Senior Tutor and Tutorial Fellow in Engineering Science Professor Thomas (Tom) Adcock has been recognised with an award for outstanding research supervision by the University of Oxford’s Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division (MPLS).
Prof Adcock is one of ten supervisors from across the MPLS Division to receive the award, which recognises exceptional commitment to mentoring and supporting colleagues. Each nomination for the awards required a minimum of two supporting statements submitted by researchers and students, highlighting the impact of the nominee’s mentorship. The award celebrates Prof Adcock for consistently excelling in his supervision of research colleagues and showing a strong professional commitment to nurturing talent and supporting career development.
The announcement states:
‘Professor Thomas Adcock is Professor of Engineering Science, Tutorial Fellow and Senior Tutor at St Peter's College. His research group looks at how engineers understand the ocean environment and how infrastructure interacts with this and seek to understand ocean hydrodynamics for applications such as marine energy—primarily offshore wind.
Thomas is described as an exceptional supervisor whose mentorship combines thoughtful, adaptive guidance with deep personal investment in his researchers’ growth. His approach is “far from a one-size-fits-all model,” demonstrating a “keen emotional intelligence” that allows him to tailor support—providing “gentle, steady scaffolding” for those building confidence, while granting “high-level autonomy to senior members.” His commitment is evident in his “rigorous” weekly one-to-one meetings and his habit of “championing students’ work in their absence,” results in him quietly strengthening their professional reputations. As one nominator puts it; “I would not be in my current lectureship without his belief, time, and unwavering support.”
He cultivates independence by challenging researchers to think critically rather than simply execute, as one nominator states: “mentorship at this level isn’t about providing answers, but about asking the right questions.” By encouraging students to justify assumptions and lead responses to external critiques, he “accelerated [the] transition from a student to a peer in the global academic community.” His practical support is equally striking—offering extra tutorials, editing papers “line by line,” and preparing students through mock presentations and interviews that lead to major prizes and career success.
Beyond formal supervision, Thomas creates a deeply supportive and inclusive culture. He is “consistently approachable and responsive,” organizing “welfare walks” during lockdown and fostering cohesion through “away days… punting trips, and open research discussions.” He normalises failure, ensuring setbacks “never allow… personal doubts,” and, as one nominator describes, provides “pastoral care and career sponsorship that far exceeds any formal university mandate.”’
You can read the full announcement here.