how to thank my phd supervisor

Speak with Confidence

Guide: How to Say Thank You to Your PhD Supervisor

Completing a doctoral degree is an incredible achievement, and your PhD supervisor has played a crucial role in guiding you through this challenging journey. Expressing your gratitude towards your supervisor is not only polite but also helps nurture a long-lasting professional relationship. In this guide, we will explore various ways to say thank you to your PhD supervisor, both formally and informally. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Formal Ways to Say Thank You

Sending a formal thank you message or letter to your PhD supervisor is a thoughtful gesture that shows your gratitude for their guidance and support. Here are some tips for writing a formal thank you:

Be sincere: Start by expressing your genuine appreciation for their help and insights during your doctoral journey.
Highlight specific contributions: Mention the specific ways your supervisor aided your research, whether it was through funding, advice, or reviewing your work.
Mention personal growth: Reflect upon how their mentorship has contributed to your personal growth as a researcher and professional in your field.
Show gratitude for their time and effort: Acknowledge the countless hours spent providing feedback, attending meetings, and supporting your research.
Offer to stay in touch: Convey your interest in maintaining a professional relationship and using their continued guidance in the future.

Example of a formal thank you email:

Dear [Supervisor’s Name], I am writing to express my sincerest gratitude for your invaluable guidance and unwavering support throughout my doctoral journey. Your expertise and mentorship have been instrumental in shaping my research and helping me achieve this significant milestone. I greatly appreciate the time and effort you devoted to providing constructive feedback on my work, attending numerous meetings, and offering invaluable insights that significantly enhanced the quality of my research. Not only have you fostered my academic growth, but your guidance has also influenced my personal development as a researcher. Your dedication to nurturing young scholars like myself is truly inspiring. I would love to stay connected and continue learning from your expertise in the future, as I believe your mentorship will be invaluable as I embark on the next phase of my career. Again, thank you for your exceptional guidance and support throughout. It has been an honor to be your student. Wishing you good health and continued success. Warm regards, [Your Name]

Informal Ways to Say Thank You

While formal messages are appreciated, expressing your gratitude in an informal manner can create a more personal connection with your PhD supervisor. Here are some tips for conveying your thanks in a less formal manner:

Engage in a face-to-face conversation: Arrange a meeting with your supervisor to express your gratitude in person. This can be an opportunity for a heartfelt conversation.
Express genuine emotions: Be authentic and express how grateful you are for their guidance and mentorship. Share anecdotes or specific moments that made a significant impact on your research journey.
Offer a personal token of appreciation: Consider small gestures like a handwritten note, a meaningful book, or a personalized gift that reflects your supervisor’s interests or hobbies.
Invite them to celebratory events: If appropriate, extend an invitation to any graduation ceremony or other events that mark the completion of your doctoral degree.

Example of an informal thank you conversation:

[Student]: Hey, [Supervisor’s Name]! I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks for everything you’ve done throughout my PhD journey. Your guidance and support have made a tremendous difference, and I cannot thank you enough. [Supervisor]: Thank you, [Your Name]. It’s been a pleasure mentoring you. Is there anything specific that you found particularly helpful? [Student]: Definitely! I truly appreciate the valuable feedback you provided during our weekly meetings. Your insights and expertise always pushed me to think outside the box, resulting in a research project that I am incredibly proud of. [Supervisor]: I’m glad to hear that. It was a pleasure working with you, and your dedication to your research made a significant impact. I have no doubt that you will achieve great things in your future endeavors. [Student]: Thank you for believing in me and for your continuous support. Your mentorship has not only shaped my academic journey but also inspired me to become a better researcher. I am forever grateful. [Supervisor]: You’re most welcome, [Your Name]. It’s been a pleasure being your supervisor. Remember, I’m here to support you even after you complete your PhD. Let’s keep in touch and continue this professional relationship. [Student]: Absolutely! I would love to stay connected. Thanks again, [Supervisor’s Name]. You’re the best!

Final Thoughts

Expressing your gratitude towards your PhD supervisor is essential in recognizing their efforts and maintaining a positive professional relationship. Whether you choose a formal written message or an informal heartfelt conversation, remember to be sincere, specific, and appreciative of their time and guidance. Your kind words and gratitude will undoubtedly be cherished by your supervisor for years to come.

Remember, completing a PhD is just the beginning of your journey, and your PhD supervisor’s mentorship can prove invaluable as you navigate future academic or professional milestones. So, take a moment to say thank you in a way that resonates with you and, most importantly, makes your supervisor feel appreciated.

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How to Say PhD in Japanese: Formal and Informal Ways, Tips, and Examples
Guide on How to Say PhD in Korean
How to Say PhD in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide
Guide to Saying “PhD Student” in Korean
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About The Author

Lucy Miranda

5 inspiring PhD thesis acknowledgement examples

Crafting a PhD thesis acknowledgement can be a challenging task, but it can also be an enjoyable one. There are no strict rules or guidelines to follow, allowing for creative freedom. However, seeking inspiration from sample acknowledgements can greatly assist in initiating your own writing process. Here are five PhD thesis acknowledgement examples!

PhD thesis acknowledgement example 1

First and foremost, I would like to thank my PhD supervisors, Prof. Xiu Ling and Prof. Frederic Semoas. Their constant support, guidance, and encouragement have been invaluable throughout the entire process. From the initial stages of refining my research proposal to the final submission of my thesis, their unwavering presence and wealth of wisdom have been instrumental in shaping my academic growth. I highly valued the biweekly meetings we held, which not only served as crucial checkpoints to keep me on track academically, but also provided me with plenty of encouragement. I am profoundly grateful for the immeasurable contributions they made to my development.

Among the most memorable highlights of my PhD journey was the opportunity to participate in the Applied Chemistry Summer School in Belfast. This enriching experience would not have been possible without the dedication and expertise of Dr. Simone and Dr. Erek. I am deeply grateful for the knowledge, connections, and friendships that were forged during that time.

PhD thesis acknowledgement example 2

It takes a village to raise a child” is a well-known proverb, and I strongly believe that completing a PhD also requires the support of a village. Therefore, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the people who played significant roles in my PhD journey.

Furthermore, I want to thank all the interviewees who generously shared their thoughts and life stories for my research. Without your willingness to participate, my thesis would not have been possible.

PhD thesis acknowledgement example 3

When I embarked on my PhD journey five years ago, little did I know the profound experiences that lay ahead. Fulfilling my long-held dream of pursuing a PhD, time seemed to pass swiftly as I immersed myself in the world of academia. Transitioning from several years in professional practice back to the university environment was both daunting and exhilarating.

During my third and fourth years, I had the privilege of working as a teaching assistant for Prof. Susan Meyers. This role introduced me to the immensely fulfilling world of teaching, from which I gained invaluable knowledge and insights. Prof. Meyers provided exceptional guidance and unwavering support throughout my teaching endeavors.

My greatest aspiration is that my research proves beneficial and contributes to a better understanding of earthquakes. The drive to advance knowledge in this field continues to fuel my motivation and determination. I am deeply grateful to all the individuals mentioned, as none of this would have been possible without their guidance and encouragement. I am excited to see what the future holds.

PhD thesis acknowledgement example 4

Throughout my PhD journey, I have been fortunate to explore various places and experiences. Moving to Chicago, I had the privilege of joining an exceptional literature department, surrounded by individuals who share a deep passion for reading. Relocating to a new city on my own was challenging, but fate led me to forge a wonderful friendship with my flat mate, Loreen. Loreen, I am grateful for your companionship and support from the very beginning of my PhD.

Participating in a three-minute research pitch competition not only pushed me beyond my comfort zone but also introduced me to an incredible partner, Joshua. It is remarkable how life leads us to unexpected places and introduces us to remarkable people when we least expect it.

Grandma and Grandpa, you made immense sacrifices and worked tirelessly to provide a better life for your children and grandchildren. Look how far we have come! Your dedication and resilience continue to inspire me as I reflect on my achievements.

PhD thesis acknowledgement example 5

To Katie, Felicitas, Aron, Xime, and Andy – you are the best PhD crew in the entire department. Together, we have navigated the challenges and celebrated the triumphs, and I am grateful to have had you by my side.

Lastly, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to coffee and my dog Ben. Coffee has fueled countless late nights and early mornings, providing the necessary jolt to keep me going. And Ben, my loyal companion, you have been my faithful reminder to take breaks, dragging me away from my computer and insisting on regular outdoor excursions.

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Thanking PhD supervisors

Hi everyone, I have been awarded my PhD and wanted some advice on how to thank my supervisors. Generally, I would have given them a handwritten thank you card and a small gift to accompany it. However, my department is still working from home and I do not think I will be able to see my supervisors in person until September at the earliest. I also do not have an option to drop-off anything at their office for them to collect later. Any ideas on how I can show my appreciation? I have thanked them via email (small paragraphs) at various stages (so submission, post-viva, approval of corrections etc.) so at this point I am also a bit apprehensive of sounding like a broken record! Especially if it’s yet another message. I considered sending an e-card but have noticed in the past that they can sometimes seem like spam emails at first glance so don’t really want to use that option. Any thoughts or ideas on what I can do are much appreciated. Thank you :-)

Really anything will be surprising and appreciated. I've supervised 6 completions and the most I've ever got gift-wise was a post viva hug or *maybe* a pint... but I still had to get the next round in... ;) Of course though as a supervisor you're not in it for a good bottle of wine (you can steal those from the Dean's office). You're partly in it for the warm fuzzy feeling of having helped someone. You're professionally in it in the hopes the student will go on to have a stellar academic career and be inviting you, when it's appropriate, to co-author publications or apply for grants. The best thank-you message might well be along the lines of 'I'm working on that final journal output, can you have a quick glance as co-author...' :)

Quote From abababa: Really anything will be surprising and appreciated. I've supervised 6 completions and the most I've ever got gift-wise was a post viva hug or *maybe* a pint... but I still had to get the next round in... ;) Of course though as a supervisor you're not in it for a good bottle of wine (you can steal those from the Dean's office). You're partly in it for the warm fuzzy feeling of having helped someone. You're professionally in it in the hopes the student will go on to have a stellar academic career and be inviting you, when it's appropriate, to co-author publications or apply for grants. The best thank-you message might well be along the lines of 'I'm working on that final journal output, can you have a quick glance as co-author...' :) Thanks abababa! I was stressing quite a bit trying to work out what to do so your reply is very helpful :-) And supervisors like you are a gem! Mine have been amazing throughout and it made all the difference with my work (and mental health!)

