The supervisor-supervisee relationship is one of the most important and challenging dynamics in academic life. Success in a PhD or postdoctoral position depends not only on intellectual ability but also on effective communication, mutual expectations, and emotional resilience. Yet many academics enter these roles without formal training or clear guidance. This webinar offers practical strategies to help early-career researchers understand the complexities of supervision, recognize common pitfalls, and build a more productive, balanced, and supportive relationship with their supervisors.

What this webinar covers:

- Understanding the multiple roles supervisors play—mentor, manager, teacher, coach, and colleague—and how these can create conflicting expectations.

- Recognizing the realities of the “average supervisor,” including stress, burnout, lack of training, and systemic pressures that affect their availability and approach.

- Creating structure and clarity through goal-setting, note-taking, and regular check-ins.

- Taking initiative while setting healthy boundaries and managing power imbalances.

- Building a broader support network beyond a single supervisor to reduce dependence and increase resilience.