Target audience: Doctoral researchers from all disciplines.

Workshop description: This session will compare and contrast the aims, data collection preferences, analytic style, limitations and appropriate usage of four different qualitative methods - grounded theory, thematic analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis and narrative analysis – in order to identify the types of research questions to which each method is best suited. The possibility of conducting by-person or case analyses using qualitative data will also be considered.

Technical details: In order to attend the online training you will need to download the appropriate virtual classroom software, provided by Electa-Live. This can be accessed direct from the Electa website at: [http://support.e-lecta.com/?topic=plugindownload]. Please do this as soon as possible and do not wait until the day of the session. The software can be downloaded to a PC, laptop, tablet, or even a smart phone. Remember, however, that downloading to a work computer may require administrative permissions to be granted. For this reason, the use of a personal computer may be advisable.

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by Simon Watts as part of the UEA Online Training Series, and is being repeated exclusively for Sussex PhD researchers due to high demand.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: This session will consider and discuss a range of issues relative to the micro-analysis of qualitative data. Using example data throughout, issues covered will include the analyst's perspective (the aims and nature of their engagement with the data), coding systems, how to choose extracts for analysis in a systematic fashion, the meaning and importance of interpretation, generalizing from qualitative findings and various write-up issues, including the relationship between the analysis and discussion sections of a qualitative report and the creation of impact.

Workshop feedback:

• “Now really feel I understand inductive and deductive [approaches to analysis] - I had a real light bulb moment.”
• “[An] incredibly useful session providing a step-by-step breakdown of…how to go about qualitative data analysis.”
• “Fantastic session…thanks - clarified the whole coding and analysis process for me, feeling much more confident now.”

Technical details: In order to attend the online training you will need to download the appropriate virtual classroom software, provided by Electa-Live. This can be accessed direct from the Electa website at: [http://support.e-lecta.com/?topic=plugindownload]. Please do this as soon as possible and do not wait until the day of the session. The software can be downloaded to a PC, laptop, tablet, or even a smart phone. Remember, however, that downloading to a work computer may require administrative permissions to be granted. For this reason, the use of a personal computer may be advisable.

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by Simon Watts as part of the UEA Online Training Series, and is being repeated exclusively for Sussex PhD researchers due to high demand.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in the early stages from all disciplines.

Workshop description: Pursuing a PhD isn’t just about knowledge – you need to manage yourself, too. Make a successful start to your doctorate with this practical workshop, designed to prepare you for the journey ahead. You’ll get the opportunity to meet researchers from across the University and build your skills in communication, problem-solving, and time-management.

By the end of the session, you’ll have:

• Identified the key skills and attributes of an effective researcher
• Considered the challenges of a PhD
• Established your priorities
• Boosted your confidence in planning & managing your research
• Developed a peer support group

About the facilitators: This workshop is designed and delivered by Fawzia Haeri Mazanderani and Perpetua Kirby

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in the early stages from all disciplines. Research staff are also welcome to book a place on this workshop.

Workshop description: At an early stage of your doctoral research, it is essential to explore the need for obtaining ethical approval. This workshop will look at the key principles of undertaking ethical research, and explain how to go about obtaining ethical approval from the University. There will also be opportunities to consider some case studies, ask questions about your own work, and gain insights on how to embed good ethical practices in your research.

Learning outcomes: By the end of the workshop you will have:

• Understood the University process for gaining ethical approval and received guidance on how to make a strong application
• Had the opportunity to discuss ethical issues arising in your research and explored how to address them

Workshop feedback:

• "I now have a much better idea of the ethics clearance forms"

About the facilitators: This workshop is designed and delivered by Tim Parkinson and Lauren Shukru from the Ethics team 

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: This session will provide a conceptual and methodological introduction to quantitative research, which may be of particular use to PGR students considering the use of quantitative methods and analyses for the first time, or who feel in need of a ‘friendly’ and straightforward refresher session. Important quantitative concepts such as variables, hypotheses, probability (and p values), reliability, validity, and Type 1 and 2 errors will be defined and a tour will subsequently be taken through a range of statistical tests that can be used to examine both significant associations (correlation and regression) and significant differences (including the t-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and MANOVA) in your data set.

Each statistical test will be mapped against the kind of research questions/hypotheses it is designed to answer and attendees will be shown how to run each test in principle, to interpret their results/output and to report the findings of each test in an appropriate format. If you’re intending to employ quantitative research techniques in your thesis, but currently feel uncertain about the correct procedure or method of data analysis, this session comes highly recommended.

Technical details: In order to attend the online training you will need to download the appropriate virtual classroom software, provided by Electa-Live. This can be accessed direct from the Electa website at: [http://support.e-lecta.com/?topic=plugindownload]. Please do this as soon as possible and do not wait until the day of the session. The software can be downloaded to a PC, laptop, tablet, or even a smart phone. Remember, however, that downloading to a work computer may require administrative permissions to be granted. For this reason, the use of a personal computer may be advisable.

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by Simon Watts as part of the UEA Online Training Series, and is being repeated exclusively for Sussex PhD researchers due to high demand.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) is a powerful multivariate statistical technique which enables researchers to examine several regression equations simultaneously. This session will provide an introduction to the key concepts involved in SEM, including latent, exogenous, and endogenous variables and their graphical notation.

Researchers will also be introduced to the concepts of both the measurement and structural model, before being taken on a step-by-step journey through the process of data analysis, stopping off on the way to consider issues of model specification, data collection, model estimation, model evaluation, and model modification. The session will conclude with a demonstration of how to interpret the output of an SEM analysis and to report the findings/revealed model correctly using both text and appropriate diagrams/figures.

Technical details: In order to attend the online training you will need to download the appropriate virtual classroom software, provided by Electa-Live. This can be accessed direct from the Electa website at: [http://support.e-lecta.com/?topic=plugindownload]. Please do this as soon as possible and do not wait until the day of the session. The software can be downloaded to a PC, laptop, tablet, or even a smart phone. Remember, however, that downloading to a work computer may require administrative permissions to be granted. For this reason, the use of a personal computer may be advisable.

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by Simon Watts as part of the UEA Online Training Series, and is being repeated exclusively for Sussex PhD researchers due to high demand.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in the early-mid stages from any Arts and Humanities or Social Science discipline.

Workshop description: This session provides advice and guidance on a variety of approaches to writing a thesis. As well as content on planning and structures, there will be space to write and to reflect together as part of a supportive writers' network.