My exact predicament a couple of weeks ago. In the end I decided to send her a high quality leather bound copy of my thesis. She was very pleased.

Bob86, that sounds like a good gift! In the end I decided to give both my supervisors a nice box of chocolates and an engraved pen as a small appreciative gesture. Currently waiting for the items to be delivered to me. May I ask how you got the copy of your thesis across to your supervisor? My department is closed so I’m not sure how to actually get the items to my supervisors!

User5 - that's nice, I'm sure your supervisors will appreciate that :) I asked my supervisor for her home address and posted it to her via Royal Mail special delivery.

Bob85 thanks! I was thinking about asking them for their home address but wasn’t sure if that would be too personal. I will do so now though :-D

Quote From User5: Bob85 thanks! I was thinking about asking them for their home address but wasn’t sure if that would be too personal. I will do so now though :-D No probs! If you're wary of asking for a home address simply omit 'home' from your request then its open to interpretation, i.e., work/home address.

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How do I email my supervisor? Part two – the thank you note.

The questions might be naive, but I do want to learn more about the “Australian” way of sending regards to supervisors. My supervisor invited me to a formal business dinner this week with some other professors. As a PhD student who just started research, I felt thrilled about this occasion. He will be on his sabbatical leave soon and we will continue to contact via email, once a month. From the culture of my own country, I should send my supervisor an email containing all the following items. However, I am also thinking about the concerns listed in the brackets. I am not sure whether such a personal email is too far for this more professional supervisor-student relationship in Australia. Thanks again for the dinner. (I have already expressed my gratitude orally and in a previous email. Will this be tedious?) Thanks for all his guidance and caring for the past several months. (But it sounds like a concluding remark, which might not be proper at this time.) Have a safe journey. (A must-say in my hometown. But I was told it was considered odd, or even rude by some Americans. The main reason for this email.) Enjoy the sabbatical leave. (Enjoy?) I will work hard during this period. (Another must-say. But I have never heard students promise this in western countries.) I am struggling between my rational brain and emotional brain, as well as two different cultures. Looking forward to hearing from you. Warm regards, Courteous Student

Here is what I wrote back:

Dear Courteous,

Inter-cultural communication is, indeed, delicate work. Add to that the stress of playing the role of ‘junior’ colleague in academia… let’s just say, it’s challenging. Even students raised in the same culture as their supervisor can struggle with this kind of communication task, which is why it is an excellent topic for a blog post!

When we write a letter, we are playing a role. Think about a letter you would write to a friend while you are on holiday vs a letter you would write to a politician, complaining about Australia’s refugee policy. Want to sound happy and affectionate to your friend and angry and persuasive to the politician. You are a different person when you write each letter. You play the role through your choice of greeting, the words you use, expressive punctuation and so on. For instance, you would not sign off an angry letter to a politician with “with love”; the recipient of your letter will feel very weird, and you will have failed to communicate.

Unlike other parts of formal education, you do not have a ‘social ritual’ that will guide you in everyday interactions with your supervisor; the relationship will emerge and develop over time. Each supervisor / PhD student relationship is unique. I have a very different kind of relationship with every PhD student I supervise, even though I like to think I approach everyone the same way. When the communication is electronic, the interaction problem is magnified because you don’t have live feedback from the person to judge and adjust your performance. Too casual? Too formal? It’s tough to find the right tone, especially at the beginning of your working relationship.

The ‘meta’ problem here is that you do not have a well-defined role to play. Are you a student? A junior colleague? A friend? You can be all three at the same time, or just one, depending on how the relationship between yourself and your supervisor evolves. Even if you do get to the ‘friends’ end of the spectrum, there will still be a power relationship that is unequal; at least until you graduate and in all likelihood, beyond. Recently I met my delightful and supportive masters supervisor at a social event, completely by chance. I studied with her 18 years ago now (!). Back then we were in almost daily contact, even though now we speak but rarely. We certainly became friends, after a fashion. But I still feel like a junior colleague when I talk to her. She’s the most unthreatening, lovely person you can imagine, so this wasn’t from anything she did at the time, or since.

It’s tricky, so let’s tackle it one letter at a time. Here’s what I would write, based on your list of what you want to express. My explanation for every sentence is in square brackets. Reading these notes gives you a sense of how difficult it can be to negotiate the supervisor/student power relations, even in a very everyday piece of correspondence:

Dear [whatever you call him/her – in Australia, most supervisors are more comfortable with first names from PhD students]

I hope you enjoy your sabbatical [‘enjoy’ is an entirely appropriate here – us academics are nerdy and a sabbatical is a dream come true!] . I appreciate all your guidance and care over the last couple of months [keep emotional stuff short and to the point, but don’t forget to include it. If you’ve already thanked by email for the dinner, don’t do it again because in Australia this will feel overbearing. We are not good with gratitude. Maybe it’s a convict thing?] . I plan to work on [insert something general, but specific here like your upcoming milestone presentation. Being specific shows your supervisor that you are confident and have things under control and that you have listened to their advice] over the next couple of months. I’m looking forward to our emails/touching base [this sentence confirms your agreement about communication over the next little while, so he/she knows you understand. The second mode of expression ‘touching base’ is more casual, depends on whether you feel your relationship is moving in that direction or not] every two weeks. Do let me know if you need to change this arrangement for any reason [indicates you are flexible and understand the nature of his/her leave – gives them something to thank you for, an important ingredient of this sort of communication. In English, saying thanks demands another thanks and sometimes it’s hard to know how to stop the cycle. One reason why emojis are so useful in text messaging!] . Safe travels! [this is a casual way of wishing someone all the best on a journey – not offensive and entirely appropriate. you can choose whether you use the exclamation mark – makes it sound more ‘jaunty’ if you do, thus decreasing the emotional content].

[your usual sign off … mine is ‘best’ if I don’t know a person that well or just my initial in lower case: “i”, if they are a colleague-friend ]

Have you ever struggled to find the right ‘tone’ to email your supervisor? What were you trying to say? Did you manage to communicate well, or not? Love to hear your stories in the comments – from your issues, more blog posts might come!

How to email your supervisor (or the tyranny of tiny tasks and what you can do about it)

Five ways to avoid death by email

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Thesis acknowledgements: Samples and how to write your own thesis or dissertation acknowledgements

Writing a thesis can be tricky. That’s why I’m starting a new series covering each section of the thesis, from thesis acknowledgements all the way to conclusions. I’ll be guiding you through the whole process, from what to include in your thesis to how to write it, along with examples from defended theses to help you to write your own.

We’ll begin by covering thesis acknowledgments. The acknowledgements section appears at the start of the thesis so it is often one of the first parts that everyone tries to tackle. As this will likely be your first taste of your thesis it can often feel quite intimidating to write!

Thankfully it’s also one of the easiest parts of the thesis to complete, which may help to give you a boost for the rest.

In this post we’ll cover everything to do with thesis acknowledgements: samples, what to include and how to write them. At the end I’ll also outline a 60 minute exercise which will get you preparing a first draft of your own! I’ve also got a similar post to craft your thesis title, which you can check out here .

I’m writing this post with a PhD thesis in mind but it could work just as well if you’re looking for help including acknowledgements in your Master’s or undergraduate thesis/ dissertation.

What is the purpose of the acknowledgements section in a thesis?

The acknowledgements section of your thesis is an opportunity to reflect on the people who have supported and shaped your PhD experience.

Don’t worry, although your examiners will be interested to read your acknowledgements section, you won’t really get judged on it in your PhD viva. This section is for you to share as little, or as much, as you want about everyone involved in your PhD journey.

The acknowledgements are a very personal section of your thesis and each PhD student will have different things they want to include. For example, many people wonder: How do I thank my family in a thesis? And the acknowledgements section is the answer!

Note – You can also use a thesis dedication to thank your family. This is a separate section to your thesis acknowledgements and is entirely optional. It’s usually just a single line, just like you might find at the front of some books. Most people don’t include a separate dedication section but you can if you want to go that extra step.

What to include in your thesis acknowledgements

There are usually no formal requirements dictating what to include in your acknowledgements. However, do double check for any potential rules at your specific institution.

In general the acknowledgements are the section of your thesis where you have some creative liberty and are not bound by rigid research protocols or guidelines.

Many students choose to use the acknowledgements section to thank people (or organisations) who:

Introduced them to the topic
Helped with their PhD application
Funded the project
Supervisors
Technicians
Partners, friends or family
Or anyone else who made an impression along the way!

But remember, you can include whatever you want! For example in my own PhD acknowledgements, which you’ll read further down this post, I thanked the university for providing a green outdoor space for us.

Acknowledge whoever and whatever influenced your own PhD experience.

You may find it helpful to start by writing a list of everyone you wish to thank.

How do you write an acknowledgements section?

Since there are no guidelines to worry about, it is really up to you how you write your own thesis acknowledgements. You have a lot of freedom for what to include and how to write it.

However you may find the following suggested phases helpful as a starting point.

Who you want to thank…

“First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to…”
“I must thank…”
“A special thanks to…”
“I would like to highlight two truly exceptional people from…”
“I want to thank…”
“In addition, I would like to mention”
“I would also like to extend my thanks to…”
“I want to give my deepest appreciation to…”
“Finally, but the most importantly, I would like to thank…”

…then, why you want to thank them

It can be nice to also include why you’re thanking these people, using phrases such as:

“…for the opportunity to be a part of this project”
“…for always being there when I needed his support, reviewing my progress constantly, and guiding me through my PhD studies”
“….for being a great bunch of people in and out of the lab”
…”for all the guidance, support and outstanding feedback”
“… who took their time to help teach me…”
“…for her unlimited support and unconditional guidance during my PhD journey”
“…were always there for discussions about anything that I was unsure on”
“…whom has offered invaluable advice that will benefit me throughout my life”
“…for supporting me since my undergraduate, and for the valuable discussions we had along the road”
“…for making the past 4 years much more enjoyable and keeping me sane throughout the whole process”

Here is a whole example from an accepted PhD thesis:

Firstly, I want to thank [supervisor’s name(s)] for giving me the opportunity to work on this project, providing valuable guidance and feedback, and challenging me to grow as a scientist. Excerpt from Dr Wane’s thesis acknowledgements, available via this page or use this direct download link .

