What do supervisors look for in their PhD students?

Professors talk about what they look for in PhD applicants, and what makes a successful PhD student.
Also check out my other video where the professors give advice to those thinking of applying for a PhD: • Advice to PhD applicants
For more information on what PhD life is like, check out my vlogs: • Exvlogs
Thanks to all the academics for their advice! Links to their twitters below:
Prof Mark Baldwin: / mark_baldwin_uk
Prof Matt Collins: / mat_collins
Prof Peter Cox: / coxypm
--------- II ---------
I am Simon, a third year PhD candidate at the University of Exeter. I upload videos on bits of science which are relevant to what I do, and sometimes just because they're really cool.
Vlogs from Oxford students - / oxvlog
My twitter - / simonoxfphys
My facebook - / youtubesimon
Free music - www.incompetech.com/music/roya...

[@sekolahonlineteknikotomotif]

Alright, alright, that sounds great. Next time try to make a video of "What do PhD students look for in their supervisor".

[@cameronjames7360]

Well the professors don't care. They don't need to adjust themselves to the personal preference of their students (they probably should). The students are the ones that need to attract professors and get them to accept them under their supervision.

[@HT-rq5pi]

I like how you put the differing opinions next to each other so the viewers can tell how much is up to the individual preferences of the professor and what they all agree on. Thanks for this great upload

[@graysonhamza3919]

you all probably dont give a shit but does anybody know a method to log back into an Instagram account..?
I stupidly lost the password. I love any tips you can give me

[@real_john_doe]

@@graysonhamza3919 Hahaha wtf

[@Ayztv]

this is a very insightful video - loved how you showed that supervisors are quite varied in what they look for and there is probably one to match all personalities, just about trying to find them.

[@dattaganesh74]

Short n sweet. It covers almost all kinds of data. Thank you

[@dr.vrushaliwagh1682]

Excellent and informative discussion on "What do supervisors look for in their PhD students".

[@zlatatosic7825]

I am really interested in research, but sometime I wonder " Am I good enough, smart or just for it?" Is that normal??? Constantly evaluating yourself and be afraid of a failure 🤔

[@matc.1570]

Not only is it normal, but I think it's what makes a good researcher. If you're never doubting yourself, methods, or ideas then you're not coming up with new ideas or ways to execute them.

[@LavenderTheArj]

I JUST Like to say that I looked this person up and now she is a PhD candidate, you gave me hope and subdued my anxiety to a great extend, I wish you more and more success everyday

[@flyingdutchman3860]

What you are describing is not normal. Just like constantly being unhappy isn't normal, constantly evaluating yourself and being afraid to fail is pathological. Of course if you work on it you will likely not be stuck with those feelings forever. Also these feelings usually do not disqualify you from research, unless the fear gets in the way of you actually doing your job. So go for it!
Regarding what others have said: you can be aware of failure and mistakes and your own flaws without being afraid. Fear offers no value. Occasional fear is OK, but if you always feel fear whenever you think of your flaws or possible failure there is a problem. You don't have to take satisfaction with such a state of mind. You can work on that. Ultimately you could be able to retain a critical attitude without feeling a sort of fear.

[@ignatiolu863]

Failures are what drive research so show no fear cuz that's every researcher's usual day job

[@sonyg0640]

@@flyingdutchman3860 Fear stemming from thoughts or worry of a failure is not a problem (at least not in an excessive manner). Its normal. Constantly evaluating yourself (in healthy manner) is also not a problem. No body is perfect and we all make mistakes. Some fear of failure CAN have value, because it can be used as fuel to work hard and succeed. Form your comment it sounds like your rarely feel fear. Also the fear might not be directly related to the research itself, but may be due to the fear of disappointing your parents or yourself if you fail. This is completely normal. She is not the first or last person to feel that way.

[@olivia_simone]

This is really helpful! Thank you!

[@anweshabhattacharya8808]

Very important discussion on what supervisors seek for in their scholars.

[@madhushreemukherjee1255]

Nice discussion.Thank you for the lecture.

[@jordantinkler616]

I'll do my best to remember these tips when I come around to applying for PhD places next year. Thanks for another informative video, Simon! :)

[@SimonClark]

+Jordan Tinkler very welcome! Good luck with getting your applications together :)

[@randomdude79404]

@Jordan Tinkler did you get your PhD in the end ?

[@adityaekbote8498]

you got your PhD?

[@lilied1]

@@randomdude79404 i looked him up and apparently he got his phd this year! That's really awesome 🤩

[@goutampahari4820]

Thank you very much for discussion on this topic. It will be helpful for all freshers.

[@juthikabiswakarma]

Thank you for the discussion.

[@jk2010kj]

Thank you for the informative session!

[@alkagawas87]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@gibson995]

Your videos are every insightful, thank you.

[@shailja9894]

Thank you very much for discussion.

[@ananddhirbassi1906]

This videos are every insightful, thank you.

[@rajneeshgupta5200]

Good analysis on what a supervisor looks in the potential researcher

[@justinsebastian7126]

Really interesting to see what these Prof s expect from their scholars

[@solomonmcdul7719]

I like the the teachings on writing thesis . in fact they are quite useful to me. keep it up

[@jerinbsebastian5218]

Thank you for the nice discussion

[@harshitkothari4102]

Thanks for sharing information!!

[@irani1500]

not only 'focus, 'Drive' for research is the main thing. thank you sir

[@manojpandya974]

Informative Discussion, Thank you.

[@parikhmanisha7082]

Thank you for this wonderful lecture

[@Mithhi03]

Must have the passion, perseverance and adaptive to difficult situations

[@sonyg0640]

Thats applicable everywhere. Not just PhDs.

