Become a Supervisor

Bring your expertise to the next research generation.

IRL works with research trainers, topic-based supervisors, and publication support mentors who value thoughtful guidance and global academic collaboration.

Join the IRL Supervisor Network

Become a Supervisor

Join IRL as a research trainer, topic-based supervisor, or publication support mentor.

Independent Research Lab welcomes experienced academics, researchers, and professionals to join as research supervisors or research trainers. Supervisors can contribute flexibly online, support research learners globally, and help develop publishable academic work.

Why Join IRL as a Supervisor?

Paid Academic Contribution

Earn through research training sessions or topic-based supervision.

Flexible Online Engagement

Contribute through live sessions, recorded training, or manuscript supervision.

Global Professional Visibility

Showcase your expertise, research profile, and academic identity links.

Support Publishable Research

Guide learners from research idea to manuscript development and journal submission.

Option 1

Research Training Session Instructor

You may contribute by delivering one or more online research sessions. These sessions may be part of the standard six-session research training package, or you may propose a new one-hour live or recorded session relevant to research.

Possible session topics

  • Research methodology
  • Academic writing
  • Literature review
  • Systematic literature review
  • Bibliometric analysis
  • Data analysis
  • Publication strategy
  • Journal selection
  • Research ethics
  • AI tools for research
  • PhD proposal writing

Payment: Instructors are paid on an hourly or session basis.

Option 2

Topic-Based Research Supervisor

You may join as a topic-based research supervisor. In this role, you will guide a group of up to 5 research learners in developing a complete academic manuscript for journal submission. Ideally, supervisors provide three one-hour online supervision sessions covering research gap development, methodology, data analysis, journal selection, submission strategy, and reviewer response.

Students are primarily responsible for writing the manuscript. Supervisors provide academic guidance, feedback, and direction, and are not required to draft the manuscript unless they choose to contribute substantially as a co-author.

Your role may include

  • Helping learners refine the research topic
  • Guiding the literature review, methodology, analysis, and writing process
  • Supporting journal selection and submission preparation
  • Advising during revision and resubmission stages
  • Helping the group move from initial idea to publishable manuscript

Authorship: Supervisors may become co-authors if they make a substantial intellectual contribution to the manuscript. Alternatively, they may supervise the project without being listed as a co-author.

Payment: A flat supervision fee is paid in two stages — a first payment after the manuscript is ready for journal submission, and a second payment/bonus after the paper is accepted for publication.

Join the IRL supervisor network

Share your expertise, availability, and supervision areas through the application and enquiry form.

Apply or Request Information