Some people will choose to use full names and titles for any professional acknowledgements and first names for any personal ones. Again, this is up to you.

To help illustrate the variety of thesis acknowledgement formats, we’ll shortly be coming on to some examples of acknowledgment sections from successfully defended theses.

Before then I want to cover some of the main questions relating to how to write your own thesis acknowledgements section:

How long should you spend writing your thesis acknowledgements?

My suggestion is to spend only an hour or two making a first draft. I suggest doing this well ahead of your final deadline so that you have time to come back to it. Even so, I’d certainly look to spend far less than one day’s work on it in total.

It is a “nice to have” and means a lot to a lot of people, but remember you’re really only writing this section for yourself. I probably spent about two hours writing mine in total, simply because it wasn’t a priority for me.

What order should you write your acknowledgements in?

A typical way to write your acknowledgements is to go from the most formal/academic relationships to the least.

It is normal to start with any funding bodies, then formal people like your PhD supervisors, then move through labmates, friends and family. But again, there are generally no rules!

How long should the acknowledgements section be?

You can include as much or as little as you want. My own PhD acknowledgements section was just under a page long and it consisted of 386 words or 1892 characters (without spaces).

Here is how it was formatted:

A screenshot of the acknowledgements section from my PhD thesis

But let’s not just look at my thesis. Using Imperial’s publicly accessible database I went through 25 published PhD theses for you.

The average (mean) length of these 25 theses was 365 words and 1793 characters without spaces. Writing an acknowledgements section of length 350-450 words was the most common:

Histogram of thesis acknowledgements length. Most theses were between 350-450 words long

The shortest acknowledgements sections was 122 words(653 characters) long. The longest one consisted of 1022 words and 5082 characters. Hopefully this illustrates that you’re not really bound by any limits. Write as much or as little as you want for this section.

Sample thesis acknowledgements

My own phd thesis acknowledgement.

My own PhD thesis is available here *, the acknowledgements section is on page 5. Here is the complete version of my acknowledgements section:

I would like to acknowledge both EPSRC and the Class of 1964 Scholarship for their financial support. It has been an honour to be the inaugural recipient of the Class of 1964 Scholarship and I am indebted to the donors in providing me complete academic freedom in this research. An immense thank you to my PhD supervisors: Jonathan Jeffers, Ulrich Hansen and Julian Jones. Support and guidance throughout the project from you all has been invaluable. JJ in particular you’ve been a fantastic primary supervisor. Thank you to all the academics who helped me get to this stage. The late Dr Kajal Mallick and his Biomedical Materials course at the University of Warwick was a huge influence and without which I would have never followed this path. My “pre-doc” supervisors in Dr Helen Lee of University of Cambridge and in particular the remarkable Prof Judith Hall OBE of Cardiff University from whom I learned so much. Thanks to Alison Paul and Michael Lim for being so supportive when I was considering applying for PhDs. It has been an amazing experience working between two research groups across different departments, thanks to everyone from the Biomechanics and JRJ groups I’ve worked with and from whom I’ve learned so much. Thank you of course to the Hybrids team I’ve worked so closely on this project with: Fra, Gloria, Agathe, Maria, Silvia, it’s been great fun working with you all! Gloria in particular thanks for you all your help, support and friendship: your inclusivity is appreciated by many. Saman, I’ve been so pleased to have you working on DVC with me and being able to discuss ideas with you really has been invaluable. I am grateful to everyone I’ve collaborated with externally: Farah, Amin and Brett (Natural History Museum) plus Andy and Behzad (Royal Veterinary College), thank you all for your support and input. Thanks also to everyone I’ve met through the Environmental Society at Imperial in particular Chelcie: your friendship and support have added a lot to my life. Thanks to Imperial for providing space for the ESoc garden, taking a break and enjoy nature in this space has certainly improved my work. Thanks of course to my family for their support. Finally, thank you Jo for always being so supportive and helping me every step of the way. My PhD thesis, available here . Acknowledgements are on page 5.

*For me the thesis was a means to an end. I wanted my PhD and didn’t want to spend too long agonising over each page. Therefore, it is possible there are typos in there, if you read any of it: firstly well done, I haven’t looked at it much since submitting the final copy, secondly, please don’t tell me about any typos you find!

Other PhD thesis acknowledgement examples

Below are the other 24 published and openly accessible STEM PhD theses I found for this article.

For each person’s thesis, either follow the first link to be taken to the landing page or follow the second link to directly download their thesis: I gave you a choice in case you don’t want stuff to start downloading automatically from a random text link!

PhD thesis acknowledgements example access tutorial

The list is formatted as follows:

[Link to thesis page on repository], [which page the acknowledgements appear on], [direct link to download the thesis]
Dr Shipman’s thesis , for the acknowledgements go to page 3. Direct download here .
Longest acknowledgements section of the list at 1022 words.
Dr Li’s thesis , page 11. Direct download here .
Dr Podgurschi’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
Dr Medjeral-Thomas’ thesis page 3. Direct download here .
Dr Sztuc’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
Dr Yap’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
Dr Sukkar’s thesis , page 9. Direct download here .
Dr Lo’s thesis , page 11. Direct download here .
Dr Sullivan’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
Dr Tawy’s thesis , page 3. Direct download here .
Dr Wane’s thesis , page 2. Direct download here .
Dr Addison’s thesis , page 4. Direct download here .
Dr Wang’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
Dr Sebest’s thesis , page 3. Direct download here .
Dr Hopkins’ thesis , page 7. Direct download here .
Dr Bates’s thesis , page 4. Direct download here .
Dr Somuyiwa’s thesis , page 6. Direct download here .
Dr Reynolds’ thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
My labmate’s thesis, who wrote the acknowledgements in a different style to the rest by using bullet points.
Shortest acknowledgements section of the list at 122 words.
Dr Manca’s thesis , acknowledgements on page 5. Direct download here .
Dr Liu’s thesis , page 5. Direct download here .
Dr Hotinli’s thesis , page 7. Direct download here .

My top tips for writing your own thesis acknowledgements

Don’t spend too long on them. The acknowledgements section is really not worth spending too much time on. Even worse, since they appear at the start of your thesis, it is tempting to write your acknowledgements first. This can be fine, or, it can be an opportunity for lots of unnecessary procrastination. Which I why I instead suggest that you…
Write your acknowledgements at the end of your first draft of the thesis. There is no need to write your thesis in the order it is presented. If you write your acknowledgements at the end you’ll be less likely to spend precious time on a section which really doesn’t warrant too much brain power.
Don’t stress about it. The acknowledgements are merely for yourself and for anyone close to you that you want to thank. There are far more important sections for you to be particular about!
Remember: You can make changes after you submit the copy for your viva. As with everything in your thesis, you can make changes after you submit the thesis for your viva. The real “final” copy is when you submit your thesis to the university for archiving. Which is even more reason to not spend too much time writing it the first time around.

Draft your own thesis or dissertation acknowledgements in 60 minutes

Hopefully you now feel inspired to start writing your own thesis acknowledgments!

For the exercise below I’d suggest setting a stop-watch on your phone and move on to the next section when the alarm goes, even if you’ve not fully finished. The aim is to have a rough draft at the end which you can polish off at a later point in time.

Read a few of the example thesis acknowledgements above to get a feel for the structure ( 15 mins )
List everyone (or everything!) you wish to thank – including any personal and professional acknowledgements in addition to funding bodies if relevant ( 10 mins )
Decide on a rough order in which to thank them ( 5 mins )
Craft some sentences using the phrases mentioned above ( 30 mins )

Congratulations you’re now well on your way to having one section of your PhD thesis completed!

I hope this post has been useful for constructing your own thesis or dissertation acknowledgements. It is the first in a series of posts aiming to help your thesis writing by delving into each section in depth. Be sure to let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for other content which you would find useful.

Subscribe below to stay updated about future posts in the series:

Minor Corrections: How To Make Them and Succeed With Your PhD Thesis

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How to Master Data Management in Research

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A Letter to My PhD Supervisor

16 th August 2022

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PhD supervisors are the unsung heroes of doctoral degrees, helping students stay calm, complete their assignments and achieve excellent results throughout the course. If there’s a problem that you need to talk through or want to bounce an idea off of someone, PhD supervisors are there to lend an ear. As such, it seems only fair to shine a light on the guidance generously given by these wonderful experts. Siung Ghai is studyinga PhD in Space Physics at the University of Sheffield . He explains how much his supervisor has done for him during his degree, and why they’re so important in assisting you with your PhD studies…

Ever since I was young I have always wanted to be an astronaut. However, whenever I have told people about this, they have laughed at me. But now that I’m studying towards a PhD in Space Physics, and through this have had the opportunity to work with scientists, NASA and the European Space Agency, they’re not laughing anymore!

One person who never laughed at me was my brilliant supervisor Simon. When I told him my dream was to go to outer space he listened to me with 110% concentration. Our first meeting was a moment that I'll never forget. There was no laughter, just unwavering support for my passion and dream, something which I’ve come to greatly appreciate in my time at university as a postgrad.

The best supervisors are those that stimulate and foster your talents and ability with unconditional support. I passed my degree with flying colours and excelled in my current PhD work but could not have done any of this without the support and guidance of my supervisor.

When you’re a PhD student it’s often easy to feel lonely as the reality of independent study sets in. It’s important that your supervisor is as available as possible to you – and I was lucky to find someone who was always ready to listen to any of my concerns.

Throughout my studies Simon was proactive about putting networking opportunities in front of me, not just with others within the UK with an interest in my discipline, but also on the overseas stage. I was invited to give academic presentations at three international space assemblies in Turkey, the USA and Japan, largely thanks to his support.