This practical workshop is suitable for doctoral researchers who are at any stage, but some of the guidance will be geared towards those in the latter stages of thesis construction.

There is a separate workshop on Undertaking a Literature Review, and Academic Writing Retreats run each term if you want to get your head down and write in a supportive environment.

Learning outcomes: By the end of the workshop you will:

• Appreciate the requirements and elements of a doctoral thesis
• Reflect on what you've already achieved, set goals for the next steps and feel energised about the next stages of writing
• Receive guidance on a variety of approaches to structuring the content of your thesis
• Share tips for planning and scheduling the writing (and finishing) of your thesis

Workshop feedback:

• "Covered everything I needed -I found it very informative"
• "Great to know others are feeling and experiencing the same things as me - I feel very encouraged now"
• "Calming! Good ideas for planning and thinking about how to structure thesis and overcome problems"
• "The whole workshop was extremely useful"
• "Tips, techniques and websites to write, edit, and motivate"

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in the mid-late stages from all disciplines.

Workshop description: There's so much to fit into to your final year and careful planning is essential. With clear guidance, individual exercises, and group discussion, this practical workshop helps you prepare for the last stages of your doctorate, including submission, the viva, and what happens next. Please note, there is a separate workshop that goes into much more detail on the viva.

Learning outcomes: By the end of the workshop you will have:

• A strategy for the successful completion of your thesis
• More confidence in your ability to get through the final year
• A clear idea of the skills you need to develops

Workshop feedback:

• "Unravelled mysteries about the last few months before and after submission"
• "It's going to save a lot of time"
• "Essential workshop. Excellent and knowledgeable trainer. Should be compulsory. So glad I spotted it"
• "Covered many topics/elements of editing in a clear comprehensive way"
• "This was excellent, one of the most useful doctoral researcher development workshops I have done"
• "All very useful - really enabled me to move forward with shaping my thesis"
• "Clarity, inspiration, and very useful tools"
• "It was great, with a very nice presenter"

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in the mid to late stages from any Arts and Humanities or Social Science discipline.

Workshop description: The doctoral viva can be a daunting experience for which you need to be well-prepared. This workshop will de-mystify the viva process and requirements, and provide you with useful guidance on preparing for the big day. You'll also hear examples of real questions and experiences from recent successful vivas across different Schools, and benefit from the opportunity to participate in a mock viva.

Learning outcomes: By the end of the workshop you will have:

• Understood the viva process and possible outcomes
• Received practical guidance on familiarising yourself with your thesis and preparing for potential questions
• Gained useful insights on what to expect and how to get ready for your viva

Workshop feedback:

• "It was incredibly useful!"
• "Very useful handouts and extra readings"
• "The workshop was very useful. Brilliant!"

About the facilitator: This workshop is designed and delivered by Bipashyee Ghosh

Target audience: Doctoral researchers from all disciplines from any Science discipline.

Workshop description: The doctoral viva can be a daunting experience for which you need to be well-prepared.This workshop will de-mystify the viva process requirements, provide you with useful guidance on preparing for the big day.You'll also hear examples of real questions and experiences from recent successful vivas across different Schools, benefit from the opportunity to participate in a mock viva.

Learning outcomes: By the end of the workshop you will have

• Understood the viva process & possible outcomes
• Received practical guidance on familiarising yourself with your thesis & preparing for potential questions
• Gained useful insights on what to expect & how to get ready for your viva

Workshop feedback:

• "It was incredibly useful!"
• "Very useful handouts & extra readings"
• "The workshop was very useful. Brilliant!"

About the facilitator: This workshop is designed and delivered by Ronald Grau

Target audience: Doctoral researchers from all disciplines.

Workshop description: This session will consider the writing of effective research proposals and the best ways to create a compelling ‘case for support’. Coverage will include the generation of a clear rationale, the statement of a defined and delimited set of research aims and questions, the proposal of a study (or series of studies) - as well as appropriate methods and analyses - that will clearly deliver on the stated research aims.

Emphasis will be placed throughout on the overriding importance of articulating a relevant and impactful list of outcomes and contributions for the proposed research. The relationship of the basic research proposal or case for support with other sections/elements of a grant application, of the type usually demanded by major funders, will also be considered.

Technical details: In order to attend the online training you will need to download the appropriate virtual classroom software, provided by Electa-Live. This can be accessed direct from the Electa website at: [http://support.e-lecta.com/?topic=plugindownload]. Please do this as soon as possible and do not wait until the day of the session. The software can be downloaded to a PC, laptop, tablet, or even a smart phone. Remember, however, that downloading to a work computer may require administrative permissions to be granted. For this reason, the use of a personal computer may be advisable.

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by Simon Watts as part of the UEA Online Training Series, and is being repeated exclusively for Sussex PhD researchers due to high demand.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers from all disciplines.

Workshop description: This session will consider three different types of interviewing (structured, semi-structured and unstructured), but with a particular focus on semi-structured or 'qualitative' interviewing. Other issues covered will include the nature of interview questions, the design and structure of an effective interview schedule and the mechanics of conducting a successful interview (with different people and to deliver on our research aims). The idea is to share experiences, knowledge and potential 'tricks-of-the-trade'. Time will be allowed for raising questions and/or issues pertinent to your own PhD studies.

Technical details: In order to attend the online training you will need to download the appropriate virtual classroom software, provided by Electa-Live. This can be accessed direct from the Electa website at: [http://support.e-lecta.com/?topic=plugindownload]. Please do this as soon as possible and do not wait until the day of the session. The software can be downloaded to a PC, laptop, tablet, or even a smart phone. Remember, however, that downloading to a work computer may require administrative permissions to be granted. For this reason, the use of a personal computer may be advisable.

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by Simon Watts as part of the UEA Online Training Series, and is being repeated exclusively for Sussex PhD researchers due to high demand.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers from all disciplines.

Workshop description: This session will provide a conceptual and methodological introduction to quantitative research, which may be of particular use to PGR students considering the use of quantitative methods and analyses for the first time, or who feel in need of a ‘friendly’ and straightforward refresher session. Important quantitative concepts such as variables, hypotheses, probability (and p values), reliability, validity, and Type 1 and 2 errors will be defined and a tour will subsequently be taken through a range of statistical tests that can be used to examine both significant associations (correlation and regression) and significant differences (including the t-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and MANOVA) in your data set.

Each statistical test will be mapped against the kind of research questions/hypotheses it is designed to answer and attendees will be shown how to run each test in principle, to interpret their results/output and to report the findings of each test in an appropriate format.

