Understanding academic supervisors | My PhD supervisor hates me...

[@shawnb4745]

I had a call with my dissertation supervisor, playing catch-up since I am finishing chapter 4 and 5 of my dissertation. She told me something insightful. She supervises many students, and asked me to revise my expectations because the committee needs time to read the final product, and they are not well compensated in general. That was a genuine moment of empathy.

[@Aash0999]

What's the point of pursuing a PhD and enjoy research and science with such draining system based on ego and business! I can't agree more with you that most universities, if not all, don't make sure that PhD supervisors can supervise a research group! How they communicate with their students and others, manage their group work and problems in a professional manner and as humanitarian as they should be, and be a real leader. It is frustrating and sad how learning and education for some supervisors is a business, as long as you give the data they are happy. If not, you will suffer. Why PhD students' mental health should be affected or deteriorated because of a supervisor's bad management style and negative interaction? A supervisor can be the smartest scientist in their dept., but this mean nothing once their poor leadership skills and management make their students miserable. Thank you Andy for this topic. I hope univerisites realize their education system is missing, and change or fix it. PhD shouldn't be a mierable and draining journey.

[@embracinglogic1744]

Agree with what you say, Andy, but here is the thing. If the PhD supervisor is dealing with his or her issues which may hinder the supervising process, then that professor should not be taking the student in the first place. I believe this is similar to having children: if you cannot be a responsible parent, do not have children. This is what you seem to overlook.

[@ninavm]

This is (well appreciated) food for my mental health as a PhD candidate. Thank you!

[@amogh2101]

Well I'm the only student so I must be my advisor's perfect student. *Sweats Nervously*

[@soccergalsara]

pahhaha me too

[@Paul-kl2mn]

@@soccergalsara hope your supervisor is decent person. But watch out if it is a supervisor who has been a researcher for a long time but had no recent years PhD students or even honours students, you better get more advisors relevant to your project area. Have discussions with those others for your work. Write a small report for each of your results each time you finish your experiments and before you give your results to your supervisor. Do this whether you are allowed to draft papers or not. Go sit with another group in department where there are decent peers and postdocs. Or try to sit with the students of your other supervisors in the panel but better to do that with those who ate closely related to your area. Look for opportunities to collaborate as soon as possible. Get to know more people in your area. If the main advisor becomes bad, you can at least make a quick exit to one of these people quietly...

[@alejandranunez1914]

This was very helpful. I found it difficult sometimes to not take it personal, these PI’s personalities, even tho I try to keep in mind that a lot of them act the same way their supervisors acted with them. (One time I was told by a supervisor that she is the same way that her PhD supervisors were with her and they were not afraid of making her cry) But honestly that sounds like a cheap excuse

[@kalmanchrister1027]

its like perpetuating generational trauma lol

[@halaalsamman4290]

Its really awsum how you take care of each deatail in phd jourony Dr Andy and its really relaxing when u realised that no one hates you and its not personal ISSUE its just they have many things on their plate as u mentioned before so u stop have negative feelings that badly affect your phd journey, I am awaiting for that day when I tell you that mission accoplished sir due to your huge support and honesty Dr Andy, and as I always said u are the only one who never get dislikes on your valuable video and I wish if there is a golden like 👍button customise for your valuable channel to hit since only one like is really unfair to this professional valuable content thanx sir

[@yaozhao4150]

Awesome video, Andy! This helped me to understand my experience, and get rid of my new group. Cannot agree with you more that supervisors are the people who needed to be loved, and also they are the people who need to improve their leadership, LOL .

[@ingridmolina2173]

How does science survive in such a hostile system... How is it that universities became just businesses in so many countries. This video showed me how lucky we are at Costa Rica and how much we need to protect public universities. The 3 best universities in the country are public, and academics are able to apply for grants but is not required.

[@ingridmolina2173]

@Geoffry Gifari yes is different, you get funded by the government, your salary is stable and can increase if you learn a second or third language or by publishing articles or books (of course there is a limit). Academics apply to national and international grants but freely there is not such a pressure. They do, however, have to teach and direct some of their efforts to social extension programs ( give back to the people and communities through their own research and specialities )

[@catmkf09]

@@ingridmolina2173 There are plenty of research that cannot be done without major support from national/international grants and funding. I don't think salary guarantees itself is a cure for this problem tho.

[@ingridmolina2173]

@@catmkf09 And, as I mentioned, academics are free to apply to those grants (and other collaborations with private sector) to be able to fund much expensive research. But the level of distress as mentioned in the video or the comments is by far not comparable. A profesor will never be restrictive or forbid anyone to use their lab based on money conserns for example. Universities priorities are the students (education is almost free), the development of the country and academic freedom, which might not be the priority of privately funded institutions.

