Scientific supervision and mentoring of graduate students

Each IMPRS student has a primary supervisor, a secondary research supervisor, and a scientifically independent mentor.

The primary supervisor will meet with the student regularly, weekly or bi-weekly, to discuss the scientific progress of the chosen research topic, as well as regular review meetings to assess the overall trajectory of and necessary changes to the student’s research project. In addition, the supervisor will ensure, that the student has access to and participates in professional development activities, such as presentations at international conferences, publications in peer reviewed journals, participation in workshops and seminars aimed at developing and improving transferable skills. In order to ensure close and personal guidance, senior researchers of this IMPRS will supervise at most eight doctoral students.

Within the first three months of their doctoral studies, IMPRS students choose a secondary research supervisor and a mentor. The secondary supervisor should work in a related scientific field – either within or outside the IMPRS – in order to provide substantive feedback on the scientific progress of the student’s research. The student should meet with the secondary research supervisor at least twice per year to discuss their scientific progress.

The mentor should have full scientific and administrative independence from the student’s primary supervisor and serves as a person of contact for concerns, questions, or problems that the student may be confronted with. In case of conflict between the student and their primary research supervisor, the mentor will also act as a confidential person of contact.

Supervisor, secondary supervisor and mentor comprise the thesis advisory committee (TAC). The TAC will meet with the student at least once per year, to discuss the student’s progress and research plans, as well as any questions and problems which may have arisen.