If you’re intending to employ quantitative research techniques in your thesis, but currently feel uncertain about the correct procedure or method of data analysis, this session comes highly recommended.

Technical details: In order to attend the online training you will need to download the appropriate virtual classroom software, provided by Electa-Live. This can be accessed direct from the Electa website at: [http://support.e-lecta.com/?topic=plugindownload]. Please do this as soon as possible and do not wait until the day of the session. The software can be downloaded to a PC, laptop, tablet, or even a smart phone. Remember, however, that downloading to a work computer may require administrative permissions to be granted. For this reason, the use of a personal computer may be advisable.

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by Simon Watts as part of the UEA Online Training Series, and is being repeated exclusively for Sussex PhD researchers due to high demand.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in the early stages from any Arts and Humanities or Social Science discipline.

Workshop description: The literature review forms a substantial part of your doctoral thesis and is also an ongoing process. Through clear examples, individual exercises, and group discussion, this workshop gets you started with your review. You will also receive guidance from the Library's Research Support team to help you with your literature searching.

Learning outcomes: By the end of the workshop you will have:

• Understood the purpose of the literature and the process behind it
• Developed your research questions and identified keywords
• Discovered the tools available for your literature search and techniques for effective notetaking
• Assessed different structures and critical writing styles

Workshop feedback:

• "Some really useful info on good methods for searching for sources online. And great info about literature reviews in general. Very informative!"
• "Lots of practical resources and good explanations on how to use them"
• "Today's workshop was very interesting, helpful and informative. I will recommend this workshop to other researchers"
• "So clear and structured and relevant. The examples of critical writing etc. were particularly helpful and I loved the verb cheat sheet"
• "I now feel ready to tackle this mammoth task!"
• "Has given me a lot more confidence before starting my review and fuller research plan. Should be a required session for new researchers! Thanks a lot"

About the facilitator: This workshop is designed and delivered by Sophie Valeix

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in the early stages from any Science discipline.

Workshop description: There are many ways to write a review article, but all ways require understanding review methodology and purpose. This workshop focuses on the differences between narrative, scoping, and systematic reviews, and how to select and deliver the one that best suits your research question. Also, searching techniques will be covered by the Library.

Participants are asked to prepare:

• A draft of the research question they are looking to review.
• One article that is highly relevant to the research question and is likely to be included in the review.

Learning outcomes: By the end of the workshop you will be able to:

• Understand when a narrative/scoping/systematic review is appropriate to address your research question.
• Gain knowledge concerning the different methodologies used in each of the above review types.
• Learn how and why to pre-register your review.

Technical details: This workshop includes active group discussions in breakout rooms, which would benefit from having the camera and mic on. Apart from these activities, mics will be off, cameras optional.

About the facilitator: This workshop is designed and delivered by Rotem Perach

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in the early stages from all disciplines.

Workshop description: Competing priorities, tight timeframes, and a seemingly endless pipeline of potential opportunities to grow as a researcher can lead to a sense of overwhelm. Sometimes this can be exacerbated by reduced resources and greater responsibilities vying more pressingly for your energy and attention. 

This two-part workshop will help you scope exactly how your landscape and some of the 'rules' of how you work may have changed. You’ll review the extent and limits of your working environment, review your priorities and what that means for your workload in any given moment. Then you’ll be in a better place to define how you choose to work within those changes.

Session 1: Surveying your landscape and triaging your priorities.
You can do anything; but you cannot do everything. Use these tools to map your research workload and identify how your usual patterns are useful or less useful in your circumstances. Make better decisions to further what is really important to you right now. Reduce overwhelm by deciding what not to do; and take greater control of things you choose to do.

Session 2: Designing your new working patterns and systems
Manage your attention, not your time. With greater clarity on your workload landscape and present priorities, experiment with some tools that help you optimise small pockets of time; cultivate your capacity for focus; and allocate work and domestic life to your individual rhythms. 

Engaging with this workshop will enable you to:

• Gain clarity on your workload in your individual research context, and define your priorities
• Explore the assumptions underpinning your current way of working - enhance what is working for you, and change what isn't
• Take more deliberate control of your attention, energy, and work towards a positive impact on your workload
• Adapt the 'how', 'when', and 'where' of your work in alignment with your daily rhythms
• Optimise your motivation by working with (rather than against) your preferences for starting, finishing, and progressing projects

Technical details: This workshop is highly interactive, and participants are expected to take part in activities, discussions, and small group breakout rooms.

About the facilitator: This workshop is designed and delivered by Dr Sarah Robins-Hobden (Learning and Development Consultant)

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines. Research staff are also welcome to book this workshop.

Workshop description: Presenters from the Ethics team and the Library Research Support team will explore best practice for working ethically with research data. The workshop will discuss how to combine ethical and research data management considerations when planning for data collection and keeping data secure. We will look at ethical approaches to data sharing.

Technical details: This workshop will include time for discussions in small breakout groups.

About the facilitators: This workshop is designed and delivered by Helen Webb from the Library team and the Ethics team

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in the early stages from all disciplines.

Workshop description: Theses and dissertations form a valuable body of work that can be really useful for your own research, and there are a range of tools available for finding these resources in your research area.

This session introduces several online tools that can be used to access dissertations and theses from academic institutions within the UK and beyond.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop you will have:

• Learnt how to find Sussex theses
• Discovered how to access UK and international theses using a number of online databases
• Learnt about providing online access to your own doctoral theses

Workshop feedback:

• "The workshop was very useful and introduced me to many databases I was not aware of"
• "It opened my eyes on how to get information on available theses within Sussex as well as the rest of the UK and worldwide"
• "I feel a lot more confident about finding theses"

About the facilitators: The Library Research Support team support researchers at all levels across the University. They offer bookable one-to-one sessions tailored to suit your specific research needs, run various group training workshops, and organise seminars and events to engage with the research community on campus.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in the early stages from all disciplines.

Workshop description: Literature searching is an essential part of doctoral research. This workshop explores how to effectively apply search strategies and techniques to online databases in order to find the most relevant literature to support your research.

