Laboratory research students have a single official supervisor, named to the Board of Graduate Studies, who is primarily responsible for all aspects of the student's research.
The Graduate Adviser's role is internal to the Laboratory, and is not intended to be highly formalised or onerous. The role was previously known as the Second Adviser.
The function of the Graduate Adviser is to take an interest in and provide additional support for a student through, for example, literature suggestions, informal technical discussion, pointers to resources etc, as appropriate, with a formal commitment to an interview once a term. A student may have more than one Graduate Adviser.
The Graduate Adviser would normally be the person appointed by the supervisor to assess and discuss the student's first year report etc. The Graduate Adviser is also usually the person appointed to assess and discuss the student's second-year report and thesis schedule. Because of the conflict of interests, the Graduate Adviser may not be appointed PhD Examiner.
The Graduate Adviser is not required to submit any formal reports. However if they see serious cause for concern in the student's situation, they should contact the Secretary of the Degree Committee.
It is for the supervisor to invite a person to act as Graduate Adviser, and it may be useful to change adviser if the student's work alters direction. The supervisor should give the Graduate Adviser's name to the Secretary of the Degree Committee.
A list of current research students, their supervisors, and Graduate Advisers may be found here.
Secretary of the Degree Committee
Updated February 2017
