Finding a thesis supervisor can seem like a daunting task, especially when you do not yet know what you want to write on. It is common to have more than one thesis supervisor. I would recommend this, as different people have different backgrounds, and your thesis topic will likely overlap various areas. For example, if you are writing a thesis on Marine Protected Areas, one supervisor might be a statistician, while the other may be a marine ecologist. These different perspectives can round out your paper so that you have explored the main topic from different angles.
It may be useful to write your thesis with a company. This gets you familiar with people in your industry and the “real-world” jobs that exist in your field. Creating a network is really useful and will come in handy when you are transitioning from student to early-career. It also happens that students who write their thesis with a company and get to know the company, topic, and employees well, get hired by the company after they graduate. While this does not always happen, it might be an interesting incentive to write the thesis on a topic you find really interesting and could imagine yourself continuing to pursue.
Some Tips for Finding a Supervisor
- Explore University and Company Research Pages
Universities and companies often have pages on their websites that talk about the research they do, and provide information about senior scientists, professors, or lecturers, and the fields/topics they work with. You can explore these pages to see if you find any of these topics intriguing. - Have at Least One Supervisor Be a Professor
Not all people in academia that work at your university are professors or lecturers – some are researchers. Having one of your supervisors be someone who is familiar with working with students helps manage expectations. Those who work with students may be more patient and more interested in teaching, rather than just helping you create a list of “to-dos.” - When Writing with a Company
Having a supervisor who is in the field of your thesis topic and works with/at the company is key. Reach out to companies that work in your field. They may have student projects in mind. - Find Supervisors with the Time and Mental Space
It happens too often that supervisors are overworked, have their own projects, or already work with multiple bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD students. These advisors can be hard to reach and sometimes very unhelpful. - Work with Someone You Know
If possible, find someone you know or have worked with before. Knowing their teaching/research style can help you find someone you feel comfortable with. Students and their supervisors communicate a lot over long stretches of time. It is important that you feel comfortable asking your supervisor(s) questions or requesting help/feedback.
Some Tips for Finding a Topic
- Search for Program or Company-Provided Topics
Programs or companies often have topics they are looking for students to research. For example, the Nordic Academy of Biodiversity and Systematics website lists possible examples of master’s projects at different Scandinavian universities this program operates within. - Ask Professors or Researchers
Sometimes researchers, professors, or lecturers have ideas for topics in mind. Requesting a meeting or sending a quick email detailing your inquiries may be helpful. - Choose Something Interesting
You will be working within this topic/field for at least a couple of months and up to a few years. It is important that you are engaged with the topic and motivated to learn more and develop the field further. - Fill a Scientific Need or Gap
Choose a topic that has real scientific purpose or fills a niche or gap. The work you do is important and time-consuming. You can ask your professor during a meeting about this.
Final Advice
Don’t forget that you’re not married to the topic. While it is possible to change topics or research groups, it can take a lot of work and coordination. Therefore, it is best to be well-prepared before you begin working on your thesis.
Using these tips may help clarify the process of finding a thesis supervisor and a topic that interests you. You can also make an appointment with an advisor in your department at your university. They may help you get more familiar with the process of choosing courses that align with your degree and support your knowledge of the topic of your thesis.
For example, if you are writing your thesis on Marine Protected Areas, your advisor may suggest you take a quantitative analysis course, a GIS course, and a conservation course.
Manage expectations. In every project, there are twists, turns, unexpected results, issues, and random variables neither you nor your supervisor(s) can control. Being flexible in research and allowing the topic to shift as the project develops is a good practice. As always, there is no harm in reaching out – it can often yield positive results.
Good luck!