Using the multidisciplinary databases Scopus and Web of Science as examples, the facilitators will demonstrate effective search techniques and discuss the development of literature searching strategies for doctoral projects. This session includes time to develop and test your own search methods – please bring a computer with you if you’d like to do so.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop you will have:

• Learnt effective strategies for constructing and refining searches in Scopus and Web of Science
• Applied those techniques to other, discipline specific databases
• Had the opportunity to run your own search with guidance from Library Research Support Team staff

Workshop feedback:

• "Gave me more ideas on how to refine my search. I actually found 10 articles which were directly related to my current research!"
• "Really helpful and personable workshop leaders"
• "Confirmed what I know and told me things I didn't know, which will improve my practice"

About the facilitators: The Library Research Support team support researchers at all levels across the University. They offer bookable one-to-one sessions tailored to suit your specific research needs, run various group training workshops, and organise seminars and events to engage with the research community on campus. 

Workshop description: This two-part course aims to introduce you to carrying out statistical analysis using R. It assumes that you will have no prior familiarity with R, but that you have completed a course in statistics that includes topics such as multiple regression and multivariate analysis of variance.

At the end of the course you should:

• Be able to run analyses in R, including the use of R Studio and Deducer
• Understand objects and functions and be able to write simple functions
• Be able to enter, save and manage data files
• Carry out statistical analysis, including multiple regression, logistic regression, and linear mixed models.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a two-part workshop and participants are expected to attend both sessions.

About the facilitator: This workshop is designed and delivered by Rod Bond, a Reader in the School of Psychology

Workshop description: This two-part workshop builds on the Introduction to R course. Students should have some familiarity with R, and have attended Introduction to R or equivalent (essentially an introduction to the 'tidyverse').

The first day will be devoted to further exploration of the graphics package ggplot2, including comparing groups, and customising chart appearance using scale functions and themes.

The second day will introduce R Markdown as an alternative way of working with R and producing documents reporting analysis. We shall also look further at data manipulation, including data restructuring and joining datasets.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a two-part workshop and participants are expected to attend both sessions.

About the facilitator: This workshop is designed and delivered by Rod Bond, a Reader in the School of Psychology

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages from all disciplines.

Workshop description: This two-part practical workshop is ideal for researchers with no previous experience of using SPSS & covers the basics to get you started. This is a hands-on session focusing on how to use the SPSS program. A basic knowledge of statistical concepts and terms is required and participants are expected to attend both parts of the course.

Working through a number of practical exercises, you will learn some of the key functions of SPSS, from data entry and creating basic output, to plotting figures and running more advanced statistical analyses.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop you will have learnt how to:

• Enter data, plot figures and create some basic output such as descriptive statistics
• Run t-tests, correlations and simple linear regressions
• Run factorial ANOVA's
• Use the split file and filter functions
• Run a multiple regression
• Examine outliers, normality and transform data

Workshop feedback:

• "I am completely new to SPSS and felt that this was spot on as an introduction"
• "It was very interactive, provided enough time for everyone to catch up and understand. Really helped"
• "Excellent course. Really clear and well presented"

PLEASE NOTE: This is a two-part workshop and participants are expected to attend both sessions.

About the facilitator: This workshop is designed and delivered by Rod Bond, a Reader in the School of Psychology

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in all stages from all disciplines. Research staff are also welcome to book a place to attend this workshop.

Workshop description: How safe is your research data? What would happen if you lost it all? This session will help you to write a data management plan that will keep your data safe, secure, and organised.

It will also cover how to find existing datasets and share your own data.

Workshop feedback:

• "Brilliant. Comprehensive overview presented in a non-threatening and non-scary manner"
• "Easy to understand - thank you"
• "Thank you, this was an interesting session"

About the facilitators: The Library Research Support team support researchers at all levels across the University. They offer bookable one-to-one sessions tailored to suit your specific research needs, run various group training workshops, and organise seminars and events to engage with the research community on campus. 

Read guidance from the Library on research data management

About the facilitators: This workshop is designed and delivered by Helen Webb from the Library team 

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in all stages from all disciplines. 

Workshop description: This session will introduce students to the NVivo software package, which is designed to help in the organisation, management and analysis of qualitative data. All the basic functions of NVivo will be covered, including the importation, storage, and organisation of various data sources, the potential for transcription, the creation of cases and nodes, classifications and attributes, and the meanings of these terms will be explained.

The process of coding and data analysis will be demonstrated and the use of 'queries' explored as a ‘top down’ means of data access. The pros and cons of using software to conduct qualitative research will also be considered.

Technical details: In order to attend the online training you will need to download the appropriate virtual classroom software, provided by Electa-Live. This can be accessed direct from the Electa website at: [http://support.e-lecta.com/?topic=plugindownload]. Please do this as soon as possible and do not wait until the day of the session. The software can be downloaded to a PC, laptop, tablet, or even a smart phone. Remember, however, that downloading to a work computer may require administrative permissions to be granted. For this reason, the use of a personal computer may be advisable.

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by Simon Watts as part of the UEA Online Training Series, and is being repeated exclusively for Sussex PhD researchers due to high demand.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: This three-hour academic writing workshop is geared towards any doctoral researcher who is actively engaged in writing at any stage of their studies. The key aim of the workshop is to discuss and pilot ways of bringing greater creativity and reflexivity into your writing. To do this, we will look at what constitutes a ‘writerly’ voice, the role of the audience and how to bring ourselves more into the writing we produce.

Together we will draw across our experiences from different doctoral topics, approaches, stages, and disciplines, to share challenges, strategies, and joys of the academic writing journey. There will be opportunities to explore different ideas, share experiences of academic writing, as well as engage in writing activities. It is our intention that you will leave the workshop with ideas of how to stimulate creativity and a better understanding of your relationship with writing. We hope that this will re-energise you to approach your writing in new ways, whether in terms of process, style or content.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: 

Communicating your research to non-specialists in a concise and engaging way is a premier skill for researchers: not everyone does it well, yet everyone has the capacity to do so.

This intensive workshop brings together the crucial factors for success, and will help you to prepare if you're thinking about entering the Three Minute Thesis competition*. Take-away tools will support you in the early stages of choosing what to include (and what to leave out); constructing an engaging and meaningful narrative; and how to convey appropriate detail of your research (and its impact) in accessible language. Includes opportunities for experimentation in putting these skills into practice alongside the theory.

Engaging with this workshop will enable you to:

• Start constructing a concise and engaging narrative of your research
• Identify and express the 'so what?' of your research
• Select accessible language for articulating complex ideas
• Practice communicating your research to non-specialists

About the facilitators: This workshop is designed and delivered by Sarah Robins-Hobden

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: Do you struggle to get started with your research writing or get into a ‘zone’ where your ideas flow? This workshop looks at different creative strategies – including freewriting, poetry and clay modelling - to help stimulate your thinking and writing.

