As a PhD student, my supervisor never answered my emails.
Then I became a PhD supervisor and realised why
A thread🧵 of my mistakes and how to avoid them
#phdchat #AcademicTwitter
Then I became a PhD supervisor and realised why
A thread🧵 of my mistakes and how to avoid them
#phdchat #AcademicTwitter
🔹️Not being specific
Many of my emails didn't clearly state what I wanted my supervisor to do or the timeline. So he assumed the email was an FYI.
Now I use actionable email subjects
❌️"Re: Revised grant"
✅️ "Re: Revised grant: approve by COB"
Many of my emails didn't clearly state what I wanted my supervisor to do or the timeline. So he assumed the email was an FYI.
Now I use actionable email subjects
❌️"Re: Revised grant"
✅️ "Re: Revised grant: approve by COB"
🔹️No context
My emails assumed my supervisor remembered all my project details. He didn't, leading to mamy back & forths
Now I give enough context to remind of the last interaction
❌️Revised grant attached
✅️ Revised grant attached with your feedback from the meeting
My emails assumed my supervisor remembered all my project details. He didn't, leading to mamy back & forths
Now I give enough context to remind of the last interaction
❌️Revised grant attached
✅️ Revised grant attached with your feedback from the meeting
🔹️TMI
I often wrote long emails and so my supervisor either wasted time reading unnecessary details or skimmed and missed the point.
Now I edit emails ruthlessly.
The shorter, the better
❌️"Sorry for the long email"
✅️<edited to be a short email>
I often wrote long emails and so my supervisor either wasted time reading unnecessary details or skimmed and missed the point.
Now I edit emails ruthlessly.
The shorter, the better
❌️"Sorry for the long email"
✅️<edited to be a short email>
🔹️Not following up
I didn't realise my supervisor recieved 50+ emails a day and therefore emails could be unopened or unanswered for days
Now I send reminders to ensure emails return to the top of the inbox
❌️<no action>
✅️Re: Revised grant (gentle reminder from Mon)
I didn't realise my supervisor recieved 50+ emails a day and therefore emails could be unopened or unanswered for days
Now I send reminders to ensure emails return to the top of the inbox
❌️<no action>
✅️Re: Revised grant (gentle reminder from Mon)
TL/DR
Email mistakes of PhD students
1. Not specifying what you need
2. Not providing adequate context
3. Not being concise
4. Not following up
Email mistakes of PhD students
1. Not specifying what you need
2. Not providing adequate context
3. Not being concise
4. Not following up
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And follow me @LNivisonSmith if you are interested in
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And follow me @LNivisonSmith if you are interested in
- macular degeneration research
- #WomeninSTEM
- #scicomm
- general musings from a mother trying to survive a career in #academia
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