The Art of Memo Writing

Your relationship with your PhD supervisor is not likely one just based on yearly reviews, rather bi-weekly or monthly supervisory meetings (aka progress reports) and memos.  Memos are meant to update your supervisor with your work and allow him or her to provide direction on a particular issue you might be having.

 Recently, supervisor Mark Jaccard in another research group (EMRG) in my department, had these 6 guidelines on memos.

Good memos share similar characteristics in that they:
1) are short and to the point
2) remind the advisor of what you are working on
3) identify the specific issue
4) present some pros and cons on the issue
5) present a recommendation (while identifying uncertainty)
6) use excellent tables/figures where applicable.

Following these guidelines will help ensure that your professor is making efficient use of their time, while continuing to to make sure that you have enough direction and support to make timely progress on your research.