In the session we will write together, using these creative prompts, to explore topics such as:

• Imagining yourself as a writer and writing yourself into the text
• Thinking about your readers and how this can be both inhibiting and encouraging
• How the process of writing brings about different meanings to the ideas we have

Technical details: We ask that you come along with something to write about (even if this is at its very early stages), as well as something to write with.

About the facilitators: This workshop is run by Dr Emily Danvers and Dr Rebecca Webb from the Department of Education at the University of Sussex. Along with Dr Tamsin-Hinton Smith, they created the Writing into Meaning group and blog space for researchers to explore and develop their academic writing in a supportive space.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines. Research staff are also welcome to book a place to attend this workshop.

Workshop description: Displaying information in a visual format is an excellent way for researchers to communicate their work. You can enhance your research papers, thesis, conference posters, presentations and public engagement activities with accurate and clear visual representations. This workshop is designed to introduce participants to various types of visual formats including standard graphs, information visualisations and graphics for publication.

There are a number of different ways to display your data or ideas visually and it depends on who you are aiming to engage and what you want to tell them. Building excellent graphics and summary figures takes time, practice and a willingness to learn the appropriate software. This workshop will provide an overview of information visualisation and further resources for participants to explore in their own time.

Data and information visualisation is a vast and rapidly growing field. This workshop covers the principles of visualising data, examples of excellent visualisations and poor visualisations and case studies including examples from the instructor’s own publications and experience.

At the end of this workshop researchers will have:

• been introduced to the principles of good information visualisation
• an overview of various types of visualisations and considered how they can represent their own work visually.

*Please note: this is not a workshop on digital tools, though a list of tools will be provided for participants to explore in their own time.

About the facilitators: The Scientific Editing Company is a training provider and communications company based in Edinburgh. They currently work with researchers in over 20 countries, helping them to communicate their work effectively. About the facillitaor: This workshop is designed and delivered by Joanna Young.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: Are you close to a full draft of your book, article, or thesis chapter? Does it resemble a baggy monster that needs taming? If so, this workshop is for you. Through activities and tutorials, you’ll learn techniques for getting your writing into shape. By the end of the workshop, you will have a polished chunk of writing and a clear strategy for tackling the rest of your publication.

We’ll cover:

• How much time do you need for editing?
• Improving your structure
• Signposting your argument
• Maintaining consistency, clarity and connections
• Wrangling with grammar and style
• Proofreading your own work
• Soliciting and implementing feedback

Attendees need to bring a printed copy of their draft (article, or thesis/book chapter) and a laptop.

Each topic comprises a facilitator-led tutorial and discussion, followed by an opportunity for participants to apply the learning on their own writing. Everyone swaps a draft during the final session to practice giving and receiving constructive feedback.

About the facillitaor: This workshop is designed and delivered by Dr Catherine Pope, a self-employed coach and workshop facilitator.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: This workshop will introduce you to Open Access (OA) publishing and what this means for you as a researcher. We will cover:

• An introduction to Open Access developments and debates
• the different routes to making your work Open Access
• the benefits of making your doctoral thesis more widely available
• consideration of publisher attitudes towards publishing open theses: fact vs fear
• finding OA material to support your own literature searches

Workshop feedback:

• "Excellent"
• "As someone who didn't know much about Open Access before, this workshop not only introduced me to the concept of Open Access publishing itself, but thoroughly took us through the ways in which we could do it ourselves"

Find out more about Open Access for researchers. 

About the facilitators: The Library Research Support team support researchers at all levels across the University. They offer bookable one-to-one sessions tailored to suit your specific research needs, run various group training workshops, & organise seminars & events to engage with the research community on campus. Together with the Hive Scholars, the team also look after the Sussex Research Hive, the Library's dedicated space for researchers.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: How can you display your research in an engaging visual format using accurate and clear visual representations? How should you present and discuss it during a poster session at an event? How can you use your poster to engage senior colleagues and expand your network?

Communicating your research on a poster is an excellent way to engage your peers, attract attention to your work and network with senior colleagues. Effective poster presentations require the researcher to consider several aspects such as design, data visualisation, image quality, key messages, concise written communication, public speaking and networking; it is therefore important to start planning your poster well in advance of the event.

This workshop is designed to introduce participants to effective poster design and networking strategy. It will also touch on some online tools and technologies that may be helpful for poster presentations. Short group exercises, case studies and the facilitator's personal experience will be included to illustrate key points.

Workshop feedback:

• "Having a go at presenting our own poster was useful to condense your thoughts but also to build confidence"
• "Finding out what happens at poster sessions and how they work made me think more about visual aspects of my research."
• "Helpful to know about which software to use, which fonts to use and ideas for how to make the poster look good."
• "Trainer was very good and knowledgeable"

About the facilitators: The Scientific Editing Company is a training provider and communications company based in Edinburgh. They currently work with researchers in over 20 countries, helping them to communicate their work effectively. About the facillitaor: This workshop is designed and delivered by Joanna Young.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: The first part of the workshop is a short seminar which covers:

• How to structure a presentation – story writing for beginners
• Slide content – the do’s and don’ts
• Body Language – where to stand and where to look
• Pacing – using pace, energy and gesture to keep an audience engaged
• Preparation – how best to prepare for the main event

The second part of the workshop offers practical exercises to improve confidence. This includes:

• Breathing from your core
• Voice training and vocal projection
• Feeling confident and projecting confidence though physicality

Learning outcomes: By the end of this workshop participants will be able to;

• Structure a clear and engaging presentation with appropriate and informative slide content
• Avoid many of the common pitfalls that lead to bad presentations
• Use voice and body techniques to project confidence in presenting your work
• Feel more confident in presenting to large audiences

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: This online workshop is designed specifically for researchers who are looking to develop their online presence and boost their career prospects through social media. There are now numerous channels available that can be used to amplify your research, promote an enterprising project and attract future employers. In addition, social networks can act as a valuable source of information and a personally tailored news feed.

We will explore different types of content that researchers can experiment with. What engages people? What should you post and what should you avoid? How should you manage your time on social media and optimise your engagement? In addition to designing an individual social media strategy, the workshop will include a section on legal considerations, privacy and openness.

The session will mention a selection of mainstream social media tools that can be used to build your online profile including LinkedIn and Twitter. Short exercises, case studies and the instructor’s personal experience will be included to illustrate key points. No prior experience is assumed so the course is suitable for beginners, however you may wish to set up a Twitter account prior to the session or be logged in to Twitter if you already have an account.

