PHd supervisor only present 2 days a month!..worry!!

[seamoro]

I am about to start my PHd in a month in genetically modifying plants to produce human proteins. I guess i just want know people experience of research?....any advice. I will have 2 supervisors, a cell biologist and , a molecular biologist. I have some concerns about my molecular biologist being only present in the university 2 days a month as she now works for state department. Should this worry me?..i have talked with some of my friends and they said this is nearly normal as many Phd/Master students supervisors are always out of office!
But i guess emails and phone calls will help fill the absense hole?
Also they will be other research students...and maybe other people that can help...so should i be worried!!
Thanks guys in advance for your answers

[Peter Apps]

The less I saw of my supervisor the better things went, but then I did have some very bright colleagues !

Peter

[Don_Hilton]

This works only if you have some good post docs or others with some experience to turn to. It helps to have someone to talk with when research runs in unexpected directions.

[HW Mueller]

A PhD candidate should have enough knowledge to handle ~ 2 weeks without one of two advisors being bodily present. I would be worried, though, that the advisor would loose interest in the project and start giving bad/outdated advice.

[yangz00g]

Agree with HW.

Most of time, the advisor can only give you a target, how to get there is your responsibility as a Ph.D staudent. The most efficent way to seek advice is from literature.

[lmh]

there's a common danger when you've got two supervisors that both will assume the other one is supervising you, and you'll get no supervision at all. In your case, the fact you have one absentee may be a good thing: you can use the other as your supervisor, and the absentee as a useful source of advice on the days they drop in. You'll have go be harsh with them to make sure you get their attention amongst other things they'll no doubt have to cram into those days.

If you have any difficulties, get hold of Phillips and Pugh "How to get a PhD". It's been around for a while now, but is still packed full of good advice on how to handle multiple supervisors, defective supervisors, difficult situations, etc. etc., and if you go on to supervise PhDs yourself, it helps from both perspectives.

Good luck

[JGK]

I would have thought that in the age of e-mail, mobile phone and the interweb communication, the necessity of your supervisor to be present full time is much less important than in previous years.