Sussex Researcher School

Scheduled RDP workshops and events

The Researcher Development Programme provides year-round training and development opportunities to help you successfully complete your research degree, and prepare for your future

RDP workshops open for booking four to six weeks in advance, on a rolling basis, and close to bookings one working day before each session. If a workshop isn't bookable, add your name to the waiting list and we'll let you know when registration opens. Visit the all workshops pages for the full list of workshops taking place this year, and to access waiting lists.

If you have any questions about RDP workshops, or any issues with booking a place, email us researcher-development@sussex.ac.uk.

 

January 2024

PGR networking and LinkedIn for career success
Theme: Grow
Date: Wednesday 31 January 2024
Time: 11:00-12:30 (UK)
Location: Student Centre

Description: This on campus event looks at ideas and methods to help PGRs with your networking with people who might help your career choices and outcomes.

 

February 2024

Becoming a postgraduate researcher: Skills, strategies and support
Theme: Induction
Date: Friday 2 February 2024
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: Pursuing a research degree isn’t just about knowledge – you need to manage yourself, too. Make a successful start to your postgraduate degree with this practical workshop, designed to prepare you for the journey ahead.



Open research: principles, practices and purpose

Theme: Core
Date: Monday 5 February 2024
Time: 11:00-12:30 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: This workshop will look at the concept of open research and explore opportunities for implementing open research principles into your own practice.



PGR Essentials: Careers and Entrepreneurship

Theme: Induction
Date: Monday 5 February 2024
Time: 14:30-15:30 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: This participative event promotes the University’s Careers and Entrepreneurship services. You’ll find out how the Sussex Careers team supports researchers and explore various career destinations for PGRs.



One-day academic writing retreat

Theme: Core
Date: Tuesday 6 February 2024
Time: 10:00-17:00 (UK)
Location: The Keep 2/3

Description: Are you struggling to get started with your academic writing? Or have you hit a block? If so, this intensive one-day writing retreat can help you get back on track and make significant progress with your chapter, article or book.

Please note: This workshop is now fully booked. However, you may join the waiting list to be notified when another one is sheduled in the future.



PGR Essentials: Introduction to ethics

Theme: Induction
Date: Tuesday 6 February 2024
Time: 14:00-15:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: This workshop will look at the key principles of undertaking ethical research, and explain how to go about obtaining ethical approval from the University.



Managing your research data: Introduction to data management plans

Theme: Core
Date: Thursday 8 February 2024
Time: 10:00-11:30 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: Writing a data management plan (DMP) is useful for researchers in all disciplines. This workshop will introduce you to the essential elements of a DMP.



Stand-out CVs for postgraduate researchers

Theme: Grow
Date: Thursday 8 February 2024
Time: 11:00-12:00 (UK)
Location: Student Centre

Description: Find out how to produce an excellent CV for roles inside and outside academia after your research degree. This webinar will look at different styles and approaches to help you market your skills effectively.



PGR Essentials: Introduction to the library

Theme: Induction
Date: Thursday 8 February 2024
Time: 15:00-16:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: Find out about the collections and discovery tools you can access at Sussex, the tailored services available from the Research Support team, and the dedicated Hive study space for researchers.



PGR Essentials: Careers and Entrepreneurship

Theme: Induction
Date: Friday 9 February 2024
Time: 15:30-16:30 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: This participative event promotes the University’s Careers and Entrepreneurship services. You’ll find out how the Sussex Careers team supports researchers and explore various career destinations for PGRs.



Looking after yourself: Challenges to mental health and wellbeing during your postgraduate research degree

Theme: Induction
Date: Tuesday 13 February 2024
Time: 10:00-11:30 (UK)
Location: Fulton Building room 102

Description: Doing a research degree poses some unique challenges that can affect your mental health and wellbeing. This first workshop in the series will explore what these challenges are and ask you to reflect on how they affect you.