At the end of this workshop researchers will have:

• considered the various ways to use social media to their advantage;
• An awareness of the legal considerations and privacy issues;
• Started to design a social media strategy that they can implement in their own time.

About the facilitators: The Scientific Editing Company is a training provider and communications company based in Edinburgh. They currently work with researchers in over 20 countries, helping them to communicate their work effectively. About the facillitaor: This workshop is designed and delivered by Joanna Young.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages from the sciences

Workshop description: Researchers are writers. We communicate our results via articles, discuss the findings of others in reviews and use the literature as an immortal record of science from both past and contemporary research, therefore developing our writing skills must be given the same time and dedication as other phases of the research process. Writing is challenging, but it is an important skill that is developed and honed over time, it is a key component of the researcher’s skillset and one that they will use more than most.

Manuscripts must be clear and concise and written in a manner that is appropriate for that particular style of document. This workshop covers how to structure an original research paper, designing and planning your article, how to articulate your argument, what to highlight, good practice and what to avoid. The session will cover language, style and tone, using selected examples from the existing literature.

It includes a set of resources that participants can explore in their own time and consists of short lectures, discussions, individual exercises and anecdotes from the instructor’s own experience of writing and publishing articles.

At the end of this workshop researchers will have:

• understand what is expected of them regarding writing style and structure;
• analysed and discussed examples of clear, concise scientific writing;
• been given a range of resources to explore in their own time.

About the facilitators: The Scientific Editing Company is a training provider and communications company based in Edinburgh. They currently work with researchers in over 20 countries, helping them to communicate their work effectively. About the facillitaor: This workshop is designed and delivered by Joanna Young.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: Academic writing can be hard at the best of times. It's especially challenging during the current pandemic. In this interactive webinar, we'll discuss how you make writing more manageable, even under difficult circumstances. We'll cover:

• Understanding the Circle of Control
• Planning a Piece of Writing
• Getting Your Materials Ready
• Improving Productivity
• Staying Focused
• Looking After Yourself

By the end of the webinar, you'll have a range of strategies you can apply right away to help you keep going.

About the facilitator: This workshop is designed and delivered by Dr Catherine Pope, a self-employed coach and workshop facilitator.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers from all disciplines.

Workshop description: This session will introduce and discuss the practicalities of academic journal publishing. Various means for choosing a target journal will be considered, as will the mechanics of writing an effective paper (including a summary of the aims of each section of an academic report). Strategies for dealing with reviewer comments will also be considered at some length and opportunity will be provided to look at the response-to-reviewer letters of experienced academics. Time will also be made available for questions.

Technical details: In order to attend the online training you will need to download the appropriate virtual classroom software, provided by Electa-Live. This can be accessed direct from the Electa website at: [http://support.e-lecta.com/?topic=plugindownload]. Please do this as soon as possible and do not wait until the day of the session. The software can be downloaded to a PC, laptop, tablet, or even a smart phone. Remember, however, that downloading to a work computer may require administrative permissions to be granted. For this reason, the use of a personal computer may be advisable.

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by Simon Watts as part of the UEA Online Training Series, and is being repeated exclusively for Sussex PhD researchers due to high demand.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at any stage and from any discipline.

Workshop description: Explore the range of options available to you both inside and outside academia after your PhD.

Learning objectives:

• Reflect on your career to date and where to go from here
• Discuss possible career pathways
• Reflect on the skills gained from a PhD
• Identify and take away tailored information resources
• Learn how to manage your career and take the next step

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by the Careers and Entrepreneurship team 

*Please note that the Careers and Entrepreneurship team manage the bookings for these sessions. 

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at any stage and from any discipline.

Workshop description: Find out how to produce an excellent CV for roles inside or outside academia after your PhD. This session will look at different styles and approaches to help you market your skills effectively.

Learning outcomes:

• Learn about the options to enhance your own CV
• Review and access both academic and non-academic CV examples 

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by the Careers and Entrepreneurship team 

*Please note that the Careers and Entrepreneurship team manage the bookings for these sessions. 

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: What can you expect in an interview? Whether you have had ten interviews or zero, interviews can still be a daunting prospect if you’re not prepared. That’s why we are here to help you.

Find out how to succeed at interviews for roles inside and outside of academia after your PhD. This session will look at different styles and approaches to help you market your skills effectively.

We will cover:

• What to expect from interviews
• How to build your confidence and feel positive
• Variances in structure of an academic and non-academic interview
• Key differences between an academic and non-academic interview
• How to handle unusual questions and showcase your skills
• Questions you might ask

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by the Careers and Entrepreneurship team 

*Please note that the Careers and Entrepreneurship team manage the bookings for these sessions. 

Target audience: Doctoral researchers from all disciplines.

Workshop description: In a highly competitive world, securing any academic post is difficult. Getting a foot on the ladder and securing a first academic post in this context can seem especially daunting. Excellent subject knowledge, research and teaching skills are a good place to start, but a lack of know-how and experience in the application process often leads to ‘all being lost’ in the paperwork. Followed carefully, the advice given in this session will stop that happening.

Technical details: In order to attend the online training you will need to download the appropriate virtual classroom software, provided by Electa-Live. This can be accessed direct from the Electa website at: [http://support.e-lecta.com/?topic=plugindownload]. Please do this as soon as possible and do not wait until the day of the session. The software can be downloaded to a PC, laptop, tablet, or even a smart phone. Remember, however, that downloading to a work computer may require administrative permissions to be granted. For this reason, the use of a personal computer may be advisable.

About the facilitator: This workshop is delivered by Simon Watts as part of the UEA Online Training Series, and is being repeated exclusively for Sussex PhD researchers due to high demand.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at any stage from all disciplines.

Workshop description: When should you seek help and how to navigate support services at Sussex and beyond? It can be daunting to start seeking help about our mental health. What are examples of mental health problems? Can we get help for ‘just’ anxiety? What are the different pathways to services and which to choose? How to contact them? We will discuss experiences of different services so that you leave the session with a clearer picture of how you or your peers can get help and feel confident about doing so. 

Please note that this session is informative, is not a consultation about a specific problem, and you don't need to have problems to attend.

Please watch Sophie's videos Introduction to PhD mental health workshops and PhD Challenges and Mental Health as a prerequisite.