[@sirmclovin9184]

You are more right about this than you think. The system is a giant scam!

[@aboutmia7644]

I studied in different public universities from two different countries and the toxicity level is the same. It doesn't matter if they will never get fired. You have to publish, you are a "paper machine", they do DEMAND that from you. They get points and money for publications and they ARE very competitive. It's all about ego. But it's not personal, you just need to publish for them, otherwise you are worthless. They do not care about you as a student, you are just labor force, publish for them and they will be happy. You just need to publish the dammed papers in good journals.

[@adambode6749]

Incredibly useful. You've just helped thousands of PhD students and their supervisors!

[@Laura-cv4ey]

What a perfectly timed video! Just before I have my yearly evaluation coming up tomorrow. Thank you for the useful insights, it confirmed much of what I suspected and gave me a new level of understanding! Such as shame that academia has grown to reward such behaviour and that it leaves pretty much everyone taking part miserable to some extent. You'd think the people in it would be clever enough to figure out a new and more efficient system... I'm placing my bets on the open science/research movement but in the meantime after the PhD will try to maintain a healthy distance from academia. Thanks for contributing to the transparency!

[@mevlutakdag3947]

Mine is lazy&uninterested.

[@sarahprosecco]

My supervisor definitely hates me!!! Which is sad because I think he's actually sound :-( It's the universities who are at fault for improper or lack of training and education of their staff. So many of these lecturers are ignorant as to what good leadership looks like as well as policies around disability, neurodivergence, mental health, mental illness, what constitutes harassment or just unnecessarily and perniciously rancorous & virulent i.e. acting the gowl/c***/wanker/prick. There is no need but I suppose it's probably a vicious cycle when they're basically being pimped out.

[@ronti2492]

Jedi mind tricks!!!!! Love it! something like: "These aren't the figures ( droids) you're looking for..."

[@Mariegilbert12345]

I’m happy my dds PhD supervisor is a truly nice person. The entire department put out a video in how they consider the program a “family.” I’m sorry so many people have such a bad experience.

[@Gagagag-d1w]

I don’t know about academia, but “We’re a family” jargon in regular jobs is a red flag for an extremely toxic workplace

[@DefinitelyNotMetallourgos]

It's all good to ask questions to your supervisor as long as you do not get the "because I say so" response...

[@PhD_Author]

My supervisor is only really interested in meeting to discuss my written work that I’ve submitted. If a draft chapter isn’t due she won’t meet.

[@limkwerly8508]

okie, i will try. After i watched this video, I'm became calm. Thankyou

[@nissemabdeljelil]

Your videos are awesome, thank you man!

[@ALog-lz7nn]

She hated me so much, even after my completion she said she was merging two papers from my PhD by publication for us to publish. She did it just to stall my career progress. She is making sure any form of progress I needed to make was stalled. I am an African, I have no power reporting my supervisor, the University will do anything she want. We submitted my first paper to a higher journal and just after my late father’s funeral was done, she forced me ti submit to a lower journal where the university wont pay shit. Typical shifting of goal post supervisor ever. I won my own grant to complete my PhD. She said she had no money. I personally felt like my supervisor was my enemy and that I need to fail to justify her judgment.

[@Rainstorm121]

Very good. I think I have the best supervisor so far.

[@asraar-e-dil]

Thanks for sharing your valuable tips. Really helpful.👍

[@Paul-kl2mn]

My mate''s supervisor was horrible. Supervisor didn't let student write papers, takes all results and supervisor writes all papers, did not give advice, did not let to get another advisor. When student somewhat raised the concerns to higher level, this supervisor went on sudden leave and putting the student with a random advisor from a completely different field. Then does not let the student submit dissertation with student's project work or get even review feedback from other appropriate people in the relevant area. Even the supervisor returned, did not assist student with someone who can advice to prepare dissertation. Threatened the student with termination. It has been a repeated bullying and abuse. How do you handle this?

[@nikolinagacina1905]

yesterday I used Alpha Waves music while written my Ph.D. thesis, it helped. thx

[@justinc1482]

1st! I hope you're doing well Andy!

[@DrAndyStapleton]

I am and hope you are too, Justin!

[@soccergalsara]

re. leadership, im struggling with my supervisor atm. I know I can do something good if I am given background + guidance, but I'm not, I'm given very little and told to come up with something. And if I don't I am incompetent and they solve the problem instead/ I ask for guidance as I go but he doesn't really provide any. It's me coming up with something from nothing or his solution only. There's no in between and it's not a very rewarding PhD expereince so far :(

[@benedictquagraine9722]

Hooolalaah!...I kind of picked up some of these at some point and just decided to meet her halfway....and I'm glad I did

[@AdrianRif]

Unrealistic expectations. Phds and their supervisor may feel they have to be the next ‘Einsteins’ which is an impossible ask. Being first and competing for scarce, diminishing funds is not exactly good for mental health, so consequently people behave badly.

