HDR Supervisor of the Month

Dr Meaghan McEvoy
Senior Lecturer in History
Research School of Social Sciences
ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
 

Meaghan's supervisory approach:
 "As a supervisor, I believe it's vital to acknowledge the pressures our students face and to work with them to ensure they can focus on their studies and meet deadlines, and also try to balance the other roles and responsibilities they may have. PhD students are more than just students - they are people with busy lives, family and other obligations, and this needs to be taken into account. This is always challenging - but I believe helping students feel motivated about their research, particularly by together designing achievable short-term goals helps. Encouraging students to believe in their projects and their potential to contribute to cutting edge international debates, and to our understanding of past societies more generally is one of my key goals as a supervisor.

I aim to mentor my students to enable them to become independent researchers who can hold their own confidently in international contexts, and to communicate their research to a wide range of audiences. One way in which I approach this is through creating opportunities for them to meet visiting scholars, and to discuss their research and try out ideas in workshops here at ANU, as well as conferences overseas. HDR supervision is a privilege: it's a very rewarding experience to guide students from their original research proposal through to the finished product of a completed thesis, and it should be an enriching experience for our students too."

Find out more about Meaghan’s work by visiting Meaghan's profile on the Research Portal webpage.

Dr Sonia Akter 
Co-convenor, Master of Climate Change
Crawford School of Public Policy 
ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy 
 

Sonia's supervisory approach:
"I see supervision as a commitment to helping students grow into independent thinkers, scholars, and professionals. A PhD can be a solitary journey, and the supervisor plays an important role in guiding both the research and the broader development of the student. I aim to build respectful, supportive relationships, adapting my guidance to each student's needs while encouraging autonomy and critical thinking. I create a sense of community through research groups, regular meetings, and informal gatherings, helping students feel connected and supported. I also offer practical support for their professional growth by encouraging and supporting conference participation, engaging them as tutors and research assistants, and connecting them with key people in the field. My goal is to ensure students not only complete a strong thesis, but also leave prepared to thrive as confident, capable members of the academic and professional community.

Find out more about Sonia’s work by visiting Sonia's profile on the Research Portal webpage.