This session is part of our PhD Mental Health & Wellbeing Series. Each bitesize workshop is 1.5 hours. We advise that you attend the sessions in order, to gain the basic knowledge first, but you can register independently if you choose. Doctoral researcher mental health is a vast and complex topic. If you are interested in learning more in a safe and supportive space, these workshops are for you. 

About the facilitators: Dr Sophie Valeix is a Sussex PhD graduate. She coordinated the UDOC project that explored into PhD mental health at Sussex (2018-2020) and now works in a research centre at the Business School. Sophie has extensive experience researching PhD mental health issues and solutions and brings her lived experience to these sessions.

Helen Quin (MBACP, PGDip) is a Student Adviser at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and a Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, working as a therapist and facilitating personal and professional development and peer support groups.

Lizzy Pennock (MBACP, PGDip) is a Student Adviser at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and a Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, working in private practice and as a freelance facilitator.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at any stage and from any discipline.

Workshop description: What do we know of the impact of Covid19 on doctoral research mental health and wellbeing and what to do about it? We will explore some of the latest research on how the pandemic and lockdowns have affected doctoral research. Sophie will share some of her experiences of dealing with a general anxiety disorder and depression and how the pandemic has affected her existing coping strategies. You will be invited to explore your own difficulties through practical exercises that will help identify what you can and cannot influence or control.

Please watch Sophie's videos Introduction to PhD mental health workshops and PhD Challenges and Mental Health as a prerequisite.

This session is part of our PhD Mental Health & Wellbeing Series. Each bitesize workshop is 1.5 hours. We advise that you attend the sessions in order, to gain the basic knowledge first, but you can register independently if you choose. Doctoral researcher mental health is a vast and complex topic. If you are interested in learning more in a safe and supportive space, these workshops are for you. 

About the facilitators: Dr Sophie Valeix is a Sussex PhD graduate. She coordinated the UDOC project that explored into PhD mental health at Sussex (2018-2020) and now works in a research centre at the Business School. Sophie has extensive experience researching PhD mental health issues and solutions and brings her lived experience to these sessions.

Helen Quin (MBACP, PGDip) is a Student Adviser at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and a Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, working as a therapist and facilitating personal and professional development and peer support groups.

Lizzy Pennock (MBACP, PGDip) is a Student Adviser at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and a Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, working in private practice and as a freelance facilitator.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at any stage from all disciplines.

Workshop description: How to tailor self-care to what you really need, what are its limits? Self-care has become trendy during the pandemic, but our assumptions about self-care can easily stop us and it entails some work and technique. This is partly because humans are irrational beings and thus there are limits to thinking rationally about mental health. There will be time for everyone to unpack and share thoughts about their own strategies and barriers to self-care in a supportive atmosphere.

Please watch Sophie's videos Introduction to PhD mental health workshops and PhD Challenges and Mental Health as a prerequisite.

This session is part of our PhD Mental Health & Wellbeing Series. Each bitesize workshop is 1.5 hours. We advise that you attend the sessions in order, to gain the basic knowledge first, but you can register independently if you choose. Doctoral researcher mental health is a vast and complex topic. If you are interested in learning more in a safe and supportive space, these workshops are for you. 

About the facilitators: Dr Sophie Valeix is a Sussex PhD graduate. She coordinated the UDOC project that explored into PhD mental health at Sussex (2018-2020) and now works in a research centre at the Business School. Sophie has extensive experience researching PhD mental health issues and solutions and brings her lived experience to these sessions.

Helen Quin (MBACP, PGDip) is a Student Adviser at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and a Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, working as a therapist and facilitating personal and professional development and peer support groups.

Lizzy Pennock (MBACP, PGDip) is a Student Adviser at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and a Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, working in private practice and as a freelance facilitator.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at any stage from all disciplines.

Workshop description: Why are they different and how to understand and approach both within your specific situation? The workshop will highlight how every experience is different and therefore that solutions to wellbeing challenges and mental distress are also unique to individuals. Sophie will explain how visualising mental health separately form wellbeing can help understand your own situation and strategise. We will talk about the importance of monitoring your mental health/wellbeing over time, and how to do this by learning your triggers and relevant self-care strategies.

Please watch Sophie's videos Introduction to PhD mental health workshops and PhD Challenges and Mental Health as a prerequisite.

This session is part of our PhD Mental Health & Wellbeing Series. Each bitesize workshop is 1.5 hours. We advise that you attend the sessions in order, to gain the basic knowledge first, but you can register independently if you choose. Doctoral researcher mental health is a vast and complex topic. If you are interested in learning more in a safe and supportive space, these workshops are for you. 

About the facilitators: Dr Sophie Valeix is a Sussex PhD graduate. She coordinated the UDOC project that explored into PhD mental health at Sussex (2018-2020) and now works in a research centre at the Business School. Sophie has extensive experience researching PhD mental health issues and solutions and brings her lived experience to these sessions.

Helen Quin (MBACP, PGDip) is a Student Adviser at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and a Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, working as a therapist and facilitating personal and professional development and peer support groups.

Lizzy Pennock (MBACP, PGDip) is a Student Adviser at Brighton and Sussex Medical School and a Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, working in private practice and as a freelance facilitator.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at any stage and from any discipline.

Workshop description: Looking Out for One Another is a workshop for all doctoral researchers who are looking to support fellow researchers who may be struggling with their mental health. You will gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to support your peers while also looking after your own mental health.

This workshop has been developed by the Understanding the Mental Health of Doctoral Researchers (U-DOC) team at the University of Sussex in collaboration with Student Minds, the Student Mental Health UK charity. This workshop is based on U-DOC findings from a programme of research focused on doctoral researcher mental health and wellbeing, funded by the Office for Students/Research England.

This workshop is one of the initiatives of the wider mental health and wellbeing support and resources for doctoral researchers. Other workshops that are being developed include Looking After Yourself during the PhD and Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Supervisory relationship (for supervisors only). Further support includes the Student Centre, University Counselling Service, and Student Support Unit. For more information and resources, please visit the Doctoral School’s Wellbeing page.

About the facilitators: Beth Kent (Sussex Student Wellbeing Coordinator) and Jane Trueman (Sussex Students' Union Participation/Buddy Scheme Manager)

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at any stage and from any discipline.

Workshop description: Inclusivity has become somewhat of a popular word that gets thrown around quite a bit these days – but what does it really mean? What does good inclusivity look like? And how can you be inclusive as a researcher?

