Supervisor responsibilities in the PhD Researcher's Journey
The following details key supervisory responsibilities at each stage in the PhD Researcher's journey, including guidance and resources for each stage. You may wish to view the guidance for PhD Researchers in conjunction with this page.
Your main administration tool will be PhD Manager where you can review your researcher's progress and make any required changes.
| Supervisory Responsibility | Resources, Links and Guidance |
|---|---|
| Develop a suitable project outline and submit to Research Director for approval | |
| Be active in advertising the project to potential applicants | Projects are all advertised online Use Twitter and social media networks to distribute links to your opportunities |
| Be cognisant of the deadlines for application (University competitions) and/or set appropriate deadlines for application (externally funded projects) | |
| At least one member of the supervisory team should be trained and available to interview applicants for the project | Recruitment and Selection Training opportunities |
| Liaise with Research Director and Faculty Administrative Support to make preparations for new PhD researchers (office space/computer/other resources) | |
| Consider pre-registration communication with PhD researcher between offer and registration | |
| Introduce the PhD researcher to the supervisory team (as appropriate) and discuss expectations | Expectations of PhD Researcher/ Supervisory team (downloadable tool) |
| Induct the PhD researcher into the Research Group(s) aligned with research project | |
| Support, and be aware of, PhD researcher in undertaking the Training Needs Analysis at the start of the research project | Training Needs Analysis template/guidance |
| Discuss the need (or otherwise) for ethical approval and support the PhD researcher in obtaining any such approval required | Research Governance webpages |
| Support the PhD researcher in developing the ‘Initial Assessment of Progress’ report and viva (typically after 100 days for full-time and 200 days for part-time researchers) | Initial Assessment process on PhD Manager Guidance and regulations available from Faculty |
| Support the PhD researcher in preparing for the Confirmation of Registration seminar (typically after nine months for full-time and 18 months for part-time researchers) | Confirmation Assessment process on PhD Manager Faculty specific guidance available |
| Ensure an Annual Report is submitted for each PhD researcher on an annual basis, via Sharepoint | Annual Report process on PhD Manager |
| Identify and contact Internal and External Examiners, ensuring timely completion of RS12 nomination form (three months prior to expected submission date) | |
| Support the PhD researcher in submitting thesis in a timely manner | Guidance on presentation of theses |
| Arrange viva, including securing a date and time from all panel members and PhD researcher and inform Doctoral College in a timely fashion (allowing one month from submission of thesis to viva date) | |
| Where appropriate, support PhD researcher in achieving post-viva amendments | |
| Complete necessary 'sign off' paperwork to allow PhD researcher to graduate | RS16 form RS17 form |