Space may be the final frontier, but many countries have an interest in the field. It’s impossible to work in isolation so a supervisor who can support you with international collaboration opportunities will be a huge asset to you. I was lucky to benefit from his connections and was paired up with scientists from NASA for my current research – something which I could only have dreamed of, when starting out as an undergrad all those years before.

But as much as support is valuable, it’s about inspiration too. A supervisor who can motivate you to go the extra mile, to do that little bit more, will pay dividends in terms of the quality and standing of your eventual research output. Simon inspired me not only to dream big, but dare to achieve bigger than anything I thought possible. It’s easy to feel intimidated by someone who is a leading expert in their field, but when this person can make you feel as though you are on the same level it is easy to be inspired to do more.

I’m not for a second pretending that a wonderful supervisor will make your PhD a walk in a park…there will be challenges, it will still be hard work. But if you can find a PhD supervisor just a little bit like Simon, you will be very lucky indeed. I can’t be more grateful to have had him as part of my research journey.

Next: Search for Doctorate Degrees in Astronomy and Space Science

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Sample emails to your dissertation supervisor

Published on October 13, 2015 by Sarah Vinz . Revised on March 24, 2017.

Making an appointment, asking questions, confirming agreements.

Dear Dr. Janssen,

The college has informed me that you will be my supervisor. I would therefore like to make an initial appointment to discuss my dissertation idea with you.

I look forward to hearing from you as to when you would be available to meet with me.

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Dear Prof. Smith,

I have encountered several difficulties while working on my dissertation. Could you please answer the following questions?

I have found only limited literature on the concept of “social enforcement.” Are you familiar with any authors who have written on this topic?
Measuring “social enforcement” in the literature has proven virtually impossible. At this point I would like to use “social control” as a starting point for the concept. What are your thoughts on this?

I would like to make an appointment to discuss these questions with you. When would be convenient for you?

I am writing in follow-up to our meeting on Monday. Could you please check the notes I have prepared concerning what we agreed and confirm that they are accurate?

Thanks in advance for your response.

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Sarah's academic background includes a Master of Arts in English, a Master of International Affairs degree, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She loves the challenge of finding the perfect formulation or wording and derives much satisfaction from helping students take their academic writing up a notch.

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Acknowledgement for PhD Thesis (5 Samples and Guide)

January 12, 2024

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By Mohsin Khurshid

Embarking on your PhD journey? Unveil the art of crafting sincere acknowledgments with our guide. Explore 5 curated samples to master the skill of expressing gratitude in your PhD thesis. From mentors to contributors, discover the perfect tone for your acknowledgment section. Stick around for a comprehensive guide on crafting your own.

Table of Contents

1.1 PhD Acknowledgement Sample
1.2 PhD Thesis Acknowledgement Sample
1.3 PhD Dissertation Acknowledgement (Long Sample)
1.4 Acknowledgement PhD Thesis (Short Sample)
1.5 Sample Acknowledgement for PhD Thesis File
2 How to Write Acknowledgement for PhD Thesis?
3 Conclusion

Best Five PhD Thesis Acknowledgement Samples

Curious about exemplary PhD thesis acknowledgments? Dive into our handpicked collection of 5 samples. Each one offers a unique perspective, providing inspiration for expressing your gratitude in your dissertation. From mentor appreciation to acknowledging contributors, these samples serve as valuable templates for your own heartfelt acknowledgments.

PhD Acknowledgement Sample

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my esteemed supervisors, Prof. XXX and Dr. XXX, whose unwavering guidance, continuous support, and boundless patience have been the cornerstones of my PhD journey. Their wealth of knowledge and extensive experience has not only enriched my academic endeavors but has also been a source of inspiration in my daily life.

Special thanks to Dr. XXX and Dr. XXX for their technical expertise, contributing significantly to the success of my study. The members of XXX have played a pivotal role in making my academic experience and life in the UK truly wonderful through their generous help and support.

Finally, I express deep appreciation to my parents, my wife, and my children, whose understanding and encouragement have been indispensable. Without their unwavering support, completing my study would have been an insurmountable challenge.

PhD Thesis Acknowledgement Sample

My sincere appreciation goes to my esteemed supervisor, Dr. XXX, whose invaluable supervision, unwavering support, and expert guidance have been instrumental throughout my pursuit of a PhD degree. I extend gratitude to the Faculty of XXX for providing the funding opportunity that allowed me to undertake my studies at the esteemed Department of XXX, University of XXX.

Dr. XXX deserves special acknowledgment for her influential support, significantly shaping my experimental methods and offering insightful critiques of my results. I also express my thanks to Dr. XXX, Dr. XXX, and Dr. XXX for their mentorship, which has greatly contributed to my academic growth.

Heartfelt thanks to my friends, lab mates, colleagues, and the research team – XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX – for the cherished time spent together in the lab and social settings. I am deeply thankful to my family and friends for their unwavering encouragement and support throughout my academic journey.

PhD Dissertation Acknowledgement (Long Sample)

I extend my sincere gratitude to my esteemed advisor, Prof. _______, whose unwavering support, patience, motivation, and profound knowledge have been instrumental throughout my Ph.D. study and related research. His guidance has been a beacon, shaping my research endeavors and enriching the writing of this thesis. I am immensely grateful for the privilege of having such a dedicated advisor and mentor.

In addition to my advisor, I express my heartfelt thanks to the members of my thesis committee: Prof. __________, Prof. ___________, and Dr. ____________. Their insightful comments, encouragement, and challenging questions spurred me to broaden my research perspectives.

Special appreciation is due to Dr. _________, Dr. ______________, and Dr. __________ for providing me the opportunity to intern with their team and granting access to invaluable laboratory resources. Without their precious support, the successful conduct of this research would not have been possible.

I am indebted to my fellow labmates for their stimulating discussions, the collaborative efforts during sleepless nights leading up to deadlines, and the camaraderie that enriched the past four years. Gratitude extends to my friends at __________________________ for their companionship, with a special acknowledgment to Dr. Chen Fan for offering a first glimpse into the world of research.

Last but certainly not least, heartfelt thanks go to my family—my parents, brothers, and sister—for their unwavering spiritual support throughout the thesis writing process and in all aspects of my life.

Acknowledgement PhD Thesis (Short Sample)

I extend my deepest appreciation to my advisor, Prof. _______, for being a guiding light throughout my Ph.D. journey. His unwavering support, patience, and immense knowledge have been indispensable. My heartfelt thanks go to the members of my thesis committee—Prof. __________, Prof. ___________, and Dr. ____________—for their valuable insights and encouragement.

Special gratitude is reserved for Dr. _________, Dr. ______________, and Dr. __________ for their support during my internship and providing access to vital research facilities. I am grateful to my labmates for their camaraderie and shared dedication, and to my friends at __________________________ for their constant support.

Last but not least, my family—parents, brothers, and sister—deserve profound thanks for their unwavering encouragement and spiritual support throughout this academic pursuit.

Sample Acknowledgement for PhD Thesis File

In presenting this PhD thesis, I express my sincere gratitude to Prof. _______, my dedicated advisor, for his invaluable guidance. My appreciation extends to the members of my thesis committee—Prof. __________, Prof. ___________, and Dr. ____________—for their constructive comments and motivation.

Thanks to Dr. _________, Dr. ______________, and Dr. __________ for providing a rewarding internship experience and access to essential research resources. To my labmates and friends at __________________________, your collaboration and support have been cherished.

Lastly, heartfelt thanks to my family—parents, brothers, and sister—for their enduring encouragement and unwavering belief in my academic journey. This thesis file stands as a culmination of collective support and collaborative effort.

Sample Acknowledgement for PhD Thesis File

How to Write Acknowledgement for PhD Thesis?

Writing the acknowledgment section for your PhD thesis is an essential expression of gratitude towards those who played a significant role in your academic journey. Follow these guidelines to craft a meaningful and well-structured acknowledgment:

1. Identify Key Contributors:

Acknowledge your primary advisor and thesis committee members first.
Recognize mentors, colleagues, and institutions that provided support.

2. Be Specific and Personal:

Mention individuals by name and specify their contributions.
Share personal anecdotes or experiences to make the acknowledgment genuine.

3. Use Gracious Language:

Employ a positive and appreciative tone throughout the acknowledgment.
Express gratitude for the specific ways each individual or institution contributed.

4. Order of Mention:

Typically, advisors and committee members are acknowledged first, followed by other contributors.
Consider grouping individuals by their role or contribution.

5. Include Professional Courtesy:

Follow any specific guidelines or formalities suggested by your institution.
If acknowledging professionals or organizations, maintain a respectful and professional tone.

6. Avoid Overuse of Formal Language:

Keep the language clear, concise, and heartfelt.
Strike a balance between formality and a personal touch.

7. Consider Length and Relevance:

Keep the acknowledgment section concise, focusing on individuals or entities directly related to your thesis .
Ensure that all acknowledgments are relevant to the academic context.

8. Express Gratitude to Loved Ones:

Don’t forget to express heartfelt thanks to family and friends who provided emotional support.

“I extend my deepest appreciation to my primary advisor, Prof. _______, for their unwavering guidance. Special thanks to my committee members—Prof. __________ and Dr. __________—for their insightful comments. Gratitude to Dr. _________ and Dr. ______________ for their valuable contributions during my internship. I am also indebted to my labmates, friends at __________________________, and my family for their enduring support. Crafting this acknowledgment allows me to express my profound gratitude to each contributor, without whom this PhD thesis would not have been possible.”

Remember, the acknowledgment is a personal expression of gratitude, so tailor it to reflect your genuine appreciation for the support received during your PhD journey.

In wrapping up, these acknowledgments weave a story of collective support that fueled the success of your PhD thesis. Each thanked individual, from advisors to family, played a vital role in your academic journey. Beyond mere formalities, this acknowledgment is a tribute to shared dedication and encouragement. As you step into the next phase of your academic or professional pursuits, carry with you the echoes of gratitude and collaboration. Here’s to the collaborative spirit that turned challenges into triumphs and the connections that made your thesis journey remarkable.

