Nature reported in June on a survey that shows how poor supervision can drive early-career researchers out of academia (see Nature 654, 304–305; 2026).
A less visible way in which supervisors hold power is in the control of personal bonuses linked to research achievements.
As a newly appointed supervisor of master’s students at a Chinese university, I have begun to confront this issue from the other side of the power dynamic.
If an institution awards me a bonus for an achievement that students helped to produce, I intend to share it with those contributors.
Nature 659, 264 (2026)doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-03562-6Competing Interests The author declares no competing interests.
Nature reported in June on a survey that shows how poor supervision can drive early-career researchers out of academia (see Nature 654, 304–305; 2026). A less visible way in which supervisors hold power is in the control of personal bonuses linked to research achievements. As a newly appointed supervisor of master’s students at a Chinese university, I have begun to confront this issue from the other side of the power dynamic. If an institution awards me a bonus for an achievement that students helped to produce, I intend to share it with those contributors. But personal generosity is not governance.
Nature 659, 264 (2026)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-03562-6
Competing Interests The author declares no competing interests.
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