Supervising and being supervised: mutual responsibilities

Supervisors are expected to:

• Do their work with dedication and become proficient in the skills needed for this, including by taking training courses in this area. Both the GSMSGraduate School of Medical Sciences and the UGUniversity of Groningen offer these courses.
• Ensure that junior researchers can do their work well by offering adequate facilities and high-quality expertise.
• Stimulate the development of the junior researcher’s academic skills and network by sharing knowledge and experiences and offering growth opportunities.
• Be committed to good career prospects for junior researchersThis means, for example, that the career interests of junior researchers weigh heavily in decisions to be made with regard to their research projects. Choices that could harm those interests are to be avoided, where possible. The career development of PhD students can also be supported by courses and workshops, e.g. from the Career Perspective Series, a range of courses, workshops, and other activities that prepare them for a future career within or outside the academy. Special career training is offered for postdocs. .
• Be sufficientlyWhat is ‘sufficient’ depends on the junior researcher’s experience and the nature and phase of the research project. In all cases, however, the quality and progress of the junior researcher’s work must not be harmed as a result of insufficient supervision.  available for supervision at both planned and unplanned contact moments.
• Strive for good quality work.
• Provide constructive and respectfully formulated feedback.
• Show interest in the work and well-being of the junior researcher.
• Give junior researchers room to develop their own ideas.
• Monitor the quality and progressIn any case, progress should be discussed at annual meetings where both parties mutually reflect on how well the collaboration is functioning and make agreements for the coming year. Two results and development meetings are held with PhD students in the first year, after which these meetings occur annually, as they do for all staff members. Towards the end of the first year, a formal progress evaluation (a “go/no go meeting”) takes place in which the supervisors decide whether or not the PhD project will continue. The main supervisor is ultimately responsible for reporting progress in Hora Finita. of the work.
• Make timely adjustments when the requirements of the work exceed the capabilities of a junior researcher or the on-time completion of the project is compromised.
• Be open to and ask for feedback from junior researchers.
• Set an excellent example in terms of compliance with legislation and regulations for researchers and train junior researchers to do so as well.​​
• Set clear, realistic, consistent requirements that align with UMCG policyThe conditions for a thesis are described in the document Requirements for the PhD thesis. .
• Provide feedback on manuscripts within an acceptable timeframe, specifically in terms of days rather than weeks.

Junior researchers are expected to:

• Be aware of and adhere to the agreements, legislation, and regulations that apply to them and their research.
• RecordPhD candidates must keep track of their progress in terms of training in the online registration system Hora Finita. their activities and progress fully and transparently.
• Report in good time when the quality or planning of a project is at risk.
• Be open about uncertainties, dilemmas, and mistakes made.
• Be focused on increasing their academic skillsThe Graduate School of Medical Sciences is responsible for the research master’s CPE and MMIT and the range of courses offered for PhD students. Master’s students develop their skills through the courses described in the curriculum, by conducting a research project resulting in a master’s thesis, and by writing a proposal for a PhD project. In consultation with their supervisor(s), PhD candidates must record their training plans in a Training and Supervision Plan and track their progress in Hora Finita. When sufficient training activities have been completed, the PhD candidate can obtain a GSMS certificate. Postdocs are offered special training and courses. .
• Treat their supervisors respectfully and give constructive feedback.
• Discuss with their supervisors in good time when feedback on manuscripts is desired so that the supervisors can take this into account in their agenda.
• Be open to feedback on their manuscripts and their work.
• Treat research participants, laboratory animals and materials carefully and responsibly, including anonymous dataData that can no longer be traced back to a specific individual, in any way, by anyone. Anonymisation must meet high standards that are usually not feasible in scientific research. Anonymous data are not personal data and therefore do not fall under the GDPR. and personal dataData that can be traced back to a specific individual directly (e.g. via a name or email address), indirectly (e.g. year of birth combined with a rare disease), or via a code (the participant number for encrypted data). This type of data falls under the GDPR. .
• Take responsibility for their work and behaviour and be able to reflect critically on it.
• Contribute to a pleasant and stimulating working climate, both in their team and in a broader context.

Additional guidance can be found in the Golden Rules for PhD Supervision. These rules are generally also applicable to other junior researchers.

PhD candidates who have problems dealing with a supervisor can contact the Confidential Adviser for PhD students. The GSMS PhD council represents the interests of PhD candidates in a broader sense. Postdocs are represented by the Postdoc Council. There are also peer-to-peer groups for both PhDs (search term: peer-to-peer support groups) and postdocs.