Supervision

The advisory panel consists of three members: the principal advisor, the co-advisor and the panel chair:

• The principal advisor has to be a faculty member of the Universität Hamburg, eligible to supervise doctoral candidates. The principal advisor assumes key responsibility for both, scientific supervision and quality control of the doctoral candidate’s research and academic training.
• The co-advisor needs to be an expert in the candidate’s field of study and should be easily accessible for the candidate. In interdisciplinary projects, principal advisor and co-advisor should cover the two most relevant fields, ensuring access to scientific and technical support in more than just one area.
• The panel chair serves as a link to the SICSS Office and supervises the progress of the doctoral work. To avoid conflicts of interest, the Chair’s provenance (both by institution and research) should be neither related to nor directly involved in the doctoral study.

Candidates should set up their advisory panel during the first two months after start. The composition of the panel is contractually established in the supervision agreement, signed by all members and by the school Head. Please provide the SICSS Office with a signed copy of your supervision agreement, not later than three months after starting your doctoral project. 

If you are new in Hamburg and not familiar with the scientific environment in CEN or if you feel you need help in finding a panel chair we, the SICSS Office Team, is ready to help you!

Twice a year, the candidate is requested to schedule an advisory panel meeting with all three members of the panel in order to evaluate the progress and to discuss further action. A guideline helps you to set up the first meeting.