5 Toxic Traits That Make PhD Supervisors Dangerous: Watch Out!

The relationship between a student and their PhD supervisor is considered to be one of the most influential bonds anyone can have in the world of academia. The constant guidance of a PhD thesis advisor is exactly what a student needs if he wants to add doctor in front of his name. However, there are some cases in which that bond can be sullied because of the supervisor and their toxic traits. Yes, unfortunately, it is true. Many PhD students don’t want to accept that they dislike their PhD supervisor and their training methods simply because they expect a PhD to be gruelling and exhausting; however, that should be something you should watch out for. A PhD is gruelling, yes, but don’t forget that a toxic PhD advisor can make your PhD journey much more difficult than it needs to be. In this blog, we will learn about the 5 toxic traits that will make your PhD supervisor harmful to your PhD journey.

What Is The Role Of PhD Supervisors In PhD Success?

The role of PhD supervisors in a student’s success cannot be overstated. An advisor’s support can significantly ease the rough and tough journey that we know as a PhD. However, an abusive PhD advisor can derail the entire journey because they don’t understand the role very well. Or maybe they do understand their role, but they like to take advantage of their power and position. Here are some points illustrating the role of PhD supervisors in a student’s success.

Intellectual Stewardship:

Research fields are broad and hard to navigate properly. A PhD supervisor serves as an anchor that helps students pinpoint their exact research question in the vast ocean that is their body of knowledge. This is the main role of a PhD thesis advisor, as their guidance helps students navigate the intricacies of their research field.

Professional Socialisation:

Networking is an absolutely essential part of academic success, especially if you are a PhD student. Your PhD supervisor can open your door to collaborators, peer reviewers, and conference organisers. They will help you know about the unwritten rules of academia that many students would never know without proper guidance.

Quality Assurance and Benchmarking:

A good PhD thesis advisor would always help you adhere to the benchmarks and best practices of research. They will help to set things straight if they find issues in your papers. This is one of the best PhD tips every student needs to know because quality assurance goes a long way in helping reduce the duration of your PhD.

Psychological and Moral Support:

PhDs are rarely a smooth journey devoid of setbacks. Students have to deal with constant struggles throughout their PhD journey, and while a PhD supervisor cannot make the trip smooth, they can provide valuable moral support to the students during this time.

Career Launchpad:

Most importantly, PhD supervisors can write precious recommendation letters that are essential for an academic career. A good relationship with your PhD supervisor is essential if you want your post-doc journey to be fruitful.

5 Traits Of Toxic PhD Advisors You Should Look Out For

Professors are pretty easy to read, especially if you are approaching them for PhD mentorship. However, many students don’t manage to spot these four issues that make it difficult for them to truly judge the intentions of their PhD supervisors. Here are the 5 key traits of abusive PhD advisors you should be on the lookout for.

Love Bombing:

Some PhD supervisors tend to overwhelm their students with love and support in the very beginning of their research journey. While we might be tempted to think that they are being supportive and that’s it, it’s actually a sign of a potentially abusive PhD advisor. They might be trying to convince you to let their guard down so that you can bend yourself to their whims when you need their support the most. 

Words Do Not Equate With Actions:

The biggest sign of any toxic person, not necessarily PhD thesis advisors, is that their words and actions contradict each other. They will make big promises and say comforting words but when the time comes, they will instantly turn on their promises. If you have a professor who does that, you would be better off not having them as your PhD supervisor.

Control Freak:

Toxic PhD advisors love to dictate every step of your PhD journey for some reason. The reasons for this controlling behavior can vary, but mostly it’s a sense of superiority or ownership that they feel over the student’s work. If you have heard this kind of gossip about any supervisor, steer clear of them.

Stealing Ideas:

 You might have asked this question if you are new to research: “Do professors steal their students’ research paper ideas?” Well, the sad answer is yes. There are a lot of professors who would be more than happy to leech off a student’s ideas that they worked so hard on. If you know a professor who has a reputation for stealing ideas, it’s best to stay away. 

Bullying:

Do you want to know how to stay focused as a PhD student? If so, stay away from temperamental professors. Usually, and this is a problem many students experience, the professors will humiliate and insult the student in front of their peers just to make a point and feel in control. A good teacher can use tough love, but even a mediocre supervisor will not stoop this low for whatever reason.

Why You Should Avoid An Abusive PhD Advisor?

While it should be pretty obvious as to why you should steer clear of toxic PhD advisors, you should learn the exact reasons why it is good for both your personal and professional lives to avoid these professors. Here is why you should absolutely avoid abusive PhD advisors.

Irreparable Damage To Mental Health:-

One of the main reasons why PhD programs crush students is because of toxic PhD advisors. Dealing with toxic people is already bad enough; imagine dealing with a toxic person who is supposed to mentor you and help you achieve a valuable academic milestone. PhD students often struggle with serious mental health problems because of bad advisors.

The Risk of Career Sabotage:-

Some PhD advisors tend to threaten students if they feel like their authority is being questioned. If you call out their toxic behavior, they will get agitated and threaten to ruin your career, and will often use sentences like, “I will not give you an LOR,” etc. Unfortunately, there is not much a student can do in this situation.

Destruction Of Your Passion For Research:-

The main role of PhD supervisors is to cultivate a student’s passion for research and encourage them to grow. A toxic or abusive PhD advisor will do the direct opposite, as dealing with a heartless and cold professor can cause your research passion to decay. 

Loss Of Intellectual Property:-

Also, keep in mind that some toxic PhD advisors have a habit of plagiarising students’ work. They will likely leech off your ideas and pass them off as their own, while you won’t be able to do anything because of the power imbalance.

Tips To Select A Good PhD Thesis Advisor

A PhD is a long journey, and a supervisor’s attitude can surely evolve with time. However, there are a few steps you can take at the beginning of your journey that will help you choose the best PhD advisor who will be the perfect help you need throughout your entire journey.

Look Beyond The Research:-

It might be tempting to choose a superstar researcher as your supervisor, but don’t make such a shallow judgment so quickly. Try to choose a PhD thesis advisor who is not only a skilled researcher but also a skilled manager.

Conduct Interviews With Current Or Former Students:-

Speak to the current PhD apprentices or former students of your preferred teacher, if possible. This will help you learn more about their work ethic and whether or not they are an abusive PhD advisor.

Check The Placement History:-

A successful PhD supervisor tends to have successful students as well, so check the track records of their past mentees to learn more about them. If many students of your preferred supervisor have proved successful in their careers, then choosing them might be a good decision for you as well.

D.  Evaluate Their Feedback Loop:-

 A PhD journey involves constant revision, and you would want a PhD thesis advisor who provides timely and constructive feedback. Try to ask their former and current students if the professor is known for providing supportive feedback or not.

Conclusion

In the end, if you are beginning your PhD journey and you are in that stage where you are looking for a suitable PhD supervisor, don’t make the mistake of half-heartedly choosing your advisor. Take your time, do your research, and choose a supervisor who wouldn’t suck the soul out of you and drain you of your passion. If you have already begun your PhD journey and are stuck with a troublesome thesis or research paper, feel free to ask India Assignment Help for assistance.