How to Choose a Ph.D. Advisor

Today, we are going to focus on how to go about evaluating and choosing a thesis/research/Ph.D. advisor (we’re just going to say Ph.D. advisor from here on out, see also Part 1). The student-advisor relationship is the strongest predictor of grad. student success, so it’s vital to learn how to choose a Ph.D. advisor and the factors to consider when evaluating your possibilities.

Part 3 of the All About PH.D. Advisors Series
Part 1: Advisor Overview | Part 2: Reaching Out to Advisors

If you’re following this series, you know about the process of reaching out to prospective Ph.D. advisors and understand that is a critical opportunity for you as a prospective grad student. Today, we are going to cover what to consider before and as you reach out to them.

How to Choose a Ph.D. Advisor: What to Look For

There are three factors to consider when choosing a research advisor. In this installment of the All About PH.D. Advisors Series we are going to talk about two of them: assessing research alignment and assessing mentorship alignment with your prospective Ph.D. advisor. Research alignment is the most important factor to consider when evaluating prospective advisors. The third factor to consider when choosing a Ph.D. advisor is any warning signs of toxic and abusive advisors, which we will cover in the next part of the series.

Research Alignment

The first thing students should consider when choosing Ph.D. advisors is their area of research and how well it aligns with the student’s interests. Often, students have only a vague idea of their research interests when they begin graduate school, which is fine. However, you need to make sure someone is doing work that interests you. Many graduate students are limited to researching the same areas as their advisor due to practical considerations (e.g., funding, research feasibility, advisor skill set), and a thesis/dissertation is a hellish experience if you are not interested in the research area.

What to Consider When Assessing Research Alignment

The main purpose of assessing research alignment is to ensure that, whichever program you choose and whoever your advisor is, they can teach you what you need to learn for your intended career. There are five indicators of this capacity, the first of which is a must (research interests and expertise), while the others should be considered in their totality.

1. Research Interests and Expertise: Do your prospective advisor’s research interests align closely with your own? Review their recent publications, ongoing projects listed on the university’s program website, and their CV to gauge if they are a good match.
2. Publication Record: Look at the advisor’s publication record to see if their research has been influential and is published in reputable journals. Google Scholar can help here; check out their “cited by” link under the search results to see if the author’s work is being cited. Be aware, however, that advisors doing research in niche areas are going to be cited less; this does not mean their research isn’t influential. It is only one indicator of research quality and the impact of their work. Other indicators include research awards, which are often highlighted on university web pages, LinkedIn profiles, and CVs.
3. Funding and Resources: Check if the advisor has sufficient funding and resources for your research. Read Part 2 of this series for more information on assessing funding opportunities. You can also look at their online CV if it’s publicly available, to see their funding record.
4. Professional Network: Consider the advisor’s professional connections and collaborations. A well-connected advisor can provide valuable networking opportunities and facilitate collaborations. Look at their faculty bio on the program’s website, their LinkedIn profile, and the authorship lists from their publications to learn more about their collaborations.
5. Department and University Environment: Assess the overall environment of the department and university. A supportive and collaborative environment will substantially improve your research experience and success. The university program’s webpage can provide a starting place for gathering this information as can contacting the dean of graduate school admissions for the program, who may also be able to put you in contact with current students willing to talk about their experiences.

Mentorship Alignment

While research alignment is key, it only matters if you can get the support you need to graduate. Faculty members are usually hired based on their ability to obtain grant funding, not on their ability to provide quality advisement. Moreover, even good advisors may not be the right fit for every student. That is why it’s important to speak with prospective advisors about their advisement and mentorship style.

Assessing mentorship alignment when choosing a Ph.D. advisor has two components. First, you need to determine what you need from a research advisor, then you need to assess what the prospective advisor can offer. During this process, remember that it is unlikely an advisor will meet every criterion, so consider them on the whole.

Mentorship Domains

1. Advising Style: Consider how much accountability and encouragement you need from a research advisor. Do you need regular meetings, or do you prefer an advisor who lets you set the pace? Do you do better with proactive supervision, where an advisor tells you what to do, or do you need the freedom to explore options before checking in with your advisor for approval?
2. Feedback and Communication: How do you prefer to receive feedback, particularly difficult feedback? What medium do you prefer to communicate in (in person, email, online chat, etc.)? Do you tend to be direct and literal, or do you prefer a more casual approach to conversation? How often do they expect you to check in? Effective communication is crucial for a productive advisor-student relationship, so it is important to ask prospective mentors about their style and approach.
3. Work Expectations: It’s vital to be clear about the expectations advisors have for their students and how well they mesh with your expectations. Does the prospective advisor have a supportive attitude toward work-life balance? Do they expect you to be in the lab all day, every day, or are they unconcerned as long as the work gets completed? Do they encourage efficient work over perfection, or do they expect near-final quality before they will consider your work? How long would they expect a student to tackle a problem on their own before seeking help? All of these will affect the quality of the working environment.

Once you’ve identified your needs, be ready to ask questions about the prospective advisor’s style when you speak with them. When asking any questions, stick with neutral, open-ended questions that allow the potential advisor to describe their approach without constraining them to fixed answers. If you need ideas for questions, check out our exclusive resource, 10 Questions to Ask Prospective Advisors (free sign-up required).

For more information on reaching out to prospective research advisors, check out Part 2 of our All About PH.D. Advisors Series.

Get Example Questions

Would you like to see some examples of questions to ask prospective advisors? You can get them by registering for access to our graduate student resource center. It’s free and easy.

1. Click the register button below and follow the registration instructions. All you need is an email address to get started.
2. After registration, you’ll be taken to a log-in screen. Log in with those shiny new credentials you just created.
3. After logging in, you’ll be automatically taken to your Grad. Student Success Dashboard, where you can access all our exclusive resources (tip sheets, guides, forums, Discord community, and more).
4. Explore and stop back often to check out new resources we are putting out all the time.

How to Choose a Ph.D. advisor: Final Thoughts

Ultimately, selecting the right Ph.D. program and advisor is a nuanced decision that requires balancing multiple factors. Research interests, advising style, and departmental resources are all crucial, but so too are aspects like the advisor’s publication record, student success, and personal fit. Each element contributes to the overall alignment of your research goals with the advisor’s expertise and support capabilities. The final decision should reflect a careful consideration of how well these factors harmonize to create a productive and supportive research environment. By weighing these elements thoughtfully, you can make an informed choice that will foster both your academic growth and professional development.