How Do I Become a Research Supervisor?

Research supervisors are trained and experienced professionals that have usually completed graduate school and gained experience working in multiple laboratory or research based environments. Most types of research require a supervisor to direct, manage, and coordinate the focus of a project and the employees working within it. To become a research supervisor, you should earn an undergraduate degree and attend graduate school, while at the same time working as an assistant on available research projects offered at your university. Once your education is completed, you can usually begin work as an employed research professional and gain the experience needed to eventually reach a supervisory position.

Colleges, universities, private companies, and the government all employ individuals who conduct research. These studies may be scientific, mathematical, sociological, or market based. Research is used to make business decisions, scientific and medical advancements, and to find out new information about the people and animals living in the world today. You can become a research supervisor by choosing a field to study that utilizes research as one of its primary means of gathering information and making innovations.

Once you know you want to become a research supervisor, the first step is to attend and graduate from a college or university. Your degree should be focused in on the area you wish to study for the long-term, as it is generally important to begin learning about the research area as soon as possible. While in college, you can begin working with professors and research laboratories based within your school. Try to work with a project or laboratory that will allow you to have hands-on experience working with equipment and running tests, as you need to acquire these skills to become a research supervisor.

After completing your undergraduate degree, the next step to become a research supervisor is to attend graduate school and earn a master's degree or complete a doctorate program within your chosen field. In graduate school, you will have many opportunities to run independent research projects that are crucial to the experience you need to become a research supervisor. When choosing a graduate school, you should consider a location that has a variety of professors, laboratories, and research areas to start your thesis and projects. Once you have completed your education, you can often find entry level positions working in research at colleges and within related industries. After time is spent working under others, you can eventually become a research supervisor.