Supervision is a journey—one that is as rewarding for the supervisor as it is for the student. PhD candidates often arrive with a suitcase full of ideas, themes they are eager to explore, and stories they hope to tell. Some already dream of writing a book. My role is to help shape those ambitions into structured, viable research projects.

I tailor my approach to each student’s goals and needs. I aim to channel their enthusiasm, helping them find the right balance between passion and discipline, creativity and methodological rigour, “all the way” (see Charles Bukowski’s poem below). Often, I act as a facilitator—someone who guides rather than directs, who helps students find their voice and way of writing history.

Good supervision, in my view, encourages students to move beyond labels, disciplinary silos, and narrow perspectives. I urge them to take full ownership of their research from the very beginning. This sense of responsibility, I believe, is crucial for sustaining motivation through the inevitable challenges of the PhD process.

I also encourage creativity and originality. History is a form of craftsmanship, and each scholar distinctively shapes their object of study. That individuality should be cultivated, not constrained.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of supervising students working on a wide range of subjects. Thematic, geographic, and chronological boundaries are often defined through careful conversations. While many projects align closely with my areas of expertise, others take completely different directions: the history of rap in France, meat consumption in Tel Aviv and Jaffa, or the interplay between U.S. domestic and foreign empire, to name just a few.

Since 2008, I have also served as second reader for PhD projects covering a broad spectrum of topics, including:
– The Enlightenment and its legacies
– Christian influences on European integration
– Allied bombing during the Second World War
– American women in International Geneva
– Human rights violations in Brazil
– U.S. policy in the Southern Cone during the Carter administration
– Telegraphy, news, and financial markets in the 19th century
– Anglo-American relations and NATO
– Ceaușescu’s diplomacy in the Middle East
– Legalism in U.S. foreign relations, 1895–1948
– Soviet-era dissident historiography
– Refugee protection under the League of Nations
– Water markets in Chile since the 1970s
– Italy’s relations with China since 1945

Former students have pursued diverse paths—some continued in academia as postdoctoral researchers or lecturers, while others have built careers in the public sector, in NGOs, or in private consultancy. 

A PhD in history can lead in many directions. It is not only a scholarly journey, but a foundation for critical thinking, problem-solving, and engaged citizenship.