Why do I need a supervisor?
Once you have identified an area of research that you are interested in then you will need to find a supervisor who works in that area. You may be able to do this yourself but we are always here to help you with this too! Don’t worry if your ideas are quite general at this stage. Finding and talking with potential supervisors will help you to develop your ideas. Potential supervisors may also be able to suggest specific projects in your area of interest. You can also ask potential supervisors about their ongoing projects as there may be a chance that you can work alongside someone on an existing project.
How do I find a supervisor?
Approaching a member of staff for potential supervision can be very daunting! Having the courage to meet an academic and introduce yourself can make the world of difference. Research staff are very friendly and open to approach by students. Researchers are very passionate about their area of research and enjoy talking about it! Having a rough idea about your potential supervisor’s research will prove beneficial when discussing potential research projects, so do browse their publications. Don’t hesitate to send an email, even if you are not sure what research you want to do. If there is no response try again – your message might simply have fallen down their inbox on a busy day of emails, but if you persist, you will almost always get a reply. Propose a meeting. It is never ‘lost time’ to meet academic staff regardless of the outcome. Remember sometimes they might not be able to help you themselves, because they don’t have the expertise you need, but they are highly likely to offer useful suggestions of alternative contacts. The INSPIRE Leads and Student Ambassadors are also happy to make introductions.