6 Best Master Thesis Acknowledgement Samples

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What makes a good PhD supervisor? Top tips for managing the student-supervisor relationship.

Jan 8, 2020

When I started my PhD, the entire cohort of incoming students had an induction session in the university’s great hall. There were around 500 of us, from every department and every imaginable discipline.

The induction itself was tedious, but there was one comment in particular that stood out immediately and stuck with me throughout my entire PhD journey. When a professor was asked in a Q&A what advice he would give incoming PhD students, he said to remember that, after your mother, your supervisor will be the most important person in your life.

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Now I’m at the other end of the PhD and I’ve graduated, I’ve got some advice of my own to add to his. You see, the professor overlooked something really important, and that is that, by the time we were sitting in the induction, we had already chosen our supervisors (or had them assigned, as in my case).

Why should that matter? Primarily because whether or not your supervisor becomes the most important person in your life depends how good that supervisor actually is, how well they are executing their duties, and how well you are managing the student-supervisor relationship.

In this guide, I want to dig in a little more into what makes a good supervisor, before discussing what they should and shouldn’t be doing, why you need to please them (and how you can go about doing so), and how to make the

How to choose a PhD supervisor

The most important piece of advice for someone about to embark on a PhD and looking for a potential supervisor is to actually make an effort to talk to them about your research proposal.

Now, for many, your potential supervisor may be someone you already know, such as a lecturer, Master’s dissertation supervisor or tutor. Or, it may be someone from your department who you don’t know so well, but whose work fits your research interests.

In either case, chances are you’ve interacted with them in a teacher-student kind of relationship, where they lecture and you take notes. Well, when thinking about your PhD and their role as a potential supervisor, it’s time to put on a different hat and approach them as a peer. Email them or call them and schedule a phone call or face-to-face meeting to talk about your proposal and solicit their advice. Be explicit about wanting them to supervise you and tell them why. They won’t bite. In all likelihood, they’ll be flattered.

Now, the same applies even if it’s someone you don’t know or have never interacted with (perhaps if it’s someone from a different university or country). Approach them, explain what you intend to do and tell them exactly why you think they should supervise you.

As you ask these questions, you’ll get a pretty good idea of what to look for in a potential supervisor. For one, their research interests need to align with yours. The closer they align the better. But, more than that, you need to consider whether they have published in your field (and whether they’re continuing to do so).

Often, though, the more high-profile academics will already be supervising a number of students. Try, if you can, to get an idea of how many PhD students they are currently supervising. This will give you a good idea of whether they’ll have the time required to nurture your project over the years it will take you to complete it, or whether they’ll be stretched too thin. Also, look at how many students they have supervised in the past and how many of them completed successfully. This will give you a good insight into their experience and competence.

Remember back to that advice I got on my first day: the person you’re choosing to supervise your study will become the most important person in your life, so you need to consider the personal dimension too. Do you actually get on with them? You’ll be spending a lot of time together, and some of it will be when you’re at your most vulnerable (such as when you’re stressed, under incredible pressure or breaking down as the PhD blues get the better of you). Do you think this person is someone with whom you can have a good, friendly relationship? Can you talk openly to them? Will they be there for you when you need them and, more importantly, will you be able to ask them to be?

Once you’ve considered all this, don’t be afraid to approach them at a conference, swing by their office, drop them an email or phone them and run your project by them. The worst they can do is say no, and if they do they’ll likely give you great feedback and advice that you can take to another potential supervisor. But they may just turn around and say yes, and if you’ve done your homework properly, you’ll have a great foundation from which to start your PhD-journey. They’ll also likely work with you to craft your draft proposal into something that is more likely to be accepted.

Your PhD Thesis. On one page.

Use our free PhD Structure Template to quickly visualise every element of your thesis.

What is the role of a supervisor?

Think of your supervisor like a lawyer. They are there to advise you on the best course of action as you navigate your PhD journey, but ultimately, the decisions you make are yours and you’re accountable for the form and direction your PhD takes.

In other words: they advise, you decide.

I appreciate that is vague, though. What do they advise on?

Primarily, their job is:

8. To a certain extent, they often provide emotional and pastoral support

How many of these jobs they actually do will vary from supervisor to supervisor. You have to remember that academics, particularly those that are well known in their field, are often extremely busy and in many cases overworked and underpaid. They may simply not have the time to do all the things they are supposed to. Or, it may be the case that they simply don’t need to because you already have a good handle on things.

What does a supervisor not do?

Your supervisor is not there to design your research for you, or to plan, structure or write your thesis. Remember, they advise and you decide. It’s you that’s coming up with the ideas, the plans, the outlines and the chapters. It’s their job to feedback on them. Not the other way around.

Unlike at undergraduate or masters level, their job isn’t to teach you in the traditional sense, and you aren’t a student in the traditional sense either. The onus is on you to do the work and take the lead on your project. That means that if something isn’t clear, or you need help with, say, a chapter outline, it is up to you to solicit that advice from your supervisor or elsewhere. They won’t hold your hand and guide you unless you ask them to.

Having said that, their job isn’t to nanny you. At PhD level it is expected that you can work independently and can self-motivate. It is not your supervisor’s job to chase you for chapter drafts or to motivate you to work. If you don’t do the work when you’re supposed to then it’s your problem, not theirs.

It’s also not their job to proofread or edit your work. In fact, if you’re handing in drafts that contain substantial fluency or language issues (say, if you’re a non-native English speaker), it’s likely to annoy them, particularly if you’re doing so at the later stages of the PhD, because they’ll have to spend as much time focusing on how you’re writing as they do on what you’re writing.

More troubling would be if you explicitly ask them to correct or edit the language. They won’t do this and will take a dim view of being asked. Instead, hire a proofreader or ask a friend with good writing skills to take a read through and correct any obvious language errors (check the rules laid out by your university to see what a proofreader can and cannot do though. As with everything in your PhD, the onus is on you to do things properly).

What you need to do to please your supervisor

The lines between what your supervisor will and will not do for you are blurred, and come down in large part to how much they like you. That means you should pay attention to pleasing them, or at least not actively irritating them.

There are a few simple things you can do that will make their life easier and, with that, boost their opinion of you and their willingness to go beyond their prescribed role.

First, and by this stage you shouldn’t need to be told this, meet deadlines, submit work to them when you said you would, and turn up to your supervision meetings on time. If you meet the deadlines you’ve set, they’re more likely to return work quicker and spend more time reading it prior to doing so.

Wrapping up

Managed well, you too can ensure that your supervisor is the most important person in your life. And you want them to be. Those who succeed in their PhDs and in their early academic careers are those who had effective supervision and approached their supervisor as a mentor.

Things don’t always go according to plan, though, and sometimes even with the best will in the world, supervisors under-perform, create problems or, in more extreme cases, sabotage PhD projects. This can be for a variety of reasons, but it leaves students in a difficult position; in the student-supervisor relationship, the student is relatively powerless, particularly if the supervisor is well known and highly esteemed. If this is the case, when things don’t go well, raising concerns with relevant channels may prove ineffective, and may even create more problems. In these extreme cases, you’ll have to draw on levels of diplomacy and patience you may never have known you had.

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10 Ways to Impress a PhD Supervisor

By Eduardo D. S.
August 1, 2020

So you want to find out how to impress a PhD supervisor? Maybe you’re about to contact them about a potential project, perhaps you already have a meeting scheduled with them, or maybe you’re already one of their PhD students but you want to leave a lasting impression. Whatever your reasons, learning the correct way to impress a PhD supervisor can do wonders for building a great relationship and increasing your chances of success not only in your project but also in opening doors for your future career development.

Based on my own experiences, I’m going to share 10 of the best ways to impress a supervisor – 5 for before they agree to take you on, and 5 for when you become one of their PhD students.

5 Ways to Impress a PhD Supervisor Before They Agree to Supervise You

1. communicate clearly.

PhD supervisors are busy people, they receive countless emails every day from panicked students, colleagues chasing up peer-reviews, and potential PhD candidates like yourself. When you first contact a potential supervisor, stick to sending them a brief email. Note the brief there. Specify who you are, your educational background, that you are interested in their project, why you are interested in their project, and include a copy of your resume.

You can find a good breakdown of how to structure your first email here – How to Email a Potential PhD Supervisor . Whichever approach you take, the key is to keep it concise.

2. Be Knowledgeable About Your Field

All supervisors want a research student who’s knowledgeable and well-read in their field, as they tend to produce higher-quality work and encounter fewer problems. Although no one expects you to be an expert, make sure you have at least read three of the most popular journal publications in your chosen research area.

3. Research Them

Looking up the supervisor will give you an insight into their research interests, what topics they’re currently researching, and whether they’ve made any notable contributions, be it a publication, a book or a talk at a leading conference. Your goal isn’t to flatter them, but to be able to clearly explain how your project applies to them and why you would like them to be your supervisor. For example, you might pick up on the fact that the supervisor has recently published several papers or attended a number of conferences on a particular subject. Proposing a project closely linked to this area is likely to attract their attention more than a project in a subject which they haven’t published on for several years.

4. Have a Long-Term Plan

Know what you want to research, why you want to research it, and what you want to do after having completed your research.

A PhD is an enormous commitment – it can take up to 8 years, be financially challenging and mentally exhausting. A supervisor will want to reassure themselves that you genuinely believe a PhD is for you, as having a student struggle the entire way through, or worse, drop out altogether, isn’t good for any involved. Spend some time reading up on the common challenges you can expect as a PhD student and determining what your career goals are. Being able to demonstrate an awareness for both of these will help convince the supervisor that your consideration for doing a PhD is a rational one.

Project Plan for creating a good PhD supervisor relationship

5. Have a Project Plan

If you have the opportunity to discuss a project in more detail with a supervisor, keep in mind that not all first interactions will be simple introductory meetings.

Some supervisors like to jump straight in and discuss your proposed project, your methodology, how you plan to collect data, what kinds of challenges you think you may encounter, etc. Answering these questions in detail will show you’re serious about the project. You don’t necessarily need to have all the right answers here but it’s more about showing that you’ve thought about these aspects and do so from a logical standpoint. In contrast, not having well-thought-out answers will give a poor impression of your level of commitment and/or ability.