Preparing for your viva (Sciences)

Theme: Core
Date: Thursday 15 February 2024
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Bramber House room 255

Description: The viva can be a daunting event for postgraduate researchers. This workshop will de-mystify the viva process rules and requirements and provide you with useful guidance about how you can prepare for the big day throughout your PGR journey.



Improve your literature searching skills

Theme: Core
Date: Thursday 15 February 2024
Time: 14:00-15:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

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



Becoming a postgraduate researcher: Skills, strategies and support

Theme: Induction
Date: Friday 16 February 2024
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Arundel Building room 1B

Description: Pursuing a research degree isn’t just about knowledge – you need to manage yourself, too. Make a successful start to your postgraduate degree with this practical workshop, designed to prepare you for the journey ahead.



Working with your supervisor: Practical tips for optimising the supervisory experience

Theme: Induction
Date: Monday 19 February 2024
Time: 11:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: The supervisory relationship is crucial to the success of your research degree. In this workshop, you’ll discover practical tips for optimising this relationship. We’ll consider common problems and develop strategies for overcoming them.



Wrangling your workload

Theme: Grow
Date: Tuesday 20 February and Wednesday 21 February 2024
Time: 10:00-12:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: This two-day workshop will help you review the extent and limits of your working environment, review your priorities and what that means for your workload in any given moment.



Looking after yourself: Your own mental health and wellbeing

Theme: Induction
Date: Tuesday 20 February 2024
Time: 10:00-11:30 (UK)
Location: Fulton Building room 207

Description: This workshop will talk about the importance of monitoring your mental health/wellbeing over time, by learning your triggers and identifying self-care strategies.



Making progress in your research degree

Theme: Induction
Date: Thursday 22 February 2024
Time: 11:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: Are you part-way through your research degree and wondering how to keep going? Do you need a push to progress to the final stages? If yes, this session is for you.



Interviewing for success

Theme: Grow
Date: Thursday 22 February 2024
Time: 12:00-13:30 (UK)
Location: Student Centre

Description: 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.



Planning for the final year of your research degree

Theme: Induction
Date: Monday 26 February 2024
Time: 11:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: With clear guidance, individual exercises, and group discussion, this practical workshop helps you prepare for the last stages of your research degree, including submission, the viva, and what happens next.



Take 5: Digital productivity for postgraduate researchers

Theme: Grow
Date: Monday 26 February - Friday 1 March 2024
Time: 9:00-17:00 (UK)
Location: Online on Canvas

Description: Take 5 online bitesized courses are short, facilitated, self-study courses. Hosted on Canvas, the courses are designed for those who may be too busy to attend a one or two hour workshop - each day of the course can be completed during a lunch break or spare time. Each course is split into five ‘bitesize’ pieces - one a day Monday to Friday. Each day builds your understanding to give you a solid foundation.



Looking After Yourself: Unpacking self-care strategies

Theme: Induction
Date: Tuesday 27 February 2024
Time: 10:00-11:30 (UK)
Location:  Fulton Building room 102

Description: How do you tailor self-care to what you really need, and what are its limits? Self-care became trendy during the pandemic, but our assumptions about it can stop us from gaining any benefits, and it entails some work and technique.

Please note: This workshop has been cancelled.



How to edit your own academic writing

Theme: Core
Date: Tuesday 27 February 2024
Time: 14:00-17:00 (UK)
Location:  Pevensey I room 1B3

Description: Through activities and tutorials, you’ll learn techniques for getting your writing into shape. After the workshop, you will have a polished chunk of writing and a clear strategy for tackling the rest of your publication.



Stress, resilience and strengths

Theme: Grow
Date: Thursday 29 February 2024
Time: 09:30-12:30 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: This workshop will provide you with insights into how to boost your personal capacity for resilience, and introduce you to a variety of techniques to help you better identify, manage, and recover from stress.



Presentation skills for postgraduate researchers

Theme: Grow
Date: Thursday 29 February 2024
Time: 13:00-15:00 (UK)
Location: Ashdown House room 103

Description: Giving presentations comes high on most people list of ‘least favourite things to do’, but with a few simple tricks and a structure to help you plan, you can counteract your fear of presenting.

