I am an Honours student in the process of contacting professors and senior lecturers to request supervision/joint supervision.
So far, I had been in contact with a pair who were more than happy to supervise me, but after a meeting or two with them, I felt that 1) we probably would not click 2) their area of research, whilst on the outset seemed similar to my interests, is quite different.
So with that said, I have also been in contact with another pair. These two seem extremely nice and supportive. I feel their research interests/expertise is more closely aligned with mine and that I would probably be better suited to working with them.
This is in Australia, so the semester will begin in about 3 weeks, and final supervisors are chosen in late march/early april - so I still have lots of time.
I wanted to know - should I flat out tell the first two academics that I am speaking to other academics, and may not end up going with them, even though the second set of academics are not confirmed supervisors?
Did I do anything ethically wrong? I feel bad for having had the first two (potential) supervisors have a phone/skype meeting with me + send me all their papers/manuscripts, if it was all in vain.
Finally, to add, would it be wrong to ask the first set of academics if I could be a TA for any of their classes, knowing that there's an 80% chance I won't be going with them as my supervisors?
Any advice is appreciated.