Researcher Community
There are many opportunities to become part of the wider research community beyond your School, and to meet and share experiences with other researchers. Click on the arrows below to find out more.
- Sussex Researcher School (SRS) Events
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In addition to our Researcher Development Programme we organise a number of other events, designed to bring together as many researchers as possible from across the University. These include:
- Our October and February welcome events for new postgraduate researchers
- Monthly one-day academic writing retreats and twice yearly Thesis Boot Camps to support focused writing
- SussexDocFest each June celebrates and showcases PGR research to the wider University
- Sussex Research Hive
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The Research Hive, located on the second floor of the library, is a dedicated space for postgraduate researchers and research staff. It contains desks and PCs for private study, and two bookable meeting rooms.
Three Research Hive Scholars support the area whilst engaging with and fostering the research community at Sussex.Follow the Research Hive on Twitter @SussexResHive and read their blog to find out about the latest events and when the Scholars are available.
- Researcher-Led Initiatives
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We provide support for you to organise your own professional development and public engagement events via our Researcher-Led Initiative Fund.
We are keen to sponsor initiatives that benefit a broad range of researchers. Check out previous winning initiatives to gain ideas for your event.
- Enhancing Research Student Experience
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All PGRs have the opportunity to provide feedback on their experiences at Sussex via the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES). The survey was last run in 2023.
PGRs are also represented on various University committees, and School research student reps usually hold these positions to communicate the views and interests of their peers.
Find out more about the Student Rep Scheme and how you can get involved.
- Excursions Journal run by Sussex postgraduate researchers
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Excursions is an online, interdisciplinary journal run by PGRs at Sussex, and supported by the SRS.
Excursions is designed to offer postgraduate and early career researchers from all disciplines the opportunity to join the editorial team, and develop skills in editing, peer-review, and team working. Find out more about this opportunity at the Excursions website.
- Elements Profiles and Directory of Postgraduate Researchers
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Elements has replaced the Sussex Online Profile platform. It's worthwhile updating your Elements profile regularly, and making your profile public, so other researchers can find you. See the Library's Elements guidance to get started.
Elements is a good way to make contact with other PGRs at Sussex. Type keywords into the searchbox at profiles.sussex.ac.uk. Some profiles also still appear in the Directory of doctoral researchers (legacy site, no longer in use).
- Online Researcher Communities
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Engaging with other researchers through online forums will increase the reach of your research, and provide some helpful peer support.
There are many ways to get connected with other researchers:
Sussex Elements Profile - This facility provides you with a profile page on your department webpages, where you can present yourself and your research.
The profile appears alongside other researchers in the 'People' section of your department, and some still appear on the directory of doctoral researchers (legacy site, no longer in use).
#phdchat on Twitter - This hashtag on Twitter is a useful stream to discover what other PGRs are up to. Every Wednesday night between 19:30 and 20:30 researchers from around the world connect under this hashtag.
Academia.edu is a platform for sharing and following research. You can upload and share your papers, presentations and experiences, and connect with other researchers.
ResearchGate provides a similar platform for researchers in the sciences.
There are also a series of blogs which you can follow dedicated to the topic of postgraduate research. A few to get you started include:Sussex Research Hive - the blog produced by our Hive Scholars
The Thesis Whisperer (also includes a list of 'more like us' blogs)Patter - Pat Thomson, Professor of Education, University of Nottingham on research education, academic writing, public engagement, funding, other eccentricities.
- Research Podcasts
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Research Culture Uncovered
In Season 2 of a new podcast from the University of Leeds, Research Culture Uncovered, conversations are revolving around what is Research Culture and why does it matter?The first podcast episode of season 2 follows a conversation with a number of presenters from the Researcher Education and Development Scholarship International Conference of 2022. The podcast host, Tony Bromley, explains the background to the conference and talks you through the 11 podcasts upcoming in the season including the main aspects of research culture that each conversation will cover.
The season covers various aspects of research culture including:
- Do we need to re look at what counts as an ‘expert’ in HE? And also re consider what is seen as ‘valuable’ work in this context?
- Retaining precariously employed researchers
- Loneliness and isolation in postgraduate research
- The student supervisor relationship
- Decolonising postgraduate research
- Progression of women in research careers
- and many more…