How to manage two research advisors

Another graduate student recently asked my advice on this. This is what I had to share:

1. Determine the strengths of each advisor for you. For example, one might provide better feedback on manuscripts, whereas another advisor might have better ideas to try if you’re stuck on a particular problem.
   
2. Actively communicate to / between them. This also depends on their personalities. Generally, they each have some “responsibility” over you, so they might expect to know what project(s) you’re working on. Even if the project is for one advisor alone, the other advisor may prefer to be kept in the loop. This communication is especially important when the advisors discuss how to fund you.
   
3. Related to point 2, it can be very helpful to coordinate regular (e.g., weekly, biweekly, monthly) meetings between both advisors to discuss your project updates. This is more important if you have one project co-advised versus working on separate projects with each advisor. Your advisors should be able to get along, else you might have problems later on.
   
4. Also related to point 2, you may have to be more direct when sending group e-mails if you need something for someone. With two advisors, each one may hold less obligation than they otherwise would if it was just a one-on-one advisor-student message.
   
5. Consider attending conferences in the fields of each advisor if they are not the same. Some advisors are great about introducing you to their colleagues at conferences, while others seem to disappear. Try to find out what your advisors are like, and take advantage of each of their networks.
   
6. While you have two advisors, one will be “primary.” At least in my experience, 50/50 isn’t a realistic scenario. The primary advisor might be one who gives you more immediate feedback, writes you a supporting letter for certain applications, advocates on your behalf if there are competing priorities or unreasonable dissent (e.g., regarding your projected timeline for defense).
   
7. Your expected workload may increase. I find this to be more true in cases where the graduate student has separate projects for each advisor, and each advisor treats them as a full student.
   
8. If each group holds weekly (sub)group meetings, be prepared to double the time spent in, and preparing for, meetings.
   
9. This almost goes without saying, but learn from the expertise in both groups. Older graduate students and postdocs often do more technical training than the advisor, so integrate yourself in the community of both groups.

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