THESIS SUPERVISORS & THE SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE (SC)
Choosing a supervisor
To identify potential supervisors, prospective students should consult the list of Faculty Members which contains details about faculty research areas, links to their web sites, publications and contact information. Prospective students list their preferred supervisors on their application form, but typically also contact these professors individually to express their interest.
[For extra tips and info, please refer to the "How to find and connect with potential supervisors" from McGill's Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website]
The Supervisory Committee
The aim of the graduate program is to provide students with individual depth of experience in their chosen field, as well as sufficient background in basic science to prepare them to continue self-education and thus to keep in the forefront of their field throughout their research career. To achieve this aim, individual attention and a tailor-made program is necessary for each student. The Supervisory Committee (SC) shares responsibility with the Thesis Supervisor in providing such direction.
The SC consists of faculty members with expertise relevant to the student’s research project and meets annually with the student to provide feedback and ideas and to ensure that the student is making satisfactory progress. The SC therefore provides a valuable resource that helps ensure the student’s success in the program.
Additional details regarding the Supervisory Committee, including:
- Purpose of the Supervisory Committee
- Setting up the Supervisory Committee
- Scheduling Supervisory Committee meetings
- Annual Supervisory Committee meetings
- Evaluation of Progress
- Other functions of the Supervisory Committee
can be found in the "Supervisory Committee - Complete Details" document [download PDF].
Loss of Supervisor
When a student is no longer supported, because the professor no longer receives research grants or because the professor has left the Department, the Department and the University are expected to provide the student with financial support. Grants carried over in trusteeship for faculty who leave must first be used for student support, subject to the normal guidelines. It is expected in such cases that the student will complete his/her degree in a reasonably short period of time. Students who are at the beginning of their programs should consider changing programs. Faculty who leave McGill are urged to either take their students with them or to assure the students of partial support, at least, through grants at the new institution.
| Please address all inquiries to: graduate.biology@mcgill.ca | |
Graduate Studies Office Stewart Biology Building Room W4/8 Office Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Fax No: (514) 398-5069 |
Susan Bocti (Graduate Coordinator) Ancil Gittens (Graduate Admissions Coordinator) |