 

March 2024

Improve your literature searching skills
Theme: Core
Date: Friday 1 March 2024
Time: 11:00-13:00 (UK)
Location:  Library Seminar Room

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



Undertaking a literature review (Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences)

Theme: Core
Date: Friday 1 March 2024
Time: 13:00-16:00 (UK)
Location:  Jubilee Building room G36

Description: The literature review forms a substantial part of your postgraduate 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.



Managing your research data: Keeping your data organised and secure

Theme: Core
Date: Monday 4 March 2024
Time: 11:00-12:00 (UK)
Location:  Online via Zoom

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.



Looking after yourself: Getting help and support for mental health problems

Theme: Induction
Date: Tuesday 5 March 2024
Time: 10:00-11:30 (UK)
Location:  Fulton Building room 207

Description: By the end of the session you will understand how you or your peers can get help and feel confident about doing so. This session is informative, is not a consultation about a specific problem, and you don’t need problems to attend.

Please note: This workshop has been cancelled.



Introduction to reference management software

Theme: Core
Date: Tuesday 5 March 2024
Time: 11:00-12:00 (UK)
Location:  Online via Zoom

Description: This session will outline the principles behind reference managers and introduce three specific tools: Zotero, Mendeley and Endnote. The workshop will also signpost you to some self-guided training materials to enable you to set up the software of your choice.



Copyright in publishing: understanding your rights as an author

Theme: Realise
Date: Friday 8 March 2024
Time: 14:00-15:00 (UK)
Location:  Online via Zoom

Description: This workshop will summarise the principles of copyright as they apply to publishing. The session will outline the copyright relationship between authors and publishers for both journal and monographs, and summarise the different Creative Commons licenses, their uses and potential limitations.



Open research: principles, practices and purpose

Theme: Core
Date: Monday 11 March 2024
Time: 14:00-15:30 (UK)
Location: Library Seminar Room

Description: This workshop will look at the concept of open research and explore opportunities for implementing open research principles into your own practice.

Please note: This workshop has been cancelled.



One-day academic writing retreat

Theme: Core
Date: Thursday 14 March 2024
Time: 09:30-16:30 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: Are you struggling to get started with your academic writing? Or have you hit a block? If so, this intensive one-day writing retreat can help you get back on track and make significant progress with your chapter, article or book.



Commercialising your research (for PGRs) - HIVE in partnership with Careers

Theme: Special event
Date: Thursday 14 March 2024
Time: 11:00-12:30 (UK)
Location: Student Centre Woodlands 3

Description: In this session for postgraduate researchers we'll discuss the support and funding options available to those keen to explore the possibility of turning their research into a business, social enterprise or an impactful project.



Introduction to reference management software

Theme: Core
Date: Monday 18 March 2024
Time: 11:00-12:00 (UK)
Location: Library Seminar Room

Description: This session will outline the principles behind reference managers and introduce three specific tools: Zotero, Mendeley and Endnote. The workshop will also signpost you to some self-guided training materials to enable you to set up the software of your choice.

Please note: This workshop has been cancelled.



An alternative guide to PGR funding

Theme: Realise
Date: Monday 18 March 2024
Time: 14:00-16:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: Are you a current postgraduate student who needs extra funding for fees, living expenses, research, conference or 4th year postgraduate writing-up costs? If the answer is 'yes', then consider attending this session!



How to adapt your research degree

Theme: Realise
Date: Tuesday 19 March 2024
Time: 11:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: Flexibility are key skills for postgraduate researchers. In this practical and interactive webinar, you’ll discover ways of getting back on track with your thesis. You'll clarify your aims, map out some alternative routes, and create an achievable plan B.



How to edit your own academic writing

Theme: Core
Date: Wednesday 20 March 2024
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: Through activities and tutorials, you’ll learn techniques for getting your writing into shape. After the workshop, you will have a polished chunk of writing and a clear strategy for tackling the rest of your publication.



