Finding a supervisor

This information is adapted from the “It’s All Academic” module provided by INCEPT, an online learning portal for clinical academics. 

The 3 Ps

When starting research, you may hear about the “3 Ps” that often determine a project’s success:

• Person – your experience, interests and motivation
• Project – the research itself: is it novel, interesting and achievable?
• Place – the research environment, including your supervisor, team and available resources

Together, these create a strong foundation for achieving your research goals. Keep them in mind when choosing a project.

Finding a supervisor 

Your supervisor is usually key to a successful project so it’s worth taking time to decide who to approach.

Define your area of interest

This can be challenging, especially when starting out. Consider:

• which clinical specialties interest you
• what forms of research appeal to you

You may need to balance your interests with the opportunities available.

Identify potential supervisors

Once you have narrowed your focus, look for someone who can guide you. Sources include:

• university lists of supervisors
• departmental staff profiles online
• academic networking sites like ResearchGate
• presentations of work (eg. at lectures or conferences)
• directly publicised student involvement
• word of mouth from previous students or colleagues

Approaching potential supervisors

Once you have a shortlist, decide who to contact. It’s normal, and even expected to approach several supervisors at once.

The best supervisor may not be the most senior

• While it is not a rule, professors often have many competing demands and may not be available for direct supervision.
• Consider approaching a clinical research fellow, MD or PhD student, or a clinical lecturer in the department. However you may still wish to contact a professor as they may be able to advise or suggest colleagues who can supervise.

Check their recent activity

• Search the potential supervisor’s name on PubMed (or look at their university profile) and see how much they have published.
• Generally, limited published material may mean they are not an appropriate supervisor (however there can be alternate explanations such as being an early career researcher, parental leave or other life events).
• Regular publications indicate they can guide clinically relevant research.

Consider previous student supervision

• Academic brilliance doesn’t always mean strong mentorship.
• Ask previous students about their experience. Check if students have been included as authors on publications (bearing in mind large collaborative projects may differ). 

Recommendations on how to approach supervisors

Approaching potential supervisors (particularly when you have not met them before) can be intimidating for many people, and it can be challenging to know exactly how to do this.

When reaching out, make sure to:

• briefly introduce yourself and your interests
• explain why you are contacting them
• outline your aims and relevant experience

Tips for a successful approach

• Keep emails short and clear and avoid long paragraphs.
• Don’t take a “no” personally, there may be external reasons.
• Ensure your CV is up-to-date and highlights research experience.
• You don’t need to include your CV in the first email, but it’s often recommended.
• If you don’t hear back within about a week, send a polite reminder.
• If there is still no response, consider approaching another supervisor. If they are someone you are committed to working with, there is no harm in contacting again in a few months when they might be better able to consider.

BMA – Writing your medical CV

Making a decision

Always have a conversation, in person or virtual, before committing to a project. Make sure the supervisor and the project are the right fit for you.

The resource is reproduced under a Creative Commons License.