Picking your PhD supervisor might be the biggest choice you'll make in grad school. I've seen it play out hundreds of times. Good and bad. This relationship shapes your whole academic journey.
Here's what fascinates me. Some smart students bump into major challenges with the wrong advisor, while others absolutely take off with the right mentor by their side. I’ve have several undergraduates, who weren't top of their class, but their future supervisor believed in their ideas and supported their growth. Some of them are now publishing at CHI and absolutely flourishing in grad school. The truth is simple. Find someone who wants you to succeed. It makes all the difference. Today, I'll show you five clear steps to make that happen.
1. Find Your Perfect Research Match
When I first considered pursuing a PhD, I was starstruck by big names in my field. But I quickly learned that reputation alone isn't enough to get you through. And I certainly didn’t spend enough time on my own choice of PhD supervisor, so I learned this the hard way during my PhD.
What matters most is finding someone whose research genuinely excites you and aligns with your goals. Start by reviewing their recent publications, projects, and lab website. Are they currently working on topics that make you want to jump out of bed in the morning? That’s a good sign.
A supervisor with deep expertise in your area will provide more valuable guidance than someone only tangentially related to your interests. There is a lot of evidence that students mentored by Nobel prize winner are more likely to become superstars in their field or win Nobel prizes themselves, compared to equally talented students with non-prizewinning advisors. So, checking the track record really helps. High achievers attract and support other high achievers.
But here's the crucial part that many prospective students miss. It’s nice if your supervisor is accomplished but it’s even better if they’re also genuinely interested in your project and they have time for you. Some of the most senior superstar professor won't help your career if they're too busy to meet with you or disinterested in your research question. You’ll be fighting for yourself.
2. Pick Someone Who Fits Your Learning Style
Every supervisor has a unique approach to mentorship. Some are hands-on, providing detailed guidance and frequent check-ins. Others are more hands-off, expecting students to work independently and seek help when needed.
Neither style is better here, but one will likely be better for you.
Here's my top advice from years of advising my own students. Have an honest chat with any supervisor you're thinking about. Ask them straight up: "How do you like to work with students?" I always tell my students to find out the basics: When will we meet? Will you set deadlines for me or should I plan my own schedule? How quick are you with email replies? These simple questions can save you years of stress. I learned this myself when I picked my own postdoctoral advisor, just getting clear on their style made everything smoother and the whole experience better than my PhD experience.
The most revealing strategy, however, is talking to current or former students. They'll give you the unfiltered truth about what it's really like to work with this professor. Are they supportive during challenges? Do they provide constructive feedback? Do they respect work-life boundaries?
I've seen this play out many times in my career. A professor with impressive awards might turn out to be too busy for their students. On the flip side, I know several less famous professors who make time every week to meet with their students and give kind, helpful feedback. When you talk to their students, they all say the same thing: These professors helped them grow and succeed. That makes the choice pretty clear, doesn't it?
Think of your PhD supervisor like a coach for a long race. I know from experience that having someone who matches your work style makes training fun and gets you to the finish line faster. But working with a supervisor who isn't right for you? That's like running in shoes that don't fit. It just hurts. And some of those bruises take forever to heal. Take time to find someone who fits you.
3. Build Your Network and Career While You Learn
I always tell my students that a good supervisor is more than just a research critic. They become your mentor, your champion, and someone who opens doors for your future. Let me share a quick story. One of my PhD students struggles with public speaking. So, we practice together before conference talks and he’s getting better at presentations with every talk he gives. My goal is always to help him grow beyond just his research.
When evaluating potential supervisors, look for evidence that they support students' career development:
- What are their former students doing now? Have they secured academic positions, industry roles, or notable postdocs?
- Do they introduce students to their professional network? Will they connect you with collaborators and colleagues in the field?
- Do they encourage conference participation? Will they help you present your work and meet key players in your field?
Let me tell you about two PhD students I met a conference. Both did great research. The first one had trouble finding a postdoc job. The second one got lots of job offers. Why? Their supervisors made all the difference. The second student's supervisor brought them to conferences, wrote scholarship applications with them, and introduced them to other researchers. Those connections opened up amazing opportunities. I've seen this pattern play out many times in my career, too. Having a well-connected mentor who believes in you can turn good work into great opportunities.