[@DrMANISHBRAVAL]

Superb discussion. Thank you

[@hansabensonara7765]

Wonderful presentation on Ph.D supervision

[@dr.rutvishah3100]

Very informative and useful for all aspirants of research and doing PhD.

[@aravindlaniya4357]

Very informative and useful session.
Thank you so much

[@clarenceteo6833]

Thank you! It was really helpful. However, I'm always worried that I do not understand what the papers the professors have put out. Although a lot of people have told me not to worry about it. But this video made it seem I really don't have to worry about it for now.

[@vijayvimal9378]

Thank you for excellent tips.

[@dinbandhuprajapati3885]

Thank you for sharing ur views.

[@dr.jitendrapatel3833]

Thank you for this session

[@dr.dineshpatel6253]

Thanks for this great upload

[@dipankardas46]

nice to hear different opinion of supervisors.

[@nishantpandya1988]

Useful talk on expectations of PhD supervisor.

[@MrAdnanholy]

fellow physics student here! on my first year and looking forward to advance man's knowledge!

[@shamprasadvarijaraghu6878]

Thank you for this video.

[@rakeshmakwana950]

Thank you
Wonderful session

[@jesseduque1213]

Good advice, I didn’t end up liking the research I did for my masters degree in chemistry. Honestly ended up picking a field that was the hottest (materials science) because the field I loved (total organic synthesis) was not available. Starting my PhD in organic chemistry this Fall and can’t wait!

[@eunicemumba7936]

Great! Good luck to you!
I was doubting between organic chemistry and material science for my master's degree. I ended up chosing material science and I am living my best life. So I get happy everytime I see research and material science in the same paragraph.

[@raskinkatharotiya]

Informative discussions

[@RohitSharma-uf3hs]

Interesting thoughts and session

[@juzlys]

Was useful;
any criteria of assessment will be useful to understand

[@ijayita]

Very informative speech and important for freshers.

[@dipalpatel6342]

Good talk. Thank you.

[@aartipradhan4387]

Excellent presentation.

[@nandlalahir6309]

Short and sweet clip

[@kostas_othon]

Great video @Simon_Clark . it has inspired me for next week I move to Exeter start my PhD in Physics/Engineering.

[@dr.shuvojitmondal2503]

Different views from different professors. Good to know this.

[@drgjenkins4361]

Not one mentioned personality, honesty, ease of working together. That was the first 3 things I looked for in my supervisors. Don't see why it should be overly different the other way around. My current gripe is supervisors asking for things that they were never able to do haha. PhD students have never done large scale research before. So unless you teach them those lovely skills, they won't have them. What if a candidate doesn't have the critical ability, but could develop it within months? My biggest disappointment of my PhD - those lovely skills that the supervisors want - need to be taught. Reality is - its another degree. Some will enjoy, some won't. But my god, can a supervisor make a difference. Don't be tricked into thinking a PhD is a position for the next Einstein. It's another degree. Completed by thousands of people every year in the UK.

[@dr.ankitkumarjpatel1971]

Excellent discussion

[@drtaraknathchattopadhyay1776]

Simple but extraordinary.

[@charmiparekh3418]

Informative session...🙏

[@lt.r.b.chaudhary4328]

Thank you for the nice lecture

[@jigneshpurabiya379]

ONE OF THE BEST TOPIC

[@amitdholakia2467]

Thank you for tips

[@alkamistry4673]

Really informative session.

[@bhaginapatel4264]

Thank you for wenderful lecture

[@renishghetiya901]

Very interesting and informative session

[@dr.archanayadav9115]

Thanks for information

[@kabyamahato8814]

Excellent work

[@sejalpatel1025]

Wonderful Lecture

[@umashankarroy7305]

Wonderful lecture sir.

[@harshavagadia149]

Informative session

[@kavita22186]

Good talk on focus on research

[@apurbamandal4102]

Valuable talk

[@angshumanchakraborty8238]

Informative video.

[@babbleronthego2937]

Good to know this.

[@harshavala7850]

thank you informative session

[@shawttikiojha9820]

Great talk

[@WeallMaharashtra]

Informative and useful

[@vishakhamodi5473]

Very Informative...

[@dr.giridharihazra173]

Very informative session

[@dilipmondal4704]

Very informative video

[@balrajmachnoor1351]

Very informative speech

[@dr.sumaiyashaikh6849]

Interesting short talk,

[@rupanbaro5849]

good discussion.

[@shrabanibasu3842]

Incredible video

[@nanagholap5639]

Very useful information

[@janakprajapati5119]

Very Informative

[@rajarsheegupta591]

Very useful tips for PhD aspirants.

[@dr.vijaypatil848]

Very informative lecture

[@lalitchunara6099]

Improves my knowledge

[@shrikantpandya1369]

Yes communication is important in research

[@rantuhazarika5407]

Thank you.

[@dr.arpitavaghelapatidar3581]

Valuable opinions.

[@dr.rahultailor8356]

Constantly evaluating yourself and be afraid of a failure

[@sejalrajput5483]

Thank you 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@khushbeerdhaliwal3931]

Interesting thoughts.

[@s.a.l2919]

Valuable session

[@AVIJITDAS-ty4ki]

very good session.

[@amitnatubhai4344]

Thank you...

[@avinashkudva8592]

Nice talk by a research supervisor

[@darshanpatel660]

Good thoughts.

[@chandrakantgohel8213]

Thank you

[@chatnovskisidi9733]

Great job

[@dr.taniachakraborty]

Very appropriate.

[@vishnujogarana794]

thank you

[@sushcharpe]

Very good lecture