Hi all!

I was wondering how much input your second supervisor has on your PhD? Does he/she see your work regularly? Do they read your chapters? How often do you meet? Or are they just there as a formality?

Thanks

Chococake

I have thre supervisors. The first is my director of studies, my second is (now) an external and my third is there just because I have to have to intrnals.
The first two have equal contribution to my work. They read my work and they meet with me every time I go to the uni (about once every three months). The third is just a formality... I think the only information she has about my work is what I presented at a seminar she also attended...

Hey! Not a lot in my case- he helped with recruitment because he's a clinician, but apart from that and turning up to my review meetings once a year he really doesn't have much input. He certainly doesn't read my work or anything, but he's always nice and helpful to chat to should the need arise! KB

For me, less than zero.

Also zero. She didn't know she was my 2nd and I didn't know she was either until I'd been here for a few months. We have never met for a meeting to do with my work and there are no plans to do so.

I too have three supervisors, two internal and one external.

I go to my main one for 'pastoral' matters and any small enquiries;
I meet with the main and external ones on a regular basis; and
I invite all three to read my writing and meet with me at important milestones.

My main sup is the one who reads my work with a fine-toothed-comb though.

They all send me information by email that is relevant to my study, so I must be on their minds at one level or another!

My first supervisor is the one who takes the lead, but my second supervisor is just as involved - he's less experienced at supervising PhD students so is learning the job of supervisor from my first supervisor as he goes along. They both attend all the meetings (unless they're at a conference or something) and comment on papers I write or on the methods I've been developing, etc, though tend to defer to each other's specialist areas as their disciplines are very different. We tend to meet every 2 or 3 weeks, depending on what there is to discuss, usually for between half an hour and an hour. It works really well - my first supervisor is very detail-oriented and highly organised, so he drives things forward, while my second supervisor is quieter but very thoughtful so tends to sit back and then come in with brilliant observations or new directions or sharp questions.

I'm of the 'zero' input as well variety though now I'm nearing producing a full first draft there is talk about it being given to a 2nd reader for feedback. Don't think it will be the original 2nd supv, but somebody else. I have never met up or discussed my project with my 2nd supv.

0 - he didn't even know he was my sup until last week (4 years into the PhD) I work with him all the time though and he's really nice, so am going to get him to check over the stats as he's an expert

Well my second supervisor went from zero to becoming my main supervisor when I changed direction and needed his input more and more (which he was happy to give). Even now he's the one I keep in contact with and not my other ones!