If you’ve been asked to submit a research proposal as part of your application, you can almost guarantee a large part of your meeting is going to focus on the technical aspects of the project.

5 Ways to Impress a PhD Supervisor After They Agree to Supervise You

It’s natural to want to impress your supervisor, but remember, if they’ve already agreed to supervise you, they’re already impressed with your academic background and research potential. In truth, most supervisors are never more impressed with their students than on the day they receive their doctorate, with all the years of independent research, publications, and hard word work paying off.

If you still want to take a few extra steps to impress your supervisor, here are 5 things you can do during your PhD studies that will get noticed:

6. Be Proactive

Plan your work, commit to your agreed schedule, and fulfil all your obligations. Nothing makes a supervisor happier than an active student taking full responsibility for his or her project. Being proactive assures your supervisor that your project will advance in the right direction, and when you do need support, it’s for genuine issues that warrant their time.

Being a talented researcher isn’t only about being able to conduct research, but also about being able to do so independently. Showing them that you’re capable of this won’t only keep them looking forward to their next meeting, but it will also give them a high level of confidence in your long-term potential.

7. Document, document, document

It happens occasionally – you get a little complacent, or you’re unusually tired that day – and you don’t label your samples or record your results with a high level of care. No matter the excuse, that’s poor practice and will make it harder for yourself when writing up your thesis, or for your supervisor when trying to discuss your results with them.

One of the simplest ways to impress your supervisor (or any fellow researcher for that matter) is to document everything clearly and systematically. This can range from creating a detailed spreadsheet to keeping a frequently updated LATEX file .

Regardless of how you document your work, stick to a single system and make it so detailed that anyone can pick up and continue your research without having to ask for clarification.

How do you impress a potential PhD supervisor

8. Network and Promote Your Research

For creating opportunities in the world of research, nothing is more influential than your reputation. Networking with other researchers within and outside of your university and promoting your work through conferences, events and journal publications improves not only your reputation but also that of your supervisors as a likely co-author. This will help them increase the reach of their work, secure new research grants and be considered for future collaborations.

However, it should be stressed that you mustn’t overstep your bounds – especially when it comes to unfinished work or areas of new potential research. Sharing something your supervisor hasn’t yet wanted to make public is the quickest way to go from impressing to annoying them.

9. Help Them

Supervisors are busy individuals, with a schedule full of lectures, lab sessions, department meetings, plus their own research.

You can earn the gratitude of your supervisor by helping them with some of their tasks, such as offering to host a tutorial on their behalf or setting up the lab for their next demonstration. You can also extend your help to new PhD students who join your research group by acting as a mentor and guiding them through the early challenges of doctoral studies, such as explaining how to order equipment or who to talk to for certain lab requirements.

Supervisors appreciate this type of action as it creates a friendly and collaborative environment for the research group for which they are ultimately responsible for.

10. Clean up After Yourself

You shouldn’t need to be told about this, but it’s surprising how many research students fail to clean up after themselves after having completed laboratory work. This not only goes against laboratory policy , but it gives a poor impression of your research group, which is especially important when you consider the fact you are likely sharing the facilities with staff members who are colleagues of your supervisor.

Cleaning up after yourself shows you respect your colleagues and your workplace and suggests that you have a high personal standard which is always commendable in the eyes of a supervisor. Besides, it’s not that difficult to discard your samples, wipe down your surfaces and record all perishable items that need to be refilled at the end of each day.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

So there you have it, 10 ways to build a good working relationship with your supervisor.

In the same way that a supervisor takes you on as a student, you’re also taking them on as a supervisor, so the relationship must work both ways for it to be successful. I strongly encourage you, in your first meetings with a potential supervisor, to get a sense of whether your personalities are complementary or whether you think there’s a clash. Try to find out what kind of character your supervisor has before joining their research group (e.g. whether they’re a hands-on supervisor or whether they’re a laid back one); if you do this right, most of my tips will fall into place naturally without you having to try.

Learn more about using cloud storage effectively, video conferencing calling, good note-taking solutions and online calendar and task management options.

The term research instrument refers to any tool that you may use to collect, measure and analyse research data.

Thinking about applying to a PhD? Then don’t miss out on these 4 tips on how to best prepare your application.

Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.

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Multistage sampling is a more complex form of cluster sampling for obtaining sample populations. Learn their pros and cons and how to undertake them.

The title page of your dissertation or thesis conveys all the essential details about your project. This guide helps you format it in the correct way.

Ellen is in the third year of her PhD at the University of Oxford. Her project looks at eighteenth-century reading manuals, using them to find out how eighteenth-century people theorised reading aloud.

Dr Dillon gained her PhD in Molecular Cancer Studies at the University of Manchester in 2015. She now works at a biotech company called HairClone, optimising treatments for androgenic alopecia.

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how to thank a shitty supervisor that made your life miserable in your thesis?

My secondary supervisor with whom interact the most has made my PhD experience a living hell, he's probably the worst human I had the displeasure of knowing.

if you had a similar experience, I'm wondering how did you thank him in your thesis book? And possibly in your dissertation, otherwise, how are you planning to do it? And have you seen another PhD student do it well?

A friend of mine had a great time in his PhD with amazing supervisors that gave him great props during his defense, in return he didn't say anything back to them to thank them and just said ok let's all go party, this has inspired me a lot, because if he can get away with that even having good supervisors, how am I supposed to give my godawdful supervisor any nice words?

Guest Posts

60+ Thank You Messages for Boss to Appreciate Them

60+ best thank you messages for boss to show appreciation for their support and leadership. Express gratitude to your boss with heartfelt thank you messages.

General Thank You Messages For Boss
Thank You Messages To Boss For Promotion
Short and Sweet Thank You Messages For Boss
Heartfelt Thank You Messages For Boss
Appreciation Messages For Boss
It’s Important To Say Thank You

Thank you messages to the boss are a way of showing gratitude and appreciation for all the support and guidance they have given you.

The best way to show someone you appreciate them is by sending them a well-worded and heartfelt. But, sometimes, it can be tricky to know exactly what to say in a thank-you message to your boss. You want to sound professional while still conveying how grateful you are.

Whether you’ve just been promoted, thanked your boss for a birthday celebration & gift or a generous bonus, or you want to thank them for being a great boss, it’s important to send a thank you message to the boss.

It shows them that you’re grateful for their leadership or the opportunities they provide. I mean, it’s always nice to feel appreciated, right? Showing gratitude has also proven to be good for one’s health!

So, with that being said, please look through our list of thank-you messages that you can send to your boss. Pick the most relevant ones, and off you go!

Saying thank you does not take much, and these 30 examples of "thank you messages for the boss" will make your job even easier.

Why It’s important to say thank you

Saying thank you is more than just a polite gesture; it's a driving force that fosters positive relationships and a healthy work environment. When you express your gratitude, it not only positively impacts those around you but also reflects your valuable skill in appreciating the efforts of others.

Whether it's a heartfelt thank you to an incredible mentor or showing gratitude to an amazing boss for their continuous support, taking the time out of your busy day to write a thank you note can make a significant difference. A handwritten note can be a powerful way to convey your appreciation for the guidance and support you've received, whether it's helped you navigate your career or reach your goals.

Gratitude is a hallmark of a great leader. By regularly expressing thanks to your team for their work and dedication, you create a supportive and motivating atmosphere. This act of appreciation can lead to a more engaged and productive team, potentially resulting in a promotion, raise, or bonus for exceptional performance.

Incorporating gratitude into your daily routine can transform your work life. It helps build a culture of appreciation, where everyone feels valued and recognized for their contributions. So, take a moment to express your gratitude—whether through a quick thank you message or a thoughtfully written note—and witness the positive changes it brings to your work environment .

General thank you messages for boss

Here are some general thank you messages to help you convey your appreciation to your boss for their continuous support, guidance, and encouragement.

1. This is a note to thank you for being the best boss. We appreciate you taking the time and effort to mentor us and ensure that we’re all doing our best for the team.

2. I just wanted to thank you for being an amazing boss. I have truly enjoyed working for you over the past few years and hope for many more still to come.

3. Thank you for helping me with ( a specific task ) today. It really meant a lot that you would take time out of your busy day to help me get it right. Your insights were very helpful.

4. To work for someone with leadership skills like yours is an incredible experience. You have taught me so much over the years, and I want to thank you for that.

5. As a team, we thought we’d send you this note of appreciation to thank you for being so understanding and supportive during this project.

Thank you messages for specific occasions

In any work environment, showing gratitude is a valuable skill that positively impacts both personal and professional relationships. Whether you're thanking an amazing boss for their continuous support or acknowledging the guidance and encouragement from a mentor, expressing your gratitude can strengthen bonds and enhance your overall work experience.

Here are some thank you messages tailored for specific occasions to help you express your appreciation effectively.

Thank you messages to boss for promotion

Here are 9 thank you messages to boss for promotion:

1. I want to send my thanks again for the promotion. It means a great deal to me, and I will continue to make every effort at work!

2. I am so thankful for the promotion and that you have faith in me. I am grateful to have you as a boss. You appreciate and value your employees, and it does not go unnoticed. I am looking forward to doing more exceptional work together.

3. I wanted to take the time to thank you! This promotion means so much to me, and I am so grateful. What you have taught me is boundless, and I look forward to learning more as I take on this new role.

4. I am absolutely elated by this promotion. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to keep doing exceptional work with you and this company. Thank you for considering me.

5. Thank you for believing in my abilities to take on this role. You have been an incredible example to me, and I wish to take everything I have learned from you into this role and excel. Thank you again!

6. I am so grateful that you believe in me and my abilities! I am thrilled to have this opportunity, and I can’t wait to do more great work with you. Thank you so much.

7. I have learned so much since I started working under you. Thank you for giving me the chance to grow and develop my skills for this new role. I cannot wait to continue learning and put my knowledge to use.

8. You have provided me with so much help and guidance over the years, and for that, I will be forever grateful. Here is to a bright future! Many thanks again.

9. I am so grateful that you would consider me for this promotion. Thank you for being my mentor and advocate. You helped me learn everything I needed to excel in this new role.

