Relationships: Doctor’s Advice

US doctoral students may find that their dissertation committee can double up as a board of career mentors.

PhD candidates in the United States have a certain advantage over students elsewhere. They are often required to assemble a dissertation committee — mentors who advise on topic selection and research ideas, scrutinize data, edit drafts and help to direct the work through submission and defence.

But members of a dissertation committee can often do a great deal more than that. They can lend emotional support or help to expand professional networks. They can offer leads and advice on grants, awards and jobs.

Read full article: Nature 533, 429–430 (19 May 2016) doi:10.1038/nj7603-429a