
29:10 - What is the role of students in collaborations?
30:34 - How do your students develop independence?
31:57 - How many conferences your students attend?
33:39 - How do you prepare publications?
35:17 - Will you be at this place for the next 5 years?
35:45 - What is an ideal PhD student for you?
39:04 - How do you see your lab development?
39:29 - What is the teaching load?
39:51 - What resources will be available to me?
40:36 - Will the budget be available for the entire PhD?
41:50 - What is the expected workload?
42:57 - Tweak your questions to your needs.
Part 4 - More tips on finding the right fit:
43:06 - Extra steps to check for red flags
43:20 - Talk to the current students & postdocs
46:57 - Talk to alumni
48:59 - Talk to students from neighboring groups
49:42 - End