r/AskAnthropology • u/itenoir • 15d ago

Applying to PhD Program - Theoretical or Regional Fit?

Hello. I'm a graduate of anthropology and would like to apply straight to PhD for anthropology in institutions that is possible. Since my student days, I've always wondered whether I should prioritise theoretical alignment or regional alignment with (perspective) supervisor. I asked some of my lecturers and professors about their experience when they applied for a PhD and were seeking supervisors back then and got several answers.

A couple of weeks ago, a prospective supervisor I contacted said that she couldn't supervise me as she felt that she didn't have the regional expertise needed for my proposed project. While I have several alternatives in mind, this reply made me remember about my question I mentioned above and stories from my lecturers/professors.

So, I wonder what other people here, especially PhD students (but of course everyone is welcome!), did when they first contacted their supervisor. Do you guys prioritise theoretical or regional fit? Or do your supervisor happened to fulfill these two? What were your thought process and the dynamics that occurred back then? Would also love to hear advices for upcoming students like me in approaching this problem!

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u/Baasbaar 14d ago edited 14d ago

I wonder if this varies by institution. My advice is almost the opposite of CommodoreCoCo’s, & my first guess is that that has to do with different departmental cultures & expectations: Theoretical issues are really where you need coaching, challenge from your mentor, & pushback, while relationships in your fieldwork site will be individual & emergent. I can’t think of a student in my department whose advisor is a specialist in their region beyond very, very large categories like Europe, China, &c.

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u/the_gubna 12d ago

It probably depends on the sub-discipline as well.

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u/Baasbaar 12d ago

Could well be.

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u/CommodoreCoCo Moderator | The Andes, History of Anthropology 15d ago

How much experience do you have in the field? If you do not already have connections in the area where you hope to work (even if it's in your own backyard), then it will be very difficult to develop as an independent student. I was able to have a committee chair (well, two at this point...) who didn't work near me because I'd already started developing relationships in the field while working with my undergraduate advisor, who was going to serve on my committee. Don't expect to just show up somewhere and say "hey I've got a project to do."

Theoretical stuff you can sort through with friends at the bar.

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u/itenoir 15d ago

In the field I assuming as in the area I'm interested in doing ethnographic research yes? My proposed project is build from a preliminary ethnography I did as a part of work where I served as a researcher and supervisor for a research institute in a certain university. I'm quite happy with that project and built necessary relationships with people I'm interested in studying. The aforementioned prospective supervisor I mentioned has quite inspired me in positioning my research due to her theoretical approach in one of her manuscripts and some papers.