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20 Best Gifts for Professors or PhD Advisors (in 2024)
Last updated: September 15th, 2024
A search for “PhD Advisor Gifts” on Amazon will give you about 45 mugs and 3 t-shirts. Not a strong start. I’ve been through grad school, worked with many professors, and have a good idea of what they would truly appreciate as a thank-you gift. Here’s my hand-picked list below.
This list is a compilation of my favorites from around the internet. Some are our own Genius Lab Gear inventions and some we’re just jealous we didn’t think of first! Some external links in this page are from affiliates, which means that any purchase of the items after clicking the link will result in a small monetary referral fee paid back to Genius Lab Gear at no cost to you. We appreciate your support which allows us to continue inventing and testing the best tools for scientists on the planet!
1. Academia Word Magnets
Academia is chock full of inside jokes, mannerisms, and cringeworthy habits that professors love to laugh about. These word magnets are designed specifically to let academics rant about their hardships, relish their big wins, and have a good laugh. These are perfect for the office refrigerator or the magnetic whiteboard, where sneaky students can leave passive-aggressive phrases for the advisor to find later. Get them on our site here and bundle them with other field-specific sets based on the professor’s field of study.
Also now available on Amazon.
2. The Pocket Scientist pocket ruler and equation reference
Your favorite PhD adviser will use this unique gift daily (and hopefully always remember you for it)! They can carry this credit card-sized ruler and scientific reference every day in the classroom or lab and use it for sketches in their office. We even laser-engraved the backside full of basic science equations and physical constants. See the product page for a full list of features we've packed in!
Available with free shipping from our website or from Amazon.
The Pocket Scientist at Genius Lab Gear
The Pocket Scientist on Amazon
How to use The Pocket Scientist – Full Feature Guide
P.S. We also have versions specifically for Chemists, Physicists, and Engineers if those are a better fit for the person you have in mind!
3. Rocketbook Beacons to digitize their white board
How many times has your college professor scribbled an amazing brainstorm on a whiteboard and then lost it forever once the next student comes in to talk?
Rocketbook is well-known for their reusable notebooks which have grids and QR codes built-in to quickly snap photos of and organize hand-written notes digitally. They recently added this GENIUS product to do the same thing with white boards. You put a triangle at each corner, then use their app to snap a photo, and it can flatten the image, enhance the contrast and automatically send it to your favorite note-saving app. Keep those moments of brilliance safe!
4. Funny Coaster Set for Teachers and Professors
Professors and students love to have a good laugh at each others’ expense. Give them the upper hand for once with some funny professor coasters. It’ll protect their desk while they put down their drink between sips, giving them plenty of time to admonish the lab work you didn’t get done this week.
5. Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout
This is by far my favorite author in the "productivity" space. Cal Newport has refreshing takes that get away from the "hustle" culture often promoted online by young guys trying to grind their way to success.
As a professor of Computer Engineering himself, he knows what it takes to build a successful career in academia. And it's not crusing through 100 emails every morning!
His newest book "Slow Productivity" mixes his own experiences with stories of the greatest minds in human history (think Curie, Feynman) to show that great achievements often happen slowly. I enjoyed reading this one at about one chapter a week to remind myself to focus on the "slow, deep work" and fit everything else around it.
6. Leatherbound vintage notebook
One of my favorite ways to focus on "deep work" and dig into in-depth thinking is to sit down with a nice notebook (without any screens around) and just take notes on what I'm thinking.
I really believe that having a "nice" notebook changes your mindset about using it for important concepts rather than trivial task lists. Professors tend to love these types of old-school thinking tools, and the leatherbound vintage notebook makes quite an impression when it's time to get to work!
7. Full year planner for academics
If you know a professor or lecturer who tends to be a bit "scattered", this lesson planner might be exactly what they need. This full-year planner isn't dated, so it can be started and stopped at any time.
For me, doing a weekly plan has transformed how efficient I am and I want everyone to feel this too! So if your professor could use some help keeping things straight, nudge them in that direction with a helpful planner!
8. Lab Coat Pocket Protector
A gift of nostalgic charm that is sure to resonate with their professionalism and accomplished academic life! The venerable Pocket Protector became a cultural icon in the 1960's and 1970's, but somewhere along the way the newer generation of STEM researchers forgot about them.
Scientists need these back in their labs to stay organized, stay efficient, protect their lab coats, and finish their experiments without being late to lunch. So we researched and tested every type ever made to methodically solve each problem and come up with this refreshed design.
Available in spruce green, sapphire blue, and faded pink - the top 3 colors voted on by our fans! You can even get it from our Amazon page if that's easier.
9. Novium Hoverpen 2.0
If your PhD advisor loves physics, astronomy, space, or technology then they will definitely appreciate having this on their desk. It’s a high-end refillable magnetic pen that hovers perfectly at an angle using magnets on all sides. The Novium Hoverpen 2.0 even spins in place for a mesmerizing power move when a student comes to office hours.
10. Personal Aeropress or Pour-Over Coffeemaker
If the office coffee is notoriously bad, the professor would definitely enjoy having a private stash and means to make single cups. I own both of these and use them all the time. The Aeropress makes the quickest, easiest single-cup you’ll find. You just need a way to heat up the water and a stash of their small round filters. There’s even a whole ecosystem of organizers for the Aeropress like this little bamboo desktop cabinet. A Chemex Pour-over is good for 2-3 cup batches but takes a little more time and effort.
