PhD Students Share What Their Supervisors Got Right

When PhD students share their stories, they usually focus on what went wrong—the impossible workload, the isolation, the stress. But Nature's 2025 survey of 3,785 doctoral candidates across 107 countries asked a different question: what did your supervisor get right?

The answers paint a surprisingly hopeful picture of what academic mentorship can be. Students described moments that changed not just their research, but their entire careers and lives.

Tomas Peters, studying cell biology in Buenos Aires, credits his supervisor with treating him as a colleague from day one. "I was encouraged to take ownership of my project, make decisions and contribute intellectually beyond the bench," he says. That trust helped him build the resilience and creativity essential for navigating Argentina's challenging research environment.

Others found courage they didn't know they had. One Australian student shared how her supervisor pushed her to speak at conferences and apply for grants despite her fears. "It was extremely uncomfortable and I was stressed, but I'm definitely more confident now," she says.

Some supervisors showed up during life's most vulnerable moments. Laura Lafuente Gracia's supervisor fully supported her decision to have a child during her PhD at KU Leuven in Belgium. "She gave me a lot of flexibility for my maternity leave and keeps supporting me every time my child gets sick," Gracia says.

An Australian non-binary student described their supervisor as an unwavering ally during their gender transition. "She's been an advocate even when I haven't been in the room," they shared. The supervisor understood the mental health challenges and accommodated their changing needs without hesitation.

Emmarie Alexander at Texas A&M University recalls the moment her supervisor asked, "Do you trust me? If you do, then please tell me when you're struggling, and I will remind you that you are doing a good job." That simple permission to be human made all the difference.

Why This Inspires

These stories matter because they show what's possible when mentors choose trust over control and humanity over perfection. Each supervisor in this survey created space for their students to grow—not just as researchers, but as whole people navigating real life.

Liesbet Geris, one of the supervisors featured, explains her approach simply: "I treat them the way I would want my children to be treated. They are my scientific family." That mindset transforms the traditional power dynamic into something collaborative and caring.

The survey reveals a quiet revolution happening in labs and universities worldwide, one thoughtful conversation at a time.