On how to guide master's students, each subject group has its own clear set of management concepts.However, there are some methods that seem to be "unconforming" to me and cannot be replicated.Most of the groups I work with meet once a week to focus on reporting.However, because of the limited characterization conditions in my laboratory, many tests are conducted outside the unit, and the cycle is long.If oral reports are required every week, the estimates are not good, and most importantly, the students waste a lot of valuable time.
I asked the students to submit a summary of the week's experiments every Friday, and to concentrate on oral presentations every weekend.Since I go to the laboratory almost every day to communicate with the students, oral presentations are not completely on time, but I can also keep track of the progress of each student's experiments in a timely manner.Of course, it is very important and necessary to read the recent literature in a timely manner, and the literature is now updated very quickly.Most skimmed, important, and closely related literature should be read carefully and tirelessly in order to make discoveries and breakthroughs.For each newcomer to the lab, I'll arrange for the senior to teach him or her how to operate experimental instruments, observe laboratory regulations, access to literature, and learn how to read literature effectively.For students who are studying for a semester, guide them to learn how to write a paper and how to choose the right journal to contribute.Some common drawing tools also require them to master.
I have repeatedly emphasized to my students that learning comes first (as my teacher has always taught me).I ask every student in the laboratory to communicate with each other and get along in harmony.There is no teacher-student boundary between me and the students, really like a good friend, usually communication is also relaxed.No student in the lab should ever be allowed to spread negative comments and personal thoughts.There is nothing to be said between the students, nothing to be said.Don't deliberately hide your experimental ideas when reporting, after all, each student has their own small direction, we do not have malicious competition, only motivate each other, you compete with me to catch up with the situation.Without practical contributions, brothers and sisters are not allowed to name each other, and their good scientific attitude and positive values are cultivated from the source.When it comes to signing papers, students will always be the first author, even if some students contribute less (students never wrote before 2012, I still let them be the first author).This management method was found to be very inappropriate and has now been adjusted).Publish SCI papers to meet the requirements of the research team, timely give certain material rewards, and actively encourage and guide students to declare various scholarships and related awards.
It is sincerely expected that they will be able to develop the ability to discover problems, analyze problems and solve problems with new things before entering society.And if I can do that, I think that's the biggest contribution I've made in their three-year academic career.