I've started a postdoc in Germany about 1.5 years ago, and in that time I supervised a bachelor's and master student. Like top to bottom: came up with the project, did the day to day, helped write the thesis, etc.

Now that both are almost done, we are filling in minutia like the title page, etc. And I found out that my boss and not me is the supervisor, and that I cannot be named supervisor (even 2nd or anything like that) as it is a protected title. He suggested mentor, which IMO will make it look like I did nothing apart from showing her her desk. I know that being the (main) supervisor is something that is usually reserved for qualified people with a prof title, but in Sweden at least one could be the 2nd and then explain in a letter. But not being allowed to take credit at all is ridiculous.

I guess that I am not the first to struggle with this, so I was wondering if anyone found a way to maximise credit for what has been done within the German framework? I'm an early career researcher, and being able to say that I supervised 2 students would help me a lot with future applications. I don't mind having to explain that the system here doesn't allow me to be the first supervisor, but i'd like the thesis to reflect that I actually did the work in some way.

Any advice? There must be some clever word to use that's not 'day to day supervisor'.

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