A good relationship between the student and her or his supervisor is vital for a successful doctorate. The work must rely on a solid base of trust and mutual exchange. In order to avoid misunderstandings, we highly recommend our PIs and fellows to clarify all questions in a first supervision meeting at the beginning of a doctoral project. The following guiding lists of questions and external links are an adaptation of these Graduate Academy guidelines to the specific MathCoRe situation.

1. Supervision committee

• Who is the second supervisor?
• Who is the mentor?

2. Subject

• Corresponding faculty for thesis submission
• Regulations for the Doctorate (in German)
• Are there additional regulations at the respective faculty? E.g., for a PhD in mathematics.

3. Thesis

• Topic and main focus of the thesis, working title
• Cumulative thesis or monograph, when to publish?
• First steps, work plan
• Expected time frame of three years
• Are there special circumstances that might lead to delays?
• Possible extension to a 4th year, possibility of start-up funding

4. Frequent meetings

• How is the frame for scientific exchange between supervisor and candidate?
• Who else should be contacted frequently, or concerning special questions?
• How many people are working in the department, are there rules concerning meetings, presentations, colloquia?

5. Working conditions

• Office space
• Are there financial means for equipment, material, student research assistants?
• Publication strategy
• International research stays?
• Which additional lectures, seminars, or external schools can be visited?

6. Good Scientific Practice (according to German Research Foundation DFG)

• Does the doctoral student know the DFG memorandum and the rules at OVGU, e.g. concerning plagiarism?

7. Management of Research Data and Knowledge

• Does the doctoral student know the recommendations and guiding principles, and the contact persons at OVGU?

8. Rights and Duties in MathCoRe

Fellows can expect the following from the research training group:

• answers to all questions set forth in this guideline,
• in particular a precise definition of the doctoral project and a corresponding work plan, guidance with respect to career planing, and early integration into the scientific community,
• travel support of up to 1000 Euro per year for conference and workshop attendances,
• support of up to 2000 Euro for a stay in an external work group,
• the possibility to attend social skill and language courses (co-)organized by MathCoRe,
• possibilities to invite scientific guests and to attend courses, workshops, and conferences organized by MathCoRe,
• after successful completion of the PhD a certificate of participation in MathCoRe.

Fellows have the following duties:

• participation in four one-week compact courses (it is possible to replace them by other schools, lectures, or courses, if the advisors support this)
• participation in the weekly Fellows' Seminar and giving a presentation at least once a year,
• participation and presentation in the annual colloquia,
• following the DFG recommendations for good scientific practice,
• following the recommendations for research data management.

Note that there are no teaching duties. For PostDocs and Associated Fellows all of the (applicable) above rights and duties do apply as well. PostDocs are expected to mentor their PhD students in regular meetings, and to guide them on their way. This can be on a scientific, but also on a non-scientific level.

Supporting offices at OVGU

• OVG Graduate Academy for general consultations and advice; conflict mediation
• Familiy office for doctoral students with children / relatives in need of care
• Gender equality officer / Network women-in-science for female scientists
• Student counselling for psychological and social problems
• DFG Liasion Officer at OVGU

Additional documents and links

• Regulations for the Doctorate (in German)
• Guidelines for Good Scientific Practice (DFG, German and English)
• OVGU Rules for Handling scientific Misbehaviour (in German)
• more remarks on legal aspects of supervision meetings (in German)
• recommendations of OVGU for an advisory agreement, see also these additional remarks

In case of any doubt, please contact the OVG Graduate Academy or the OVGU Law Department.