Guiding Junior Scientists

Senior scientists are largely responsible for the overall education of the juniors doing internships and other educational programs with them. The student-supervisor relationship is a complex system of give-and-take. There are some general rules about how to supervise young colleagues, but the variation due to personality differences is large. Good supervision will enable the pupil to develop his abilities optimally. As a result, time invested in supervision early on repays itself manifold. Since science is highly international, cultural differences can cause many misunderstandings. This requires patience and understanding from both sides. Specifically gender related misunderstandings can be harmful for proper work-relationships.