It is important to talk about inclusivity; but more importantly, we believe in the need to practise it. That's why in this workshop, we want to provide researchers with a safe space to discuss LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and the opportunity to share and learn in a non-judgemental way. In this workshop, we will highlight the use of inclusive language and how to create an inclusive conference environment. We will also discuss inclusivity in designing, writing, and thinking about research. There will also be opportunities to talk about real life research challenges and discuss potential strategies to overcome them. We welcome researchers at all levels of their inclusivity interests and practices; it's a session aimed at reflecting and learning in a safe and non-judgemental space.

Technical details:This workshop will involve a high level of interaction with cameras and mics on.

About the facilitatiors: Diana Dragani: Dee was a PhD researcher at Sussex and was a speaker at TEDxUniversityofSussex (on trans representation in the media). She is a passionate advocate of trans issues and representation. Jamie Chan: Jamie is a PhD researcher at Sussex focusing on body image and intersectionality.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at any stage in all disciplines. Research staff are also welcome to attend this workshop.

Workshop description: It's important for us to be kind to each other during the current pandemic. It's also vital that we're gentle on ourselves. In this interactive webinar, we'll discuss how we can best adapt our habits and stay productive.

We’ll cover:

• Playing the Long Game - avoiding quick fixes
• Getting Back to Basics - looking after our immediate needs
• Putting First Things First - working out our priorities and ditching everything else
• Being Gentle on Yourself - listening to your body

By the end of the webinar, you'll have a range of strategies you can apply right away to help you keep going.

About the facillitaor: This workshop is designed and delivered by Dr Catherine Pope, a self-employed coach and workshop facilitator.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

Workshop description: The supervisory relationship is crucial to the success of your PhD. In this interactive 3-hour workshop, you’ll discover practical tips for optimising this relationship. We’ll consider common problems and develop strategies for overcoming them. By the end of the session, you’ll have:

• A clearer sense of the supervisory relationship and how it develops
• Tools & templates for getting the most out of your supervisory meetings
• Techniques for requesting & implementing constructive feedback
• An awareness of common problems and how to deal with them

About the facilitator: This workshop is designed and delivered by Dr Catherine Pope, a self-employed coach and workshop facilitator.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at early to mid stages from all disciplines. Research staff are also welcome to book a place to attend this workshop.

Workshop description: Reference management tools enable you to create a personal database of references relevant to your work. These tools can help you gather bibliographic data from a range of sources, organise and manage this data, cite references in your writing and generate bibliographies.

There are a number of software options available, and choosing the right reference management tool for you will depend on your personal preferences and technical requirements. The Library is running workshops on three different reference management tools: Zotero, Mendeley and Endnote.

You can read more about each of the tools on the product webpages and compare compatibility, or come along to all the workshops to learn how to use each reference management tool, and decide which is best for you. These workshops will get you up and running with the software of your choice.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the workshop you will:

• understand the benefits and limitations of reference management tools
• be aware of the key features of three, popular reference management options
• know where to find additional support

About the facilitators: The Library Research Support team support researchers at all levels across the University. They offer bookable one-to-one sessions tailored to suit your specific research needs, run various group training workshops, and organise seminars and events to engage with the research community on campus. 

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in the early stages from all disciplines

Workshop description: There are a number of quick and effective ways to keep yourself up to date with the research going on in your subject area. This workshop will explore the tools and techniques available.

Learning outcomes: By the end of the workshop you will have

• Learnt how to set up database alerts to discover newly published articles and track relevant citations and authors
• Discovered services for keeping up to date with new issues of journals and tools for discovering forthcoming conferences
• Found out about using key resources and social media to discover who is researching in a similar field to you

Workshop feedback:

• "Very useful to know how many ways you can keep up to date! I had no idea you could receive alerts from so many resources"
• "Everything was explained very clearly and the presenters had a great deal of knowledge even if very subject-specific questions were asked"
• "Very helpful. I found fresh ways to source resources for my research"

About the facilitators: The Library Research Support team support researchers at all levels across the University. They offer bookable one-to-one sessions tailored to suit your specific research needs, run various group training workshops, and organise seminars and events to engage with the research community on and off campus.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at any stage and from any discipline.

Workshop description: This webinar looks at ideas and methods to help you with your networking with organisations and people who might help your career choices. Building a network of resources and people who can help you can be important in researching and developing a career.

In this webinar we will:

• Explore what is meant by networking and its value to you
• Identify networking resources
• Consider networks you may already have
• Learn how to identify networking opportunities
• Establish a winning LinkedIn profile and learn how to network effectively using this unique online platform

Facilitator: Sarah Coleman, Careers and Entrepreneurship 

This workshop is run by the Careers and Entrepreneurship team, who manage the bookings for these sessions. 

Target audience: Doctoral researchers at all stages and from all disciplines

Workshop description: This workshop will demonstrate the university's central research management system, Elements. Explore the benefits of building your digital profile to showcase your research and teaching activities. Please note this workshop is not relevant to Doctoral researchers within BSMS.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the workshop you will have:

• Learnt how to manage your public facing Elements profile
• Learnt how to deposit manuscripts to the repository

About the facilitators: The Library Research Support team support researchers at all levels across the University. They offer bookable one-to-one sessions tailored to suit your specific research needs, run various group training workshops, and organise seminars and events to engage with the research community on campus. Together with the Hive Scholars, the team also look after the Sussex Research Hive, the Library's dedicated space for researchers.

Target audience: Doctoral researchers in all stages from all disciplines. Research staff are also welcome to book a place to attend this workshop.

Workshop description: Bibliometrics and altmetrics are frequently used to demonstrate the impact and influence of research.

This workshop will introduce some of the most commonly used bibliometric indicators and tools. It discusses the importance of the responsible use of bibliometric data, the problems and limitations associated with its use, and which indicators are appropriate in which contexts. It will also look at the University’s commitment to the use of responsible metrics.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop you will have:

• Discovered the advantages of each metric as well as the potential for misuse, and considered how to use metrics responsibly
• Learnt how to find and evaluate the impact factor of journals
• Discovered how to use bibliometrics and altmetrics to illustrate the use of your research and that of others

Workshop feedback:

• "Lots of researchers don't know they need to know this stuff - very useful"
• "Novel insights into how each research/publication are rated and cited. Explained the pros and cons of how each different citation metric works"
• "Informative and useful - thanks"

About the facilitators: The Library Research Support team support researchers at all levels across the University. They offer bookable one-to-one sessions tailored to suit your specific research needs, run various group training workshops, and organise seminars and events to engage with the research community on campus.