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Supervisor/Student Discussion Guide

As a research student in the Sydney School of Public Health you should discuss and reach agreement about a number of issues with your supervisor in the early stages of your candidature. This 'Supervisor/Student Discussion Guide' may be of help in facilitating this discussion. Any agreements reached should be reviewed on a regular basis, as circumstances may change throughout the course of your candidature.

1. What do you want to get out of your degree?

Have you thought about:

  • Your primary reasons for doing a research degree?
    eg better career prospects, increased understanding of a particular issue etc
  • What you would like to achieve (both in the short- and long-term) and what it will take to help you attain these goals? (such as undertaking coursework units, gaining experience with presentations, training in scientific writing etc)

2. Roles

Have you discussed with your supervisors what kind of help you would like from each of them?

  • Eg, do you require a lot of direction, or do you prefer to work largely independently?
  • How will you communicate: face-to-face meetings, email, telephone?
  • How often will you meet?
  • Will these meetings be formal with set agendas, be held at regular times and include both supervisors? Or will you contact them as you think is necessary?

Further information on the roles and responsibilities of research students and their supervisors at the University of Sydney is available from:
http://www.health.usyd.edu.au/current/research/supervision.php

Information on other compulsory requirements for research students is at:
http://www.health.usyd.edu.au/current/research/importantinfo.php

3. Presentation opportunities

The Sydney School of Public Health has specific requirements about how often you must present your research in progress. If you are pursuing a topic that is of interest to only a few members of the School, you may need to look outside the School for presentation opportunities such as a research group in your area.

Further information is available from:
http://www.health.usyd.edu.au/current/research/importantinfo.php

Seek your supervisors’ advice about the following issues:

  • Best audience
  • Preferred venues
  • Timing
  • Content

4. Publications

Once you have reached the stage of thinking about publishing your work, you should discuss the following issues with your supervisors:

NOTE that from 2005 it is possible to complete your PhD by submitting a thesis by publication. See the following URL for further information:
http://www.chs.usyd.edu.au/PG/Thesis_by_pubs.pdf

5. Storage of research data

Note that there are regulations governing the storage and retention of research data. As you begin to collect data, you should discuss with your supervisors where, for how long and under what conditions the data must be kept. Further information on this issue is available from:
http://www.health.usyd.edu.au/staff/policies/storage_research.pdf

6. Time management

It is important to let your supervisors know what other time commitments you are working under (eg family, paid or volunteer work etc). The University’s Learning Centre offers a wide range of courses suitable for research students, including one on managing your time. Further information is available from:
http://www.usyd.edu.au/stuserv/learning_centre/course.shtml#reading

7. Information and resources

Ask your supervisors if there are any other people or resources you could be utilising in your research. These may include other students, administrative staff, academics, practitioners, key players and opinion leaders in the field of research. Also:

  • Have a good look at the webpages for research students which point to lots of helpful information and links.
    http://www.health.usyd.edu.au/current/research/resources.php
  • Ask the School’s Research Officer for advice – if not able to help directly, she will at least point you in the right direction. Her contact details are:

Susan Martinez
Room 314
Edward Ford Building (A27)
Phone: +61 2 9036 5336
Email:

8. Conflict resolution

If you are having problems resolving any issues with your supervisor and would like to talk with someone about it, feel free to discuss any supervisor-related problems with the Postgraduate Coordinator (Research). If still not happy with the outcome, then you may contact the Chair of the School Research Committee or Head of School. Their contact details are provided below:

Postgraduate Coordinator (Research)
Associate Professor Susan Quine
Room 311
Edward Ford Building (A27)
Phone: +61 2 9351 4371
Email:

Chair, School Research Committee
Professor Les Irwig
Room 301b
Edward Ford Building (A27)
Phone: +61 2 9351 4370
Email:

Head of School
Professor Glenn Salkeld
Room 319
Edward Ford Building (A27)
Phone: +61 2 9036 9262

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