Overview
The Thesis Advisor’s primary responsibility is to guide and inspire students to reach their scholarly potential. They are expected to promote a student’s intellectual growth, guide research progress, and uphold high academic and research standards.
An Effective Thesis Advisor:
- Encourages the student to be independent in terms of scientific thought and process.
- Is supportive, accessible, encouraging, respectful, and fosters open communication.
- Ensures that the research environment is safe, equitable, and free from harassment and discrimination.
- Models ethical behavior, and discusses ethical approaches in conducting the research.
- Communicates expectations regarding work habits and behavior in the laboratory.
- Works closely with the student to design a meaningful thesis project.
- Provides consistent and constructive feedback about laboratory skills, writing, and presentations, being honest when performance does not meet expectations.
- Encourages student presentations at local, national, and international conferences.
- Acknowledges student contributions.
- Facilitates timely publication of student research.
- Pursues opportunities to secure resources necessary to provide stable financial support.
- Prepares the student for their chosen career path by discussing goals and plans for achieving them.
- Consults with the student in identifying a position upon graduation, and provides letters of recommendation that convey the student’s experience and accomplishments.
The list of responsibilities was modified from this document.
Student-Thesis Advisor Concerns
If a problem between a student and Thesis Advisor develops, the following steps should be taken:
- The student and Thesis Advisor should discuss and attempt to resolve differences.
- If either party is not satisfied with the result, they should discuss the situation with a member(s) of the Thesis Committee.
- If the program is not readily resolved, the student or Thesis Advisor should seek guidance of the CMB Program Chair.
- If a solution is laboratory change, the Thesis Advisor is expected to fund the student for a one-month rotation.
- The Employee Assistance Office (EAO) at UW-Madison is available to faculty trainers and graduate students as a useful resource when dealing with student-Thesis Advisor concerns