Signs you have a bad PhD supervisor | 6 Toxic Red Flags

PhD supervisors can be very challenging to work with. I have had many different types of PhD supervisors and here I share with you the signs you should look out for if you have a bad PhD advisor.
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▼ ▽ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - introduction
0:20 - always unavailable
2:55 - disclaimer
3:44 - many lingering students
4:44 - eight for themselves
7:47 - expectations of full commitment
9:06 - rude and toxic behaviour
10:48 - micromanaging everything

[@pseudophd1073]

I can't stress how important choice of supervisor is. It's a decision that is so underrated, this video is super important.

[@ademikunle]

This is the single most important factor in how your PhD experience would be. My former professor used to ask for NEW results on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The question; if I provide a new result on Friday, how am I supposed to provide a new one on Monday? - Yes, work the weekend! At a time, I was on vacation to my home country during Christmas and he still requested i made a slide deck and also had Skype meeting with me during the time. It was crazy. He left for another school, invited me along, I rejected the invite. Another professor came and it’s been amazing. By the way; his favorite student quit PhD (after 4 years) when they got the new school cos she was experiencing burnout just like me.

[@sapiensco.8080]

Would you make a video about first-time PhD supervisors? Their pros and cons. Thanks.

[@whatelse8588]

my ex supervisor (thank god she is EX!!!): manipulated me, constantly was 15 min late for our meetings, made rude remarks about my background, missed all deadlines, and was one of the most horrible person I ever met in my life. Genuinely wish never ever even hear about her. If she'd move to another planet or better to the sun, I'd be extra happy. THE website has lots of stories of such horrible experiences, and the fact that academia supports toxic assholes is a huge red flag.

[@ArcherZER0]

A supervisor who is very dismissive of other fields or ways of thinking that do not align with theirs is a toxic supervisor too. I was pretty much bullied out of my thesis lab because I came from a different field and my supervisor hated me for doing and trying things in a different way, even though I was producing novel results. I even got screamed at for talking to other faculty when the results I got led me to want to use their techniques instead of my supervisors.

[@jagyashiladas1091]

You are speaking of my issue. Exactly my issue. Oh I am not alone.

[@meisfriend]

Exactly my experience too. He mentioned more that once to me personally and in group settings how my area has a lot of bad research. I´m a little worried he took me on to fix this :/

[@bhavanisambaturu6384]

Even I had the exact same experience. I got a paper in a top conference with a travel award and he made it seem like nothing. Then he made things really bad and forced me out and made his secretary threaten me saying that I left because of health reasons. After I left, I got a journal paper accepted in a top venue and also 2 patents from my PhD work. As far as I have heard, it has been put in another students thesis. He kept making me feel stupid and also told my former labmates bad things about me. I really shudder to think about it.

[@bhavanisambaturu6384]

Also he kept telling me that I am not aligned to him and stuff like that but the so called people who were aligned to him were not half as productive and haven't finished their phd in 10 years

[@mayercalma1810]

Same here. I've been shouted at many times for trying new things in the lab. But then, she wrote research proposals from my ideas. How toxic!

[@atreyeemukherjee2303]

You know andy,I just left a PhD and joined the new one.But,the trauma is still lingering.When I look at your videos...i feel hopeful.Thanks for sharing.

[@scimist]

my former supervisor had all these traits: rude, ou for himself, micromanaging, expected I give up my life. I found the courage to drop him when it all got too much, but it burned my opportunities in that department because everyone covers for him, because "he's a great scholar". oh well.

[@randomcommenteronyoutube1055]

Your points are spot on. Your choice of supervisor is the most important PhD choice you will make. If you and your supervisor don't fit, it doesn't matter how awesome your uni, department, stipend, city, or project are. My first supervisor was terrible, and these red flags fit them. All of their PhD students lost years of work and health to them. Departments also lose big. Hiring a junior faculty member is a multimillion-dollar long-term investment.

[@ritac9769]

I'd add that it's just as much a red flag if the PI has very few people in their lab who have been there more than 2 years! A majority of the students who've been in my advisors lab have Mastered out or failed their candidacy exam. I've learned it was because my advisor told them ahead of time they'd fail, and likely pushed them out intentionally. We can't retain postdocs and have been unable to hire a lab manager for over a year. If nobody can handle working in a lab longer than they have to to advance, then that's def a red flag.

[@janswanton3631]

It's taken me a while but I think the way forward is to stop mourning for the supervision I thought I was paying for but don't get and accept the university just doesn't see itself as a customer service provider. I have made it clear I shall work hard to get my PhD inspite of their indifference! But, seriously, the system needs a massive shake-up. The disconnect between the ivory towers they all live in and the standard of service we expect them to provide is criminal...or should be.