11. Canvas Reusable Lunch Bag
For the professor who cares about conservation and sustainability, a top-notch reusable lunch bag will be a perfect fit. It’s double-stitched for strength, waterproof, and has no tiny pieces that could break off. Simple, casual, and sustainable. It’s always going to be appreciated.
12. Desktop utensils organizer and phone charger
Professors and academic advisors tend to have some of the messiest desks and offices I've ever seen. We can't do anything about their books and journals scattered everywhere, but we can help them keep their essential tools at hand.
This little desktop organizer will still fit on the most disorganized desk as a bright spot where they can charge their phone wirelessly alongside their infamous red pens, dry erase markers and scissors. It also doubles as a clock and shows the indoor temperature and humidity.
13. Rat mood chart canvas print
Anyone who works with "rodent models" knows the struggle. Our Rat Mood Chart canvas print is a funny-but-sad-but-true representation of the what these little heroes go through in the name of science.
14. Papers and binders organizer for their desk
When you walk in and see your professor or teacher's desk littered with papers, scientific journal issues, and binders for lectures, it's time to get them some help! Honestly, my academic advisor could have used 2-3 of these on his desk.
The thing I love about this desktop organizer is the fan shape. It fits binders quite perfectly but also holds the latest issues of academic research journals without buring them in a filing cabinet.
15. Portable teaching tools organizer
One more organizer for this list to help the scatterbrained professor. But, this one is for when they're on the move between classrooms.
It's always a pain to bounce between classrooms several times a day, packing up in between. This portable teaching tools organizer is just the right size to hold everything they need: their presentation laser pointer, dry erase markers, chalk, erasers, grading pens, calculator, and maybe even a snack.
16. The Professor Is In: The Essential Guide To Turning Your Ph.D. Into a Job
Another classic book for professors, PhDs and Post-Docs comes from Karen Kelsky. I've heard some criticism that this book can be a bit rigid, but others in academic circles say it's worth a read to get your plan straightened out.
"The Professor Is In" is best for someone 1-2 years away from graduating with their PhD, or an active Post-Doc considering professor positions, or especially someone who just landed a new position as a professor. It will help them lay out a concrete plan for their next career steps and avoid getting lost in the muck that accumulates quickly in new academic positions.
17. Punished By Rewards by Alfie Kohn
This book challenged everything I thought I knew about teaching and cooperation. Aflie Kohn's blockbuster book "Punsihed by Rewards" shows why rewards are really punishments, and why they should not be used in the classroom, coaching or even parenting.
The big takeaway for professors from this book will be to change how they coerce a classroom into behaving and learning. After internalizing the new way of operating, students in the classroom are more likely to learn for the sake of the joy of learning - not because of grades, treats, or praise.
18. Desk vacuum the size of an avocado
The future is here and I'm adding this to the list to prove it. Somehow they made a vacuum the size of an avocado. My desk admittedly gets a bit...unclean after a few weeks of eating my lunch and snacks on it. A tiny vacuum is a much better solution than trying to sweep everything off with my hands.
Nature Valley bars are no longer contraband at work if you have a way to deal with the crumbs instantly!
19. Subscription to AI-powered Research and Writing Software (SciSpace)
Professors and academic researchers have to keep track of a huge amount of information to complete their research and write new papers. Luckily, AI is now ready to help! SciSpace is a new software tool that combines AI search engines with reference/bibliography management to quickly get answers to highly technical questions - all sourced from peer-reviewed journals.
The Copilot feature is my favorite! It can scan those clunky PDF files to make summaries and even pull tables out into an editable format! That would have saved me hundreds of hours in grad school...The other neat thing is that it lets you take notes on every journal article, link it to that file, and search your notes later with the AI engine.
The best move here is to gift them a 1-year subscription! Make sure to use my ambassador code “DEREK40” to save 40% on the first year. Just create an account here with your email, and then print out the login details to put into a gift box for the big day! They can move the account to their email address right after.
20. Professor Gift Bundle
If you can't decide by now, I can still help! Consider this decision made. I put together a Professor/PhD Advisor Gift Bundle just to make it easy for you. The gift set includes the Pocket tool and Word Magnets from above, plus a few fun science stickers. You'll save over 20% by bundling them together, so consider this decision made!
- The Pocket Scientist ruler and equation reference
- Academia Word Magnets
- Science Basics Word Magnets
- Starter Word Magnets (144 tiles of connector words)
- Marie Curie sticker
- Science is for Everyone sticker
- Einstein quote sticker
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS):
WHAT IS THE BEST GIFT FOR PROFESSORS AND PhD ADVISORS?
It can be quite a daunting task to find one in this vast sea of products where there’s just no shortage of options. However, you’re in for a treat as we’ve handpicked them for you:
- The Pocket Scientist pocket ruler and equation reference
- Physics Word Magnets for the fridge or office decor
- Rocketbook Beacons to digitize their white board
- Funny Coaster set for Teachers and Professors
- Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout
- Leatherbound Vintage Notebook
- Full year planner for Academics
- Pocket Protector for lab coats
- Novium Hoverpen 2.0
- Personal Aeropress or Pour-over Coffee Maker
- Canvas Reusable Lunch Bag
- Desktop utensils organizer and phone charger
- Rat Mood Chart Canvas Print
- Papers and binders organizer for their desk
- The Professor is in: The Essential Guide to Turning your Ph.D. into a Job
- Punished by Rewards by Alfie Kohn
- Subscription to AI-powered Research and Writing Software (SciSpace)
- Portable teaching tools organizer
- Desk vacuum the size of an avocado
- Professor Gift Bundle
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