An effective mentor continues supporting you even after graduation. They provide references, alert you to opportunities, and offer career advice. This long-term relationship can be invaluable as you navigate your career path further.
4. Let's Talk About Money & Resources
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. Money isn’t everything. We’re not scientists for the money. But forget about your red hot altruistic mantra for a hot second there and trust me that money does matter even in research because you can't eat prestige or pay rent with interesting research questions.
Money matters in a PhD. Your funding shapes how much time you can spend on research and whether you'll need a side job to make ends meet.
Before committing to a supervisor, have a frank discussion about funding:
- Will your position be funded through the supervisor's grants or projects?
- For how many years is funding secured?
- What contingencies exist if grants end?
- Are there expectations for you to secure external funding?
Money isn't just about your salary. What you'll need to do great research are tools and tech to test your ideas, software to analyze your data, and a budget for research participants. And don't forget travel costs for conferences or fieldwork. I've seen the difference with some of my underfunded colleagues, students with the right resources get their work done faster and better. When I started my PhD, I wish someone had told me to check if the lab I went to had all the equipment I wanted. Trust me, having access to the right resources makes your research life so much easier.
Taking a part-time job during your PhD can slow down your research. Some of the best students I’ve met struggled to balance work and studies. But the good news is that with proper funding, you can focus 100% on your research. My advice here? Look for programs and supervisors who offer full funding. Your PhD journey will be much smoother when you can put all your energy into your work.
The right supervisor will be transparent about the funding situation and may even help you with fellowship applications if needed.
5. Choose Your Perfect Lab Fam & Culture
This final step might seem less tangible than the others, but it's probably the most important: Do you actually like this person and their crew?
You'll spend years working closely with your supervisor. Through the ups and downs of research life, they'll be right there with you. I've learned from my own PhD journey that picking someone you click with makes all the difference. When I finally found a supervisor I could talk to easily, my research just flowed better. But when that connection wasn't there? Even simple meetings felt like a chore. A large part of my PhD was quite painful.
During initial meetings, pay attention to how you feel. Do you respect them, and do they respect you? Does their communication style work for you? If something feels “off” now, it will likely intensify under the pressures of a PhD program. Or completely combust and take your dream of doing a PhD right there with it.
Beyond the supervisor themselves, consider the lab or group culture they've created:
- Are current students positive and collaborative?
- Do lab members help each other or compete destructively?
- Is there a healthy work-life balance, or is everyone expected to work around the clock?
Gosh, I’d really wish we had something like the Sorting Hat from Hogwarts to choose our PhD supervisor? Just imagine: put on an old academic cap, and it announces "Ah yes, you’re clearly a Griffindor." But alas, in the real world, we don’t get the magical certainty of the Sorting Hat's choice. Finding the right supervisor requires good old-fashioned research and relationship building before you start your studies.
If you see a lab where students look exhausted and barely spoke to each other, avoid that Slytherin party like a Hufflepuff avoids bragging. Look for places with lively discussions and genuine camaraderie. Pick an environment that produces better research and happier graduates at the same time.
If possible, try working with a potential supervisor on a small project before fully committing. This trial run lets you experience their mentoring firsthand and see if the personal fit is right.
Make a Smart Choice to Find the Right Match
The ideal PhD supervisor will be someone who:
- Shares your research interests and has the expertise to guide you
- Has a mentorship style that matches your needs
- Actively supports your career development
- Can provide or help secure adequate funding
- Creates a positive, respectful lab environment where you can thrive
Picking a PhD supervisor is about so much more than just finding someone to grade your work. You're choosing your guide, your mentor, and the whole lab family you'll probably see a little more than your own family for the next few years. Take your time with this choice. It's like picking a new home. You want to feel comfortable, supported, and ready to grow there.
I know this process takes time and effort, but the return on investment is enormous. A great supervisor can transform your PhD experience from a gruelling endurance test into a challenging but fulfilling journey of growth. Having the right mentor makes all the difference between dragging yourself to work and jumping out of bed excited to tackle new research challenges.
I hope this helps you on your grad school journey.
Here is a cheat sheet to help you get sorted:
