Candidate and supervisor experiences of doctoral study in a structured, interdisciplinary training environment

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to understand doctoral candidates’ and supervisors’ positive and negative experiences of undertaking a doctorate in a structured interdisciplinary research training environment. Interviews were held with 16 candidates and eight supervisors involved in an interdisciplinary research centre. Most candidates were undertaking a disciplinary focussed doctorate while being active participants in the centre’s doctoral education program. Our findings highlighted three themes that influence positive or negative experiences: the design of the interdisciplinary environment; the critical role of communication; and the qualities of candidates and supervisors deemed important to work effectively in such an environment. We conclude with suggestions that might help develop an effective interdisciplinary research environment.

KEYWORDS:

• Doctoral education
• PhD
• interdisciplinarity
• research environment
• communication
• doctoral supervision

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Margaret Kiley

Margaret Kiley holds an adjunct position at the Australian National University where she has supervised doctoral candidates and undertaken research related to doctoral education for many years.

Douglas P. Halliday

Douglas P. Halliday is Associate Professor of Physics at Durham University and Director of an Interdisciplinary Centre Doctoral Training. Previously he was Dean of Graduate School at Durham. He is currently the Vice Chair of the UK Council for Graduate Education. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, a Fellow of the Energy Institute and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.