Tallinn University of Technology

Competitions & Awards

Table of Contents

The Doctoral Thesis Supervisor of the Year

The Doctoral Thesis Supervisor of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding researcher who, as a doctoral thesis supervisor, creates the most inspiring, supportive, and stimulating research environment for their doctoral candidate. 
A candidate for the title Doctoral Thesis Supervisor of the Year may be nominated by the supervisor’s current doctoral candidate(s) or by a doctoral graduate who successfully defended his/her PhD thesis under the candidate’s supervision in the year prior to the competition.

To nominate a supervisor, a formal proposal must be submitted no later than 13 January 2026, in which the doctoral candidate gives a well-reasoned assessment of their supervisor, including the following:

  1. the supervisor is accessible and supportive
  2. there is trust and an open communication culture between the supervisor and the doctoral candidate
  3. the doctoral candidate receives regular feedback and assessment of their progress from the supervisor
  4. the doctoral candidate has access to the necessary infrastructure, materials, and research environment required for completing the doctoral thesis
  5. the supervisor introduces the doctoral candidate to various career opportunities
  6. the supervisor has a strong international research network

In selecting the Doctoral Thesis Supervisor of the Year, the following criteria shall be evaluated in addition to those presented in the proposal:

  1. the supervisor meets the quality thresholds established in the Regulations of TalTech for doctoral studies (scientific level and previous success in supervision),
  2. the supervisor develops their supervisory skills.

The competition is organized by the Research Administration Office, and the Doctoral Thesis Supervisor of the Year is selected by the Senat´s Committee for Research at its February meeting. The Committee for Research has the right to consider additional circumstances arising from supplementary materials submitted to the competition.

The title Doctoral Thesis Supervisor of the Year cannot be awarded to the same person in two consecutive years.

Proposal form for nominating the Doctoral Thesis Supervisor of the Year

Contact

Kaire Kaljuvee
Research Administration Office
kaire.kaljuvee@taltech.ee