Other key relationships

The formal supervision team in only the starting point for the network that you need to build around your doctoral project. It is also worth thinking about how you relate to each of the following groups.

• research staff employed on grants, fellowships or postdoctoral positions who work in your laboratory or department will generally have more experience than you and be more practically involved than your supervisor. They are likely to vividly remember what it was like to do a doctorate and can be a great source of inspiration as well as information
• technicians will be invaluable in helping you to learn techniques and gain a greater understanding of how the research environment works in practical terms
• librarians are experts in information management and will be willing to help you identify and locate journals and other sources of information
• trainers, advisors and career staff may be provided by your institution and some of them may have a particular focus on postgraduate researchers. It is worth finding out what other staff exist in your institution and what kinds of issue they will be able to give you advice and support on

Other postgraduate researchers are a really important source of peer support. Building up strong networks of peers in your immediate environment and beyond will be invaluable to you as you undertake your doctorate.