[@Dentist_on_Youtube]

How do you handle a quirky supervisor who gets eerily annoyed whenever he is asked to read anything that his students write? (he is a lovely person otherwise)

[@alexbaidak2475]

Publications don't matter to him?

[@rosehosking5564]

I am in the final stages of a PhD and really wanted to understand WHY supervisors take on students, what is the benefit to them? (with the end goal being to understand how much I can reasonably ask or expect of them)

[@macha3191]

It's fun to research with motivated, bright students. And seeing them grow and succeed brings a lot of joy to some (most?) of us. More practically, we need help with research/papers/proposals. We are expected to supervise students by the university. Good students make us look good.

[@emanal-shatti3412]

Very informative nice video Andy thanks

[@nikolinagacina1905]

Thx you, your tutorial is of big help to me

[@nicky_bee]

I am too anxious to watch this video

[@harshamaheshwari6118]

Hi Andy! Hope you're good. I'm from India and I currently enrolled in Ph.D. Recently, there's much heated argument between me and my supervisor about continuing with the course that he had suggested me to take as an audit. But I don't like that course so I said him directly and he didn't like this. I'm worry that he hated me now as I'm not one of the student who just totally agrees with him and I like to put my opinion but now I don't know what should I do. Should I stop sharing my opinion? That ways it's going to be hard for me to continue. Please please suggest Something. Thank you.

[@havenbastion]

The height of the tallest ivory tower, most splendid and shiningly garbed in social acceptance, is not so tall as the Plateau of Truth reachable by the stolid plodding of ordinary common sense.

[@arshad0922]

Hello Dr Andy, My Q is which is better young Professor (Assistant Pro.) and Old Professor; which is his age is old, And what's advantage and disadvantage of having young Prof. ?

[@leming400]

My supervisor is young, life is a bleak hell with no way out. I did my masters, bachelors, an internship, and a short 3 month project with much older supervisors and they were far far better, more relaxed and capable of empathy. I recommend older, they know what they are doing and how to treat you like you're human

[@RossOCarroll3301]

God i love this channel! Lol

[@Dr.Shymaa]

enjoyed listening to your videos

[@diettachihade2626]

Excellent advice

[@intwch]

Hey Andy, I hope you see my message. I am going to ask my Future supervisor for PhD position. My issue is he is really Great supervisor and I am scared if he would take me. My CV and research experience is phenomenal and only issue I face is feeling of not being good enough. Please help 🆘

[@ingridmolina2173]

Academia didn't turn them in mean monsters, capitalism and merchandising science and education did

[@leming400]

Then why have my bosses outside academia been so lovely in comparison

[@harackmw]

No, academia is worse.

[@Gagagag-d1w]

I think it selects for these people. I swear to god some of these people were born fucked up.

[@yc79369]

what is an h index?

[@nehirryasarr]

wish you were my supervisor but im unfortunately not interested in your field :(

[@Drganguli]

PhD supervisors are under a lot of stress. Students need to appreciate this fact and empathise with them, though this can be arduous

[@harackmw]

Everyone is under stress, and PhD supervisors are living the dream (have a great job and doing what they should love) and if they aren't they shouldn't be there.

[@mylifeisinhishandsamen4167]

Very insensitive comment

[@mau345]

@@harackmw i think the frustration comes from the fact that they are no longer doing what they “love”. Most have become exploited multitaskers, for momey and prestige alone, and advancing knowledge becomes secondary. They know this deep down but dont know how to escape, thus a very stressed and sensitive person. The student however should set important boundaries early on, sorta feel their adviser’s idiosyncrasies.

[@yaozhao4150]

Lol, stuperdiser😂😂😂

[@worldcitizen1960]

Funny the first 6 or 7min of this video...name one single project/company/university that does not rely on MONEY.... everything in this world is about MONEY, including your channel...you post videos to earn money here... you want money as well.... also, it is worth to mention that, what you want is what everyone wants: MONEY and an EASY LIFE. Just stop talking bs ...

[@sarumathiykulasekaran8841]

Well said:)

[@DrMartinObrien]

What you wrote is only partially true. Of course most things in life are about money, but there is such a thing as earning money and adding value at the same time. Rather than lashing out at Andy, who does provide a lot of valuable information for students, your anger should be directed at those phd supervisors who earn a good salary but provide very little value by not doing their actual job and some go on to make the lives of their students miserable in all sorts of way. All the while, universities stand back and do little to fix this toxic culture.