Department of Computer Science Faculty of Science

Research MethodsSupervision

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

Advisor vs. Supervisor

• Supervisor– Identified in your offer letter.– The faculty member(s) that helps get you

through your program– Long-term commitment to you

• Advisor– A faculty member who helps you find a supervisor

– 1 term or less

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

What do Professors Want?• Some characteristics:

– Most have over10 years of post-secondary education

– Experts in their fields– the field may be very small– Were once grad students– They have forgotten this

• Pressure to – publish new research– teach– provide service

• They want to supervise you!– They may not know you exist.

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

If you didn’t exist they could not become…

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

What are they looking for in grad students?

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

What is expected of Graduate Students?

• devote the necessary time and energy to complete their academic requirements – within the expected time frame, – while adhering to university policies and – program guidelines.

• By agreeing to work with a supervisor, graduate students agree – to show their supervisor respect, – seek their advice and give it serious consideration, and – seek additional guidance from their supervisory committee or

program director as needed.

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

Strategies to find a supervisor

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

On Supervision

• You need it!• Inspirational statement

– The supervisory relationship is the foundation of graduate education• particularly in a doctoral program.

• Cautionary statement– The supervisory relationship can be the

source of many of the problems in graduate education

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

What is expected of Supervisors?• The big ones

– Guide your development and intellectual growth– Assist you to complete the program successfully

• Others– Assess your progress– Determine your suitability to continue– Help select and Chair your thesis supervisory

committee– Work with you to select appropriate courses– Help you select a research topic– Guide your research effort– Guide you in the preparation of your thesis

arguments in document form– Sit on your examination committee

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

Knowing your supervisor

• Helpful characteristics– Funded research program(s)?– Expertise is something you are

interested in– Available– Compatible– Plays well with others– Track-record of success

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

Informal Roles of a Supervisor

• Connection Maker– Industry contacts, grants, local

resources

• Sounding Board– Provider of the “cold light of day”

• Snapper of whips– Deadlines, progress, direction

• Informal Cheer Leader– Saying the right things at the right time

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

The Supervisory Committee• meets regularly with you • reviews your thesis proposal• recommends its approval to the Program

Director • reviews your progress on the thesis at least once

a term • evaluates a thesis readiness to be examined• makes a recommendation to the Program

Director regarding a date for the defence; • ensures that a copy of the student’s thesis is

sent to each member of the student’s Examining Committee – as far as possible in advance of a scheduled oral

examination, but no less than three weeks prior to the date scheduled.

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

Identifying Expectations• Need clear, shared expectations with your

supervisor. • Set timelines for each stage of work. • Identify preferred methods of

communication. • Discuss intellectual property issues. • Identify publication expectations, and • other matters.

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

Know Your Deadlines• Who knows them

– http://www.ryerson.ca/graduate/dates/`– Your supervisor knows few of them– The GPD knows some of them– The GPA knows all of them

• Some deadlines are critical– Grant applications– Intent s to apply for funding– Grades

• Some are Machiavellian– Defence dates– YSGS dates– Qualifying Examination Dates

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

When Problems Arise

• Resolve problems when they are small• “problem getting bigger” succession

– Supervisor– Grad Program Administrator– Grad Program Director– School of Graduate Studies Functionary– Dean of Graduate Studies

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

Guiding Principles from Canadian Association of Graduate Studies

• Identify supervisors in a timely fashion• Establish the supervisory committee early• Expectations, roles and responsibilities made clear early• Supervisor must be available and monitor progress with feedback• Maintain a professional relationship• Intellectual debate and challenging of ideas should be encouraged• Supervisors should be mentors• Intellectual property and Authorship issues should be made clear

early• Resolve conflicts at the lowest level possible and move on• Continuity is important• Alternate supervision should be available• Students have a substantial responsibility for managing themselves

LEADERS OF TOMORROWDepartment of Computer Science

Faculty of Science

Homework

• Read the following article:– “How to Succeed in Graduate School: A Guide for Students

and Advisors” by Marie desJardins (http://www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds1-2/advice1.html)

• Class Assignment 1: Due next week– Write a 1 paragraph description of who you are that is

syntactically and semantically correct. Also explain why you want to be a graduate student. Please include other goals if you can.