JRA psychology student Emily Lewis with eye tracking equipment
Sussex undergraduates can now apply for a bursary worth up to £1,800 allowing them to carry out research this summer.
The Junior Research Associate (JRA) scheme, now in its fifth year, provides an opportunity for talented and ambitious undergraduates to participate in original research with staff and other members of the University community.
All undergraduates in the 'middle' years of their degree studies (ie not their first or final years) and currently registered at Sussex (including Brighton and Sussex Medical School) are eligible.
English student Henrietta Ashworth was awarded a JRA bursary and spent summer 2011 looking into Rudyard Kipling’s opinions on war, using archives held in the Library’s Special Collections. Henrietta said: “The JRA scheme has been a brilliant experience – it meant I was able to use the summer gaining really useful study skills, getting an insight into what conceiving and pursuing research is actually like and earning a bit of money doing something that was rewarding and a great addition to my academic CV.”
Informatics student Sebastian Long, whose JRA project last summer researched the use of biometrics in video games, added: “I feel far better informed about what exactly a PhD would involve, and to make a more informed decision toward whether continuing in higher education is right for me.”
Professor Bob Allison, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), said: “The JRA scheme has resulted in outstanding research from some of our most able undergraduate students.
“Since participating in the scheme many have gone on to doctoral research, presented papers at conferences and even published the results of their JRA work. I am delighted with the success of the scheme and always look forward to meeting the award recipients.”
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 16 March.
Most queries can be answered by checking the JRA website and documentation, but for other questions please contact the Doctoral School at jra@sussex.ac.uk
Following the first three years of the JRA scheme in 2008, 2009 and 2010, 26 people (around a quarter of those who took part) went on to postgraduate study or research at Sussex.
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