Career Focus
Managing Up in Academia
Life as a graduate student or post-doc is full of challenges, whether they include learning complex scientific concepts, acquiring new technical skills, or managing your first large project. For some unlucky individuals, an academic position may also bring the trial of coping with a poor relationship with their advisor. Here’s what to do if it happens to you.
In academia and elsewhere, your supervisor is critical to your success. Both your professional achievements and a positive job reference determine your future job potential. The latter, in turn, depends strongly on your interaction with your advisor. The last thing you need is a relationship that can adversely affect your professional prospects. If this ever happens to you, don’t ignore it. Assess the situation and figure out how to move forward.
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