Why Good Supervision is the Secret to Ph.D. Success
As we reach the final days of 2025, let’s take a moment to stop and send a warm message to one another. To all our fellow graduate students and researchers: we have made it through another big year together!
Before we start 2026, we want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year! We hope the coming year brings us all success in our work, strength during hard times, and plenty of rest. For those of us in grad school, the end of 2025 is a major milestone. Whether we are finishing our degrees or just starting out, we have all worked incredibly hard this year. We should all be proud of what we have achieved.
What Really Makes Us Happy as Grad Students?
We recently looked into an important publication from the journal Nature titled “What makes PhD students happy? Good supervision”. This article shares results from a massive global survey conducted in 2025. It talks about something we all feel deeply: our happiness and success depend mostly on the relationship we have with our supervisors.
The survey found that we are much happier when we feel our supervisors truly care about us as people, not just as workers. It isn’t about spending hours talking every single day. Instead, it is about the quality of that time. We thrive when we feel supported, seen, and heard.
Our Goals for 2026
As we look forward to the new year, here are three simple lessons from the report that we can use to make 2026 better:
Choosing the Right Support: If we are picking new labs or starting new projects, we shouldn’t just look at the science. We should look at the person in charge. The best advice from those who came before us is to find a mentor who cares about our well-being.
Better Ways to Talk: The article mentions that some of us use a “notes system” to stay in touch. By writing down our daily progress or thoughts for our supervisors, we can make sure nothing gets lost and our communication stays clear.
Standing Together: The survey showed that some students still face tough issues like bullying. In 2026, let’s work together to build a community where we look out for each other and expect fair treatment from our institutions.
A Toast to Our Future
Being a graduate student is about more than just writing papers; it is a journey of growth. This Nature report reminds us that we are human beings first. We do our best work when we feel respected and guided.
To every student who felt tired or stressed in 2025: let’s use this holiday break to truly recharge. We have earned it. Let’s make 2026 a year where we find better balance, stronger mentorship, and the joy of discovery.
Reference
Nature 646, 775 (2025) doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03416-7
