Being a supervisor - (Jul/04/2008 )

What will u do when u become a supervisor?Did anyone think of that?

Never!!!
But I guess it wont be so difficult.
Are u on the way of becoming a supervisor??

No,Iam just begining my PHD but I think it is so difficult to be a good supervisor.

The fact that you're asking the question likely indicates you'll be good at it, desertrose...

I was in the military before I was in science, and rose through the ranks to ultimately lead and be responsible for around 2500 men. I can't tell you how many leadership courses we were required to take while being promoted through the ranks, plus annual evaluations by superiors on various criteria, among which an assesment of leadership skills figured prominantly.

Having had this experience and training, it is sometimes baffling to me to see the situations that arise in various labs around me. They are such simple problems, easily taken care of and forgotten, yet they seem to bloom into weeks-long nightmares instead of being quickly dispatched.

My conclusion after watching this type of stuff occuring in labs around me for going on twenty years now is quite likely the same as what you've surmised -- all the training PIs have is geared toward formulating ideas and executing science and, if they're good at it -- poof! -- they're suddenly in charge of people, a situation they're generally ill equipped to handle, due to a lack of experience and training.

Leadership is learned and respect is earned -- neither is automatic with position.

Thanks Homebrew,U are right leadership is a big responsibility

I heard that some PIs are doing MBA part-time.

i think there are so many things you can do when you become a PI, not because of the position itself, but for all the opportunities that appear. f.i. you can submit your own projects, with your ideas, rather than telling ideas to your boss and being dispatched right away. another great thing i see about being a PI is the possibility of scientific cooperation, lots of organizations support this idea and provide funding so that different labs can interact and attack a common problem from different disciplines, and there's always the advantage of traveling
as HB very well mentions, it is a lot of responsibility to have people under your supervision, but it's even worse if you're a PI and don't have anyone to be responsible for, what kind of research can you do if it is only you and your lab assistant? it's about having a balance in the number of people you can manage, you could have a superlarge group with 30+ people but wouldn't know what some of them are doing, or a smaller but stronger group. it depends on each PI individually.

I've thought of that a GREAT deal.

I've been the person responsible for the lab, the grad-students, and the post-docs...

I'm MORE than ready to be the person with the AUTHORITY as well... My advisor somehow managed to get me to run the lab for years... Without giving me extra pay, or any real authority. I had to see that it got done or else...

But having been in that position, and a number of others before grad school I look forward to being the supervisor and seeing that things run right...At least, to the best of my ability.

Rose,

without the specifics it's difficult to say... but I think a good rule of thumbs is...Get paid when you can...

But if you see an opportunity where the work will lead to something much bigger or help you in the long run, go for it! do it for the experience... do it because you enjoy it... Sounds llike you have a good attitude.