Your supervisor

Faculty member Dr. Diana Varela and grad student Arielle Kobryn.

Finding a good match

Finding a good match for a supervisor is important. Things to consider are the research projects—and there are usually several—that each faculty member does, whether your work and communication styles are compatible, and what type of funding is available for you in that lab and department.  

How to find your supervisor

There are typically two ways to find a supervisor. The default way is to apply to your graduate program, then researchers looking for students will contact you after your application is accepted. 

The other way is to identify researchers you want to work with and approach them to see if they're looking for a graduate student and if you're a good research fit together. You can then indicate the name(s) of potential faculty supervisors in your application.   

The supervisor-student relationship

You'll find useful guides and advice for working with your supervisor on the Faculty of Graduate Studies site. Be sure to read about responsibilities and rights in the supervisory relationship.