In three words or phrases: Supportive, collaborative and student-centred.
Provision of Training
I will provide structured, hands-on training in all experimental and data analysis methods required for the project, so prior experience with these specific techniques is not essential; where appropriate, this will be complemented by specialist training and mentoring support from postdoctoral researchers, senior PhD students and collaborators within and beyond Aston. As the student gains confidence, I will progressively support them to design experiments, analyse data and solve problems independently, guided by personalised training, development plan and regular mentoring.
Progression Monitoring and Management
We will discuss and set out clear milestones and short-term goals in the beginning, reviewing progress, data and training needs through weekly one-to one meetings arranged flexibly and fortnightly group meetings. I will encourage and support you to develop your own scientific thinking by shaping research questions, refining methods and taking ownership of written work, while remaining available to provide guidance and support for both the PhD project and your wider professional and development goals.
Communication
I encourage open and respectful communication through regular meetings, informal discussions through emails or Teams or Whatsapp. Students should feel comfortable raising questions or concerns affecting their progress or wellbeing. I aim to respond promptly during working hours without expecting replies outside normal working hours. I also support flexible working, giving students the freedom and independence to plan and manage their own work while coordinating time-sensitive experiments and shared facilities in a friendly collaborative team environment.
Meetings
PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per week. These meetings will be a mixture of face-to-face and via video chat or telephone. I am usually contactable for an instant response 3 or 4 days per week.
Work Patterns
Certain tasks in my lab need to occur at set times, and students need to be able to commit to a rota/timetable shared with other members of the team.
Notice Period for Feedback
I need at least 1 week's notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5,000 words.
