In three words or phrases:

• student-centred – I aim to support you working towards your research goals and directions.
• outcome-oriented – I am motivated by most research results, positive or negative, and will encourage you to think about your thesis chapters as separate, scientific publications.
• collaborative – I believe science works best when researchers work together.

Provision of Training

My group is interdisciplinary – spanning PhDs in both biology and applied math. Given this diversity, I will encourage you to engage with the broader research team to further develop your technical skills. I will also take responsibility for your training at first so by end of your PhD, you will be able to independently figure out appropriate methods and even teach them to younger members of the group.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I meet with everyone in my group either weekly, biweekly, or monthly. I schedule these in advance to ensure my time is available throughout your PhD. During these meetings, I am open to discussing how things are going in general as well as advise on training, goal setting, or trouble shooting. I expect you to take ownership of these meetings and your PhD project as you progress by setting your own timeline and goals.

Communication

I am in the office most days for drop-in discussions. Meetings are how to get the best feedback from me, but email and phone also are ok. I strongly believe in work-life balance, so do not expect you to respond to emails on weekends. Fieldwork sets its own agenda, particularly international field work! In this case, I will be available at strange hours, for regular check-ins, and spontaneous troubleshooting.

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me:

The form of the meetings currently this varies based on student preference. Most are face-to-face but some are online. I am usually contactable for an instant response 3 or 4 days per week.

Working Patterns

The timing of work in my group is mostly flexible. You will need to attend pre-arranged meetings and arrange collaborative work with other team members at a mutually convenient time. Overall, however, I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 weeks' notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.