REF:66-2203-7230409 - Thanks to PhD supervisor

Your comment: I wanted to take the opportunity to give some positive feedback on my PhD supervisor Prof. Mark Whitehead: I only began my PhD study two months ago, in January, and yet I have to say that Mark has been extremely supportive, informative and really welcoming which has been thoroughly reassuring for me, especially in view of the fact this is my first times studying at AU. From my initial conversation with Mark back in November last year on initially considering doing a PhD with AU, he has been extremely helpful and prompt in terms of getting back to me with info./ responding to email queries. I'm doing this first semester, at least, remotely and I don't for a minute feel any less connected as an AU student - on the contrary - Mark has really helped me feel part of the AU culture, in spite of the fact that I'm doing online learning for the time being (which I opted to do). His own expertise within research is very evident and despite this he is very willing to allow myself as a PhD student to "take the lead" in terms of organising myself, whilst feeding in his own valuable insight and experience with regards to timing, pace and organisation of research etc. I'm very grateful indeed to have been assigned to such a discerning supervisor, and really wanted to give some feedback to convey this.

Our response:

Thank you so much for taking the time to submit your very positive comments about your experience so far as a member of our DGES postgraduate community. I am delighted to hear how much you feel at home in the department despite studying remotely at present. I will share your comments with Mark, I am sure they will be very much appreciated. I am certainly very proud to work with colleagues who are dedicated to sharing their research expertise and supporting students, wherever they may be based. I hope that we will in due course be able to meet in person in DGES, but I am very glad to know that you feel connected to us.

I would like to wish you all the very best with your research project. Please do keep in touch with us, we'll be here to help in any way we can over the course of your studies.