8 Thank you messages to boss for Guidance and Mentorship

A great leader provides continuous support and encouragement, helping you reach your goals and grow in your career.

Here are eight thank you messages to help you write a thank you note that truly conveys your appreciation for their mentorship and guidance.

1. Thank you for your continuous support and guidance. Your mentorship has been invaluable, and I’ve learned so much from you over the years.

2. I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to work under your leadership. Your guidance and encouragement have been crucial in helping me reach my goals.

3. You are an amazing boss, and I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy day to mentor me. Your insights have been incredibly helpful.

4.Your leadership and dedication to our team make you a great leader. Thank you for your guidance and support, which have positively impacted my career.

5. I wanted to write a thank you note to express my appreciation for your mentorship. Your continuous support has made a significant difference in my professional growth.

6. Your advice and encouragement have been instrumental in my success. Thank you for being such a valuable mentor and an amazing boss.

7. Thank you for your guidance and support. Your mentorship has helped me develop valuable skills and navigate challenges with confidence.

8. I am grateful for the work and dedication you put into mentoring me. Your support has been a driving force in my career progression, and I look forward to continuing to learn from you.

6 Thank you messages to boss for Project Assistance

Here are six thank you messages to help you write a thank you note to your boss for their project assistance.

1. Thank you for your invaluable guidance and support during the project. Your insights and expertise have been crucial to our success.

2. I want to express my gratitude for taking the time out of your busy day to help me with the project. Your continuous support means a lot to me.

3. Your assistance and encouragement have positively impacted the project and my professional growth. Thank you for being an amazing boss.

4. I truly appreciate your hands-on approach and the opportunity to work closely with you on this project. Your leadership has been inspiring and educational.

5. Your dedication and support have been instrumental in overcoming the challenges we faced during the project. Thank you for being a great leader and mentor.

6. I’ve learned so much from you while working on this project. Your guidance has helped me develop valuable skills that I will carry forward in my career.

10 Personalized Thank You Messages

Expressing gratitude in a personalized way not only acknowledges the continuous support and guidance you've received but also strengthens your professional relationships.

Here are ten personalized thank you messages to help you write a thank you note that truly conveys your appreciation.

1. I want to express my gratitude for your guidance and support. Your insights and encouragement have been invaluable in helping me reach my goals. Thank you for being an amazing boss.

2. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to assist me with the recent project. Your continuous support and dedication have made all the difference.

3. Your leadership has been instrumental in my professional growth. I’ve learned so much from you, and I appreciate the opportunity to work under such a great leader.

4. I wanted to write a handwritten note to thank you for your unwavering support. Your encouragement and guidance have been a driving force in my career development.

5. Thank you for recognizing my hard work and dedication with a promotion. Your belief in my abilities means a lot to me, and I look forward to contributing even more to our team.

6. Your advice and mentorship have been incredibly helpful. I appreciate you taking the time to help me navigate my career path and develop valuable skills.

7. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work on such an exciting project. Your support and leadership have made the experience both rewarding and educational.

8. Thank you for always being there to provide guidance and encouragement. Your support has helped me grow both personally and professionally.

9. I wanted to express my gratitude for your continuous support and the opportunities you’ve given me. Your leadership has been a major influence on my success.

10. Your dedication to our team and your encouragement have been truly inspiring. Thank you for being an amazing boss and for always supporting my professional growth.

8 Funny thank you messages to boss

Expressing gratitude, even with a touch of humor, can lighten the atmosphere and show appreciation in a unique way.

Here are eight funny thank you messages to thank your boss:

1. Thanks for being an amazing boss! I’d write a handwritten note, but my handwriting looks like a toddler's scribbles. Your guidance and support, however, are crystal clear!

2. I just wanted to express my gratitude for your continuous support. If I get a promotion, raise, or bonus, I promise to share my secret stash of office snacks with you!

3. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to help me with the project. You must have superpowers to juggle so much and still make it look easy!

4. I’ve learned so much from you that I’m considering opening a school to teach others how to be as awesome as you. Thanks for being a great leader and mentor!

5. Your encouragement has been so motivating that I might actually start liking Mondays. Thanks for the guidance and support, and for making work fun!

6. Thank you for being an amazing boss and providing the opportunity to work on such exciting projects. You make even the toughest tasks seem like a walk in the park—or at least a brisk jog!

7. I wanted to express my gratitude for your leadership and dedication. Without your guidance, I’d be like a ship without a captain—or worse, a coffee machine without coffee!

8. Thanks for the continuous support and for believing in me. If there were an award for the best boss, you’d win it hands down—plus a lifetime supply of my homemade cookies!

Short and sweet thank you messages for boss

Short and sweet thank you messages can effectively convey your appreciation for their support, guidance, and leadership. Here are some concise thank you messages to help you acknowledge your boss's contributions.

1. Thank you for all the great leadership and support! You are a great boss, and this thank you note is well-deserved.

2. I just wanted to take the time to thank you for being an amazing boss. You make the workdays extremely enjoyable, and you value each of us. We are grateful.

3. Thank you for always motivating and inspiring me! I appreciate you helping me learn from my mistakes and encouraging me always to do better.

4. Thank you for always keeping the team in high spirits and making tough decisions. You are an inspiration, and we couldn’t ask for a better boss.

5. This is to say thank you for your endless support. I am so appreciative of the confidence and faith you have in me.

6. I am grateful for all the leadership you have shown at work. You inspire me, and I have learned so much from you. Thank you!

7. Thank you for always noticing and acknowledging our contributions while teaching us how to improve. A boss like you drives us to be the best we can be. Thank you - from the team.

Heartfelt thank you messages for boss

Taking the time to express heartfelt gratitude to your boss can deepen your professional relationship and show appreciation for their continuous support and guidance.

Acknowledging their role as a great leader and mentor can make a significant impact.

Here are some heartfelt thank you messages to help you write a thank you note that truly conveys your appreciation.

1. You are not only a renowned person in the industry, but you are also an exceptional boss. I hope that I can only be even half of the successful person you are one day. I feel privileged to work under your support and advice. Thank you!

2. To someone three in one: an amazing boss, mentor, and manager. Since I started working here, your counsel and direction have been invaluable to me. Thank you for all the opportunities and learning experiences you have given me. I truly appreciate having a boss like you.

3. It has been an incredible experience to work under someone so multi-talented and resourceful. You have shown me so much support over the years, and I am grateful. I learn from you every day, and working in your team has been an amazing honor. I owe all my successes in the workplace to you. Thank you!

4. This is a message to express my gratitude to you. Everything I have achieved could not have been done without you as my team leader and mentor. Thank you for taking the time and effort to show me how great leader treats their team. Thank you for being such a fantastic boss.

5. Your encouraging words, guidance, and advice were the only things that kept us going while we were rushing to meet our deadline. We just wanted to show you our appreciation and tell you that we are delighted and relieved that we have such a great boss to work under. Thank you for everything - we are lucky to have a boss like you!

Appreciation messages for boss

Appreciation messages to your boss can go a long way in acknowledging their efforts and support. Whether it's their leadership, mentorship, or encouragement, expressing your gratitude can strengthen your professional relationship and highlight their role in your success.

Here are some appreciation messages to help you write a thank you note that conveys your heartfelt thanks.

1. This is just a message of appreciation for being such a great boss. You always take the time out of your day to help us reach our goals and become better workers and people. Without you, we would not have been where we are today. Not only are you a great boss, but you are an incredible mentor too. Thank you!

2. To be able to work under a boss like you has been the greatest honor. You elevate the workspace and the whole work experience. Your kindness, motivation, and support are just a few characteristics that make you the phenomenal leader and mentor that you are today. We are extremely grateful for everything!

3. We just wanted to express our gratitude to someone patient, kind, and understanding. You help us with all of our tasks without even batting an eye, and for that, we are so grateful. It means a lot to us that you always have our backs and will take the time to teach us and help us learn from our mistakes.

4. As a new team member, I worried that I might struggle to fit in or adjust to the work. But, with your help, I didn’t have to worry about anything. Thank you for making me feel included in the workplace and for taking the time to check that I was up to speed. I really appreciate it.

5. I just wanted to send you a note of appreciation to thank you for helping me reach my goals today. I could not have done it without your support and advice. I am grateful that you took the time out of your day to help me. You’re a one-of-a-kind boss!

Delivering the thank you message

Here are few ways to deliver appreciation:

1. Email: Sending a thank you message via email is a professional and thoughtful way to show your appreciation. This method allows you to articulate your gratitude in a detailed and personal manner.

2. Face-to-Face: Delivering your thank you message in person can have a powerful impact. It shows sincerity and allows for a more personal connection.

3. Publicly with Empuls: Using Empuls to publicly appreciate your boss can enhance employee engagement and recognition within the team. Public recognition can be motivating and reinforces a culture of gratitude.

Leveraging Empuls for the Appreciation

Empuls provides a robust platform for hosting engaging events like the Thank You Message Challenge. This challenge encourages employees to showcase their gratitude through heartfelt messages. Here's how you can leverage Empuls effectively:

1. Announce the challenge on Empuls

Begin by creating an eye-catching post or banner on the Empuls platform, outlining the details of the Thank You Message Challenge. Utilize the announcement feature to ensure every employee receives a notification about the upcoming event.

2. Set up dedicated groups

Establish a designated group or channel within Empuls specifically for the Thank You Message Challenge. This centralized space enables participants to share their messages, interact with others, and keep track of daily themes and activities.

3. Gratitude reminders

Leverage Empuls' notification or reminder feature to prompt employees about the thank you message challenge. This gives them ample time to prepare their heartfelt messages.

4. Encourage engagement with gamification

Empuls offers a points and rewards system for active participation. Allocate points for posting messages, engaging with others' posts (such as liking or commenting), and sharing. This gamified approach will motivate more employees to get involved.

5. Leaderboard integration

Display the leaderboard on Empuls showcasing the most engaged participants or the most creatively written thank you messages. This friendly competition can spur even greater involvement.

6. Polls and voting

To involve all employees, create polls where everyone can vote for their favorite thank you messages or categories like 'Most Inspiring Message'.

