| Sumario: | Completing a doctoral degree is a challenging process which requires patience, persistence, and hard work. Some advice books have been written for faculty and there is an abundance of self-help books for students. However, little empirical research regarding the relationship between doctoral students and their supervisors has been done across fields with a variety of students who have successfully completed their degrees. Therefore, the purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to understand and describe how recent doctoral graduates perceived their relationship with their supervisor. We interviewed 27 recent graduates from a variety of fields in order to understand their perceptions of the relationship with their supervisor. Findings showed that women value a supervisor who supports their professional development, develops a personal relationship with them, and helps them navigate the institution. We found that men value a supervisor who develops mutuality with them, encourages their internal grit, and facilitates self-direction. Finally, findings demonstrated that international students value a supervisor who is a subject matter expert, who goes above and beyond in their supervision of the student, and who demonstrates cultural competence. All participants valued a supervisor who socializes them into the academy through appropriate support, but desired support varied slightly for women, men, and international students. We conclude with implications for supervisors and recommendations for future research.
|
|---|