[@tonysegadelli9421]

My Master's Research Supervisor disappeared for the last 2 months before my Paper was due for submission. He reappeared just before the deadline to give me a load of comments. I scrambled to do what I could but it was still not up to the standard I expected (although it passed). I can imagine for a PhD how that would be far worse

[@garethgc1141]

Great video! I wasted so many years due to bad supervisor that really charred my view of research.

[@fernandodesouza8276]

Great material bro!

[@paleoeco2008]

Thank you very much Andy for addressing this topic that is so important to me. It has been a great help.

[@paleoeco2008]

It is true, very few people are able to confront a bad supervisor.

[@DrAndyStapleton]

You're very welcome

[@abinashmishra329]

I know a 7th type…the whimsical dead-weight ones with tenuritis who have grant problems

[@DanyRiverside]

I wish I had watched this earlier, my advisor is so rude and wants me to drop everything for her. She even told me to go to another professor because she was “easier”

[@user-zc3pp6xk5o]

I like all your videos.. it is helpful that you talked about features of bad supervisors but the important is how do we deal with them; cooping or leaving

[@mayercalma1810]

Lol 6 out of 6 ticked! How "lucky" am I with my supervisor. You should add a gaslighter and a dismissive as bad qualities too. Also, a bad supervisor doesn't trust your judgment when you've done all the work.

[@os2171]

If I told the many dark stories I have first hand you wouldn’t believe it!

[@sohrab4497]

Andy I love your supervisor bashing videos

[@Ken-er9cq]

No 7 is that they have been mentioned recently on Retraction Watch.

[@Sophie-to5bw]

What would you say about the supervisor who forgets which year you are in? I'm starting my 3rd year of PhD, the other day I had a meeting with my supervisors, and my secondary supervisor talked down to me, made me feel like I was lagging behind, and answered my questions/doubts with rhetorical questions. It was only when my primary supervisor intervened, she says that "I thought that you are in 4th year and not 3rd year, so you still got time to work on things". I lost respect for her that day. Supervisors expect students to be responsible, but at the same time isn't it their responsibility to know where a student stands? I'm not talking about micromanagement, but as simple as which PhD year a student is in? And she doesn't have many students either, it's just 4 of us. She never comes prepared for the meetings, she forgets what my hypothesis is and asks me to explain it every 4-6 months, she doesn't even look at the drafts I send for review, and in the meeting, she's like 'have you sent it to me? Or when do you plan to send it? Or why haven't you done it yet?'.

[@paleoeco2008]

I loved your video Andy.

[@paleoeco2008]

I would add those supervisors who plagiarize the ideas of the thesis students.

[@DrAndyStapleton]

Glad you enjoyed it, Isabel.

[@francishunt562]

@@paleoeco2008 not really plagiarism. Most supervisors expect to be named at the very least as co- author to any published work. They've guided the research, so they've contributed.

[@dogyamato5619]

I love getting random coffees with the lecturers, other than the free drink and food (which is always a good perk)

[@xyw8383]

I have been extremely lucky to have an amazing supervisor. He is the opposite of what's listed in the video. Even the fact that he actually cannot ask a question when he fell asleep during a talk.

[@akariSara.]

I have one for my MA dissertation. I know it's not for a PHD but I think it still stands as I have been unable to make any progress because she is either not replying for weeks or is always taking time off. I am two months behind now and my dissertation is due in two months. It's gotten to the point I am just going ahead with what I think may help me at least pass. I want a good grade but passing is the best I want to achieve with current circumstances.

[@minuishaq631]

What happened?

[@paleoeco2008]

I would like you to make a video on How does it feel to be doing a thesis today?

[@ABDU7194]

Some supervisors are so weak scientifically. Be careful. Waste of time.

[@sohrab4497]

It would be a charm if you could give us an check list for a supervisor!

[@rsouchereau]

My advisor's average PhD length for engineering is 7+ years..... I won't be staying.

[@lindsay3917]

haha I've also heard a story of someone who slept through talks and then would wake up and ask a great question at the end!! Whatever works, I guess

[@203112885]

I’m in my second phd year and had a Professor as my supervisor. Now he has assigned a new supervisor who has no previous phd supervisions. I am worried as hell!! Cried my eyes out and really not happy with what he has done. Do you have any advice with dealing with a “new” supervisor with no previous supervision experience?? Thank you x

[@user-dq3gd1pe2p]

Hi i hope everything is going well with you. I am thinking how you are dealing with your new supervisor who didn't supervision before? I would like to know because I am in the same thing right now. Thank you

[@messages2176]

I have two PhD supervisors one industrial (that's only good in techniques) and other academic. My academic supervisor doesn't care about my work. I have asked him to join online group meetings (as I am doing the PhD outside the university) and he let me once without introducing me to others and then I asked him for regular check meeting and he doesn't reply to me. Now I am thinking to leave this PhD because I don't have any scientific supervision and feel I don't develop scientifically. I would appreciate your comment Andy!

