PI relationship

What is the most important trait students and postdocs want from their research supervisor? A new survey of 2600 early-career researchers in 65 countries reveals it to be...

"Empathy. If a supervisor is empathetic, this supervisor will understand personal situations of the early-career researchers in their group. They will understand that they have to be supportive, not treat people like production units of papers, but instead like colleagues who are at a different stage of their career. This shouldn’t be shocking. But it seems like sometimes we need to remind people that they need to be empathetic towards those working in their groups."

"Some of the traits that were most valued involved having a supportive supervisor, rather than a boss. Someone who understands the difference—who doesn’t just demand things, but has regular meetings and open discussions about workloads and personal situations, and is flexible about working pace and not fixed to working a specific way. Someone who gives advice, not only based on what the supervisor wants, but also what the early-career researcher needs."