1. Patience.

2. Knowledge of field and ability to impart that knowledge to others.

3. Ability to ask questions and define specific aims

4. Writing skills to produce grants and publications.

5. Research support in terms of grants or other types of research funding.

6. Contacts, perhaps a network of researchers with similar interests.

7. Foster attendance a scientific meetings, including presentations by students.

1. Patience.

2. Knowledge of field and ability to impart that knowledge to others.

3. Ability to ask questions and define specific aims

4. Writing skills to produce grants and publications.

5. Research support in terms of grants or other types of research funding.

6. Contacts, perhaps a network of researchers with similar interests.

7. Foster attendance a scientific meetings, including presentations by students.

Knowledge is the most important. Being patient and humble are also essential.

You need to look after yourself and not rely on a supervisor because they often don't put your interests first, they can be offhand and sometimes they can even steal your data! So the best relationships are with yourself, the post graduate department at your university, and God of course :)

Hi,

Some important qualities of a good supervisor:

• Communicate well with diverse groups in and out of the organization.
• Utilize problem-solving skills, creativity, and critical thinking.
• Demonstrate qualities like empathy, support, and concern.
• Be able to develop their researchers based on their individual strengths.

Andrew Paul McKenzie Pegman < sometimes they can even steal your data! >

I am not clear about this. Isn't the data of a student's or postdoc's belong to both them and their supervisors/advisors (PI) if the research funding is obtained by the PI?

In my view the mentor should be able to give direction where the mentee is struggling, he/she should understand the challenges faced by the mentee and offer alternatives, he/she should be understanding, he/she must respect the mentee, he/she must be motivating to the mentee, he/she must encourage the mentee to communicate whenever there is a challenge so that together they may find a solution......

@Yuan-Yeu Yau

I think that by the statement "they can even steal your data", Andrew Paul McKenzie Pegman meant that they may publish the results without giving authorship or due credit to the scholar.

Yuan-Yeu Yau oh, a supervisor can dishonestly take your data and publish it elsewhere without your permission. It has happened many times. I would advise students to copyright their own data, which they own, to themselves ASAP :)

Andrew Paul McKenzie Pegman ,

I know it happened and is happening. You must note that most institutions have their own rule on intellectual properties. Even if you have data, it is not solely yours. You cannot patent on your own unless it is done without any resource, facility of the institution. In a similar way, even if students/postdoc have data, it is not solely theirs. It is a shared property with PI. Think about the role of PI. They provide tuitions, stipends, supplies, etc. for students/postdocs. Are these for nothing? I have seen that a student/postdoc suggested some idea during discussion and try to have the ownership of the experimental data without actual any labor. Words can be good and cheap. Whether it was valuable contribution or not is determined by PI. So, ethical, moral standards of PI are important quality of supervisor, too.

The best is to build good relationships with PI and all other colleagues. That is more valuable than your little achievement.

Andrew Paul McKenzie Pegman

IP = Intellectual Property

PI = Principal Investigator (usual the head of a lab)

I totally agree the statement by Taek H. You : " ....ethical, moral standards of PI are important quality of supervisor, too. The best is to build good relationships with PI and all other colleagues...." I have seen bosses/PIs and Postdocs/students fight and end up in bad notes.

Friendly nature, problem solving nature, encouragement, empathy, critical thinking, patience and passion, these are the main factors which play important role to make a good mentor.

It's better to have a efficient student and encouraging mentor for research carrier.

Taek H. You my achievement is not little. I have published in Ecography, for example. Perhaps you are talking about your own data since you seem to have such a low view of research standards :(

Andrew Paul McKenzie Pegman He said "The best is to build good relationships with PI and all other colleagues. That is more valuable than your little achievement. "

When he said "your little achievement.....", I think he meant 'in general (talk to the audience)', not meant 'you'.....this is the impression I had when I read it.

Yuan-Yeu Yau Then he should be clearer in order not to offend. I still believe he is wrong and I stand by what I said. But thanks :)

Arvind Kumar GOYAL

First of all, I must say that your question is quite a relevant one.

In my perspective, the supervisor should be the one who is qualified with relevant degrees, must have knowledge that the project as how it is going on which direction, deep technical knowledge ( sometimes people easily figure it out the results as what has happened), great knowledge of defining right hypothesis ( people do lots of mistakes right on this point). So the supervisor should have all the qualities to correct that /or understand to support their colleagues.

I must say one more thing strongly here that you would have honest supervisors in the Unis etc. during your studies who can work with honesty. But I am not talking about companies, industries or any institute when you are doing a job and consider your boss supervise you. That is quite rare. Because they may be experienced but may not have qualities to innovate new things or to provide any support. That is for sure.

A supervisor supervising a researcher should be well experienced in that field, should have up to date knowledge on the topic, should be able to give suggestions if any problem arises, should be helpful, encouraging, friendly and co-operative.

Andrew Paul McKenzie Pegman Don't get personal. I did not say anything about you or your achievement. I teach undergraduate students and no research for a long time. So, I don't have much research data. What made you think I offended you? This is an opinion, not right or wrong. Take it easy!

Taek H. You please don’t tell people how to feel. If you don’t want to offend, then don‘t frame your answers in such an ugly personal way, such as writing ‘your little achievement’. And you’re doing it again, writing another confrontational reply telling me to ‘take it easy’. Please stop. And perhaps obtain some interpersonal skills :(

Andrew Paul McKenzie Pegman I don't understand why you are so angry? I stop talking to you.

Effectively work, clear understanding, coordinator relationship

A good depth of knowledge in a particular domain, proficiency in writing, speaking, leadership qualities in addition to the caliber of creating a research based congenial ecosystem are the important attributes that need to be possessed by a mentor.

A good depth of knowledge in a particular domain, ability to write, speak, leadership qualities as well as creating a pleasant research-based environment are important attributes that a mentor must possess. You must create a family environment that allows you to be part of the main emotional implications that give security to those who are guided.

You have to work hard first. At the same time it is necessary to seek advice from experts in the field.

U have asked for everything .

Supervisor must have following qualities:

1 . Enough skill and Depth of the knowledge .

2 .Very co-operative & patience

3. Understand the problems of researchers

4. Should keep healthy atmosphere in the laboratory

Knowledge accumulated over many years

To be a qualified supervisor, one should be knowledgeable, qualified and experienced person so that he will be able to guide the researcher accordingly without any haste. He should be co-operative and be of strict principle as well.

First and foremost, one must be a good and helpful human being

The fundamental lesson of honesty and humanity is above all

Sincere positive attitude and coperative

I personally know several people very well in R&D activities; but, they are poor in basic human qualities. It ultimately forced them to execute an unhappy and unsocial life entirely.

Hi,

The important point is to be more patient and helpful human being. alongside with a deep knowledge in your field.