[@yemiojo2265]

This is serious. Maybe ask that your supervisor be changed?

[@johannamartinez5463]

I loved academia because of my master's supervisor, Now, I want to go out because of my Ph.D. supervisor. Choosing him was a BIG mistake!!!!! I do not see the time to graduate and not to see him never

[@vincent13571113]

Mine wasn't available. I didn't feel supported at all. It ended, but not before I was thrown under the bus for their shortcomings. I wish I joined the lab my friend was in instead.

[@andreasanchez1629]

I knew that the comments wouldn't disappoint me. My current supervisor (I am RA moving to US for PhD soon) is ok as a person but as a mentor I feel lost with her. She is always saying that she used to be in the lab until 7 or 8 pm and that she was always arriving early. I guess that she is specting that for me but... Thats not going to happen. Great advice.

[@usedec8678]

Lol, I had a phd advisor bad-mouthing others to me. Accusing bachelor students of not writing while he/she micromanaging every day schedule of their experiments. He/she literally wont stop sending iMessages to control every details of experiments😂 I learned nothing from he/she but lying, manipulation, perhaps being resilient and 100% OKay being selfish. I’ve now felt no guilty to hurt others. 😂 What a PhD journey!

[@Cksncrm]

I hope this is a joke. Never give others the power to influence your character to change for the worst.

[@rachaelsills8450]

First sign: they are constantly unavailable. How you make me cry-laugh! Mine went on sabbatical my second year, when I was expected to research, write and defend my "screening paper" and complete coursework that only she taught that would have been required for my third year.

[@dbiava]

my advisor's advisor reported got into a fistfight with a phd student :D

[@Brockdorf]

Truth

[@ALog-lz7nn]

My Ex supervisor thank God have a long list of uncompleted PhDs.

[@Natketty]

I think I got a bingo, except for the "lingering students", because most Will not stand for being too long here... But It has a lot of drop outs, does It count? Ahah yeah, I worked with 10 professors before and I had a great relationship with ALL of them, except this current one. He now is Crazy because he is scared some people from the group may sue him, so yeah, you can imagine the nightmare.

[@vulpes6144]

I know this could easily fit micromanaging or just straight up rude, but I would also add ego issues. I know academia is full of it, can't run away from it, but every now and then if you notice a professor wanting to make sure he/she is taller than anyone, using many power moves to stablish their territory, gas lightening you and, truly, living in their own reality. I have heard of a case that a supevisor use his transexual son's cause purely to engrand themselves. Don't know about you, but that is a red alert for me. The situation had nothing to do about it, he just choose to use this tool (and to be frank, it seemed that deep down this matter was troubling him, so he had to "make a good use" out of it, since supporting his son was not enough) to say, in other words: "I am better than all of you".

[@manisek87]

Its Fate and we need to live with it

[@AdamNajjar-gl5fd]

Well, it is like you are discribing my supervisor. 😅

[@Ovais_Siddiqui]

Hello guys. I need some opinion. My female PhD supervisor has a long term student assistant boy. He once insulted me and we had a bad argument. She took her side even though he is just a student assistant and I am her PhD student. I wrote 5 papers and thesis but didn’t publish anything yet. After that incident she cut me off from all groups, gave me difficult works and humiliated me in front of girls. I lived in silence for a long time but now I feel that it is not fair that one fight with her student assistant should affect my work extensively. I think they are in relationship even though she is 50 and the student assistant is like 25. What should I do?

[@ammaralmiaza384]

OMG he fail in sleep while talking ....

[@zsofiacsajbok]

The minority of supervisors aren't toxic. It's unavoidable. Especially if you have a topic you like it restricts the selection of supervisors

[@r__9_1____a34]

You think so?

[@zsofiacsajbok]

@@r__9_1____a34 My impression is that the system is very difficult to navigate for everybody. The supervisors are incredibly overburdened with all kinds of tasks, and meanwhile the students are way too dependent on them for 3-4 or even more years. It is not too healthy, and unlike normal job environments

[@MyOneFiftiethOfADollar]

ONE Sign you will Never earn a PHD