Free supervisor finder for master's, PhD and postdoc research
Find the professors whose recent papers match your research.
Find a supervisor in three steps.
- 01
Type your research interest
A sentence or two, in your own words.
- 02
See your closest matches, free
The top three professors, universities and open positions. Share the shortlist with a link.
- 03
Sign in for the rest
Every match, and a report on where to apply. Your words come with you.
From your research to the right places.
In your own words, even across fields, like machine learning and biology.
Universities, their professors, research areas and every paper they've published.
Professors whose papers match your research, and their universities, even when words differ.
How do I find a PhD supervisor?
Choose a supervisor for research fit first and the university second. Look for professors who published on your problem in the last three to five years, and read two of their recent papers before you write. In the UK, Europe and Australia, contact them before applying; in the US an email helps but a committee admits. The finder above searches the papers of 820,000+ professors.
See what's open, and when.
Openings near your research over two years, and when they're posted. The figures here are an example.
64since Jan 2025 · 23 still open
When these were posted
Know exactly what to do next.
A plan for your level and countries, from your shortlist to your first email.
- Shortlist the universities in your report
- Read two papers from each professor
- Check the English test each one needs
- Email your first professor
Find where your research fits best.
Questions
What is a PhD supervisor finder?
The supervisor finder matches your research interest to professors who publish on it, for a master's, PhD or postdoc. Type your interest in your own words and see, free, the closest professors with their recent papers, their universities and open positions. Sign in to see every match and get a personal report on where to apply.
How many supervisors should I contact?
A short list of professors whose recent papers really match your interest works better than many generic emails. Write to each one separately, mention one of their papers, and wait one to two weeks before following up.
Should I contact a supervisor before applying?
In the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia it usually helps, and some programmes expect it, because a supervisor who knows your work can support your application. In the US, PhD admission is mostly decided by a committee, so an email helps but is rarely required. Check the programme's own page first.
How does it match me to professors?
It compares the meaning of what you typed with the titles of professors' papers, so it finds close work even when the words are different. No AI writes anything here: the matches come from a search over our own data on professors and their publications.
Is the supervisor finder free?
Yes. You can see the closest professors, universities and openings for your interest without an account. Sign in to see every match, save the professors you like and ask ApplyKite Twin for a full report on where to apply.
Where does the data come from?
Professor profiles are built from public academic records such as ORCID and Crossref, with their research interests and publications. Openings come from university sites and job boards, including ones only ever posted on LinkedIn and X.
What should I type?
A sentence or two about the research you want to do, in your own words, such as the problem, the methods and the field. The more specific you are, the closer the professors will be. You can also narrow the results by level and country.
Read the guide: Everything about research interests →