7. Appreciate with rewards

Empuls seamlessly integrates a rewards system. At the end of the challenge, recognize the winners by gifting them Xoxoday points, which they can redeem for a variety of experiences, gifts, or vouchers available on the platform.

8. Feedback loop

After the challenge concludes, use Empuls to gather feedback on the activity. Create a quick survey or poll to understand what employees enjoyed, what could be improved, and gather ideas for future challenges.

9. Showcase the highlights

Curate a post or a digital album within Empuls that captures the highlights of the Thank You Message Challenge. This digital keepsake will serve as a reminder of the shared celebrations and camaraderie.

It’s important to say thank you.

Showing gratitude is essential to communication and an important building block to a healthy relationship . Even if it is a professional relationship, workspaces could do with a little more kindness and appreciation.

So, if you’re looking for ways to thank your boss for something (no matter what it is), feel free to use any of these ideas. Just as you would feel good about receiving some recognition in the workplace, we’re sure that your boss will appreciate some kind words too!

Build a culture of appreciation that says "thank you" to your boss via Empuls . Find out about our extensive team member engagement programs and rewards and recognition platform. Want to know more? Book a demo or start a free trial .

Unlock the Biggest Secret of Engagement to Retain your Top Performers.

-->Adie Marais --> LinkedIn

Adie has been creating content since 2017 with Contentellect. She loves to write and explore new and exciting concepts within different realms and industries.

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The best way to thank my research supervisor?

A few weeks ago, I finished my undergraduate research project. I had 2 supervisors for the project: One supervisor signed off on everything I did and gave me the opportunity to work on the project. He was my official supervisor. The second supervisor oversaw all of my work, assigned tasks, and graded my work. I would like to thank both of them since this was an incredible opportunity, especially when applying to graduate school. I also plan to keep in contact and use them both as references in the future. How should I go about thanking them and what should I say?

graduate-admissions
research-process
graduate-school
application

2 Your supervisors may show these thank-you notes to hiring or promotion committees. Ask yourself what you would want those committees to know. – Anonymous Physicist Commented Apr 28, 2017 at 5:38

2 Answers 2

You have the options already mentioned: sending an email or visiting them in person to say thank you.

However (like me), you might be a little unsure of what to say when speaking face to face. In this case, a handwritten note or card would be a nice touch, as it's more personal and permanent than an email.

You might want to ask for a reference at a later date, nearer to when you submit your applications. As Prof. Santa Claus says, if the project went as well as you describe, I see no reason why they would refuse.

1 while no student has ever written to me a few years after their initial gracious thank yous before going off to jobs and grad school - it would feel pretty amazing to get an additional followup note on the order of year or two or more later if there happened to be any lasting 'advice' or training that they felt was still useful later! – Carol Commented Apr 30, 2017 at 15:43

A heartfelt email would suffice or simply thank them in person. Everyone likes to know they have done a good job. You only need to validate that.

I wouldn't go in with the objective of securing a reference letter. Otherwise, you would sound insincere. If you have done good work and had the right attitude whilst working with them, they would be more than willing to write one.

Thank you for the reply. Would May 1st be too late to email them with a thank you (one month after the project finished)? I am unable to use my email over the next several days due to the server being closed. – aspire94 Commented Apr 27, 2017 at 20:55
5 @aspire94 It's never too late to say thank you. – astronat supports the strike Commented Apr 27, 2017 at 21:23

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COMMENTS

Guide: How to Say Thank You to Your PhD Supervisor
Here are some tips for writing a formal thank you: Be sincere: Start by expressing your genuine appreciation for their help and insights during your doctoral journey. Highlight specific contributions: Mention the specific ways your supervisor aided your research, whether it was through funding, advice, or reviewing your work.
5 inspiring PhD thesis acknowledgement examples
PhD thesis acknowledgement example 2. It takes a village to raise a child" is a well-known proverb, and I strongly believe that completing a PhD also requires the support of a village. Therefore, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the people who played significant roles in my PhD journey. First and foremost, I would like to thank ...
Thesis & Dissertation Acknowledgements
Regardless, it's usually a good idea to place professional acknowledgements first, followed by any personal ones. You can then proceed by ranking who you'd like to thank from most formal to least. Example: Thanking order. Chairs, supervisors, or defense committees. Funding bodies.
A thankful note to all PhD Supervisors… especially to one PhD SUPERvisor!
Dear PhD SUPERvisor, thank you from the bottom of my heart for… everything! I was 26 years old when defended my PhD thesis. While people normally celebrate birthdays, first kiss, job ...
phd
2. Do not overthink this (and do not write a very long text). Just write. Dear Prof. NAME, Thank you very much for considering me as a PhD student. Best, NAME. Share. Improve this answer. edited Dec 19, 2017 at 16:14.
Acknowledgements for PhD Thesis and Dissertations
Example 2. I would like to thank my supervisors Dr. XXX and Dr. XXX for all their help and advice with this PhD. I would also like to thank my sisters, whom without this would have not been possible. I also appreciate all the support I received from the rest of my family. Lastly, I would like to thank the XXX for the studentship that allowed me ...
How do I thank a professor for choosing me as his PhD student (via email)?
"yes, i think it was her sole decision." Don't just base on your guess. It's very strange that it's all done by one person and your application was not even complete. You can still write and thank for the good news, and ask when you should expect the formal notice from the university admission office (all questions on scholarship/aids should go to them anyway).
Thanking PhD supervisors on PostgraduateForum.com
Hi everyone, I have been awarded my PhD and wanted some advice on how to thank my supervisors. Generally, I would have given them a handwritten thank you card and a small gift to accompany it. However, my department is still working from home and I do not think I will be able to see my supervisors in person until September at the earliest.
How do I email my supervisor? Part two
Thanks for all his guidance and caring for the past several months. (But it sounds like a concluding remark, which might not be proper at this time.) Have a safe journey. (A must-say in my hometown. But I was told it was considered odd, or even rude by some Americans. The main reason for this email.)
phd
1. I want to thank him for the email. Just write "Thank you for your email." - silvado. Nov 20, 2014 at 10:42. 2. This is getting dangerously close to treating this website as a "help me write an email" consulting service. :)
My PhD defence
Published Sep 19, 2020. + Follow. I am delighted to share that I successfully defended my PhD (The University of Auckland, New Zealand) a week ago. It marks the culmination of an incredible ...
Thesis acknowledgements: Samples and how to write your own thesis or
An immense thank you to my PhD supervisors: Jonathan Jeffers, Ulrich Hansen and Julian Jones. Support and guidance throughout the project from you all has been invaluable. JJ in particular you've been a fantastic primary supervisor. Thank you to all the academics who helped me get to this stage. The late Dr Kajal Mallick and his Biomedical ...
Interview Follow-Up For PhDs: Exactly What To Say And When
The second question you need to make sure you're asking employers at the end of every interview is to find out when you'll hear back. Most employers will say something along the lines of two weeks. You'll want to follow up with: "Thank you, I appreciate that. I'm trying to stay really organized in my job search.
A Letter to My PhD Supervisor
When you're a PhD student it's often easy to feel lonely as the reality of independent study sets in. It's important that your supervisor is as available as possible to you - and I was lucky to find someone who was always ready to listen to any of my concerns. Throughout my studies Simon was proactive about putting networking ...
Sample emails to your dissertation supervisor
Making an appointment. Dear Dr. Janssen, The college has informed me that you will be my supervisor. I would therefore like to make an initial appointment to discuss my dissertation idea with you. I look forward to hearing from you as to when you would be available to meet with me. Sincerely,
How should I write thank you letters to members on my thesis comittee
Instead of a letter, thank them in the 'Acknowledgements' section of your thesis. You can thank your supervisors for guiding you in the course of writing the thesis. You can thank your examiners for giving helpful feedback that led to improvements in your work (you can do this even if the examiners are anonymous -- it is not unusual for ...
Acknowledgement for PhD Thesis (5 Samples and Guide)
PhD Dissertation Acknowledgement (Long Sample) I extend my sincere gratitude to my esteemed advisor, Prof. _______, whose unwavering support, patience, motivation, and profound knowledge have been instrumental throughout my Ph.D. study and related research. His guidance has been a beacon, shaping my research endeavors and enriching the writing ...
What makes a good PhD supervisor? Top tips for managing the student
Thank you so much for the valuable advice. I really appreciate your motivation and guidance regarding the PhD journey. Iam a second year PhD student with the University of South Africa and l think your words of wisdom will help me to maintain a friendly relationship with my supervisor until graduation. I thank you
10 Ways to Impress a PhD Supervisor
1. Communicate Clearly. PhD supervisors are busy people, they receive countless emails every day from panicked students, colleagues chasing up peer-reviews, and potential PhD candidates like yourself. When you first contact a potential supervisor, stick to sending them a brief email. Note the brief there.
research process
Especially in the case where the supervisor invested significant physical resources and/or their time and you still failed to accomplish the goal (in this case research result). I am looking for a formal and appropriate way to convey my gratitude to the professor for taking the risk.
r/PhD on Reddit: how to thank a shitty supervisor that made your life
Im just a master student almost finishing, to get into the PhD. My supervisor really sucks. In more than a year I never met him, and all I have done, has been because of my secondary supervisor. ... I just kept it typical and wrote "I thank my Professor XYZ for the subject assignment and the trust that he showed me all these years." For other ...
Is it correct protocol to thank your committee members in a PhD
My question is: I would like to thank the committee members of my PhD dissertation explicitly thanking them for their time and effort and writing down their names Prof. Name1, Prof. Name2, etc... This is of course before the formal defence after they found the dissertation worthy of being defended.
60+ Thank You Messages for Boss to Appreciate Them
1. I want to express my gratitude for your guidance and support. Your insights and encouragement have been invaluable in helping me reach my goals. Thank you for being an amazing boss. 2. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to assist me with the recent project. Your continuous support and dedication have made all the difference. 3.
graduate admissions
10. You have the options already mentioned: sending an email or visiting them in person to say thank you. However (like me), you might be a little unsure of what to say when speaking face to face. In this case, a handwritten note or card would be a nice touch, as it's more personal and permanent than an email.