Roles and Responsibilities

1. Have a key role in recruiting research students
2. Induct students into their research group
3. Help students to plan their research
4. Provide students with feedback on their written work and/or presentations
5. Help them to progress their academic studies
6. Hold regular tutorials and research/lab group meetings
7. Work with student(s) to develop their research and professional skills
8. Ensure students have sufficient resources to implement the mutually agreed research plan
9. Help students to resolve difficulties they encounter and/or direct them to other staff who can assist
10. Provide students with career advice, noting however that some students may not wish to pursue an academic career and that the College has a dedicated Careers Service.

Additionally, all supervisors should:

1. Be familiar with policies and administrative procedures applicable to research degrees
2. Discuss, agree and identify with students mutual expectations and how the partnership will be managed
3. Be mindful of the pastoral and wellbeing needs of students and be ready to sign-post to other support services when necessary.

Supervisors also have an important role in terms of supporting student work-life balance and wellbeing.  This is covered in other sections of this website. 

Main supervisors are responsible for all health and safety aspects relating to their students' research, although some of the day-to-day responsibilities may be devolved to co-supervisors or assistant supervisors.  

Main supervisors should ensure:

• All relevant risk assessments have taken place
• Students have received appropriate training in order to carry out their research safely. 

There is general College guidance but additional Faculty policies may apply. In particular, the latter applies to lone working and working out-of-hours. 

Health and safety responsibilities of supervisors are detailed on the College’s Safety Management pages.

It is important for supervisors to champion inclusive working practices.  An inclusive working environment should embrace the richness of diversity of backgrounds, culture, gender and perspectives of staff and students of the College.  

Every member of College staff has a responsibility to:

• eliminate discrimination
• anticipate need
• make reasonable adjustments

The College has a range of resources available which provide support, guidance and information for all staff about equality, diversity and disability needs.  The College's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre (EDIC) can provide specialist advice.

Support for Students with Disabilities:  Disability Advisory Service

More than 1,000 current Imperial students have declared a disability, a figure which is increasing each academic year. It’s also worth noting that 65 per cent of impairments are unseen.

Imperial ascribes to the Social Model of Disability.  Unlike the medical model, the Social Model is not solely concerned with what the body can or cannot do but focuses on the barriers that prevent disabled people from participating equally in society. The problem is not disabled people themselves, but the environmental, institutional and attitudinal barriers they face.  

You can help students by:

• keeping alert to signs of disability;  
• discussing with students the benefits of disclosure, so that they might be better supported;
• asking individual students about support and reasonable adjustments that could be made to support their programme of research;
• referring students to the departmental disability officer or to the College's Disability Advisory Service for specialist advice and support.

Importantly, research students with physical or mental impairments, specific learning difficulties or who have other specific needs may be entitled toadditional arrangements and/or reasonable adjustments, so you are advised to get in touch with your department’s Disability Officer for further information on supporting your student.  

The Disability Advisory Service (DAS) works with individual students, no matter what their disability or level of study, to ensure that they have the support they need.  Disability Advisors are committed to providing the best possible support for all students at Imperial College.  They understand that each person's disability can affect them in different ways and therefore the support offered is flexible and tailored.  The DAS can also help students who may have an unrecognised issue or specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.  DAS is also here to support students who may have a temporary or short term disability.

 Some of the sorts of things the Disability Advisors can help with are:

•  checking that the evidence of disability is appropriate and up-to-date
• arranging a diagnostic assessment for specific learning difficulties
• making recommendations for additional support for example for the viva or other milestone assessments
• arranging extra Library support and access to the Assistive Technology Suite

 Your student can book an appointment by dropping in to the office, phoning or sending an email

 The Disability Advisory Service, Room 566, Level 5, Sherfield Building, 020 7594 9755,  disabilities@imperial.ac.uk

Departmental Disability Officers (DDOs)

Departmental Disability Officers are the first point of contact within your department.  If you have any queries or concerns about your student, please talk to that individual or you can get in touch with the DAS.