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I may quit my current PhD position after a year and a half due to supervision-related reasons. My promotor is the professor who is head of team (and supervised my master thesis), while I am currently supervised by another academic. My promotor is a very kind and considerate person. I have looked up another PhD position in a different country that suites my interests best. How to ask him for a letter of recommendation for the new PhD position?

I don't have any publications yet. My current promotor is currently evaluating a paper I wrote from my master thesis. I may also write another one from my master thesis. I would like to continue my work on these papers with him - how do I approach this situation without affecting the review process by him?

penelope
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CfourPiO
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    Does this answer your question? How should I phrase an important question that I need to ask a professor? – Sursula Mar 10 '22 at 14:45
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    "Promotor" means your current primary PhD advisor? I think this is uncommon terminology in most places, except perhaps where you are. – Bryan Krause Mar 10 '22 at 16:51
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    @BryanKrause: this indeed is the terminology used in the Netherlands and Belgium for the PhD supervisor. – Pieter Naaijkens Mar 10 '22 at 20:01
  • Do you have a scholarship or a research assistant position (in a project)? And what do you mean by "reasons related to supervision"? – Yacine Mar 10 '22 at 20:27
  • You should have found your interest elsewhere before accepting the offer of your current PI because they have already rejected other applicants, and opening another position may waste a lot of their time. You also benefited from their resources for nothing, as you just said you have nothing no publish yet. I am afraid you may not have a solid impression in their mind, thereby better trying to get letters from someone else. –  Mar 11 '22 at 03:54
  • To answer everyone! First of all promotor is the main professor of the group. He was my direct supervisor in my master studies. Now, in my PhD, I have another supervisor between me and the promotor. I didn't want to explain more about why I don't want to continue, otherwise the post would have been very long and the question would have been closed due to individual factors. When I say "reasons related to supervison", it refers to bad direction by the current supervisor. – CfourPiO Mar 12 '22 at 01:38
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    @User Please don't assume anything about why I want to leave the PhD. Please focus on the question. At this moment, all I can share is that I accepted the PhD knowing that I was going to research in my area of interest. Problems can occur from the supervison side as well. I've just mentioned the tip of the iceberg. – CfourPiO Mar 12 '22 at 01:41
  • I edited some of the clarifications provided in your comments into your question. It would be good if you could also clarify what is the role of the promotor towards you (I understand he is the head of the team; however, is he just the head of the team you are in and somebody you worked with in the past, or does 'promotor' entail some more formal role towards you as a PhD student)? – penelope Mar 17 '22 at 16:59

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If you say that your promotor is very kind and considerate person, I tend not to think that your recommendation letter request will change them and, moreover, influence the review process. So just explain why you took this decision, what motivated you and I believe you two will understand each other.

Sursula
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Robin WIlson
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