Preparing for your viva (Sciences)

Theme: Core
Date: Thursday 21 March 2024
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: The viva can be a daunting event for postgraduate researchers. This workshop will de-mystify the viva process rules and requirements and provide you with useful guidance about how you can prepare for the big day throughout your PGR journey.

Please note the online version of this workshop is intended for PGRs that cannot attend the on campus sessions and PGRs whose Viva is happening before the middle of May.



Preparing for your viva (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences)

Theme: Core
Date: Thursday 21 March 2024
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: The viva can be a daunting event for postgraduate researchers. This workshop will de-mystify the viva process rules and requirements and provide you with useful guidance about how you can prepare for the big day throughout your PGR journey.



Re-using other people’s work and protecting your own work: an introduction to copyright

Theme: Realise
Date: Thursday 21 March 2024
Time: 14:00-15:30 (UK)
Location: Library Seminar Room

Description: This workshop will summarise the principles of copyright, consider how and when UK fair dealing exceptions can be applied and how, through licensing and permissions, you can legally use other people’s work in your thesis and publications.



Planning, structuring and writing your thesis (Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences)

Theme: Core
Date: Friday 22 March 2024
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

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.

 

April 2024

Understanding and using publication metrics responsibly
Theme: Realise
Date: Friday 12 April 2024
Time: 11:00-12:30 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: This workshop will introduce the benefits and disadvantages of a number of tools which provide publication metrics for both the individual researcher and for institutional level analysis.



Copyright in publishing: understanding your rights as an author

Theme: Realise
Date: Monday 15 April 2024
Time: 14:00-15:00 (UK)
Location: Library Seminar Room

Description: The session will outline the copyright relationship between authors and publishers for both journal and monographs, and summarise the different Creative Commons licenses, their uses and potential limitations.



Accessible presentations

Theme: Realise
Date: Wednesday 17 April 2024
Time: 10:00-11:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: In this session we’ll look at what we mean by accessibility and why it is important, then we’ll explore some practical techniques and useful resources for producing and delivering accessible presentations.

Please note that being familair with creating and editing files using Microsoft PowerPoint is a necessary prerequisite for this workshop.



Understanding and using publication metrics responsibly

Theme: Realise
Date: Thursday 18 April 2024
Time: 14:00-15:30 (UK)
Location: Library Seminar Room

Description: This workshop will introduce the benefits and disadvantages of a number of tools which provide publication metrics for both the individual researcher and for institutional level analysis.



One-day academic writing retreat for PGRs and ECRs

Theme: Core
Date: Thursday 25 April 2024
Time: 09:30-16:30 (UK)
Location: The Keep room 2/3

Description: Are you struggling to get started with your academic writing? Or have you hit a block? If so, this intensive one-day writing retreat can help you get back on track and make significant progress with your chapter, article or book.



Re-using other people’s work and protecting your own work: an introduction to copyright

Theme: Realise
Date: Monday 29 April 2024
Time: 14:00-15:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: This workshop will summarise the principles of copyright, consider how and when UK fair dealing exceptions can be applied and how, through licensing and permissions, you can legally use other people’s work in your thesis and publications.

 

May 2024

Scientific writing: structure, language and style
Theme: Thrive
Date: Thursday 2 May 2024
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: 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.



Posters: designing, presenting and networking

Theme: Thrive
Date: Friday 3 May 2024
Time: 09:30-12:30 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: This workshop is designed to introduce participants to effective poster design and networking strategy.



Open publishing: An introduction

Theme: Thrive
Date: Tuesday 7 May 2024
Time: 11:00-12:30 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: This workshop will introduce you to open publishing for your research outputs and what this means for you as a researcher.



Preparing for your viva (Sciences)

Theme: Core
Date: Wednesday 8 May 2024
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Essex House room 18

Description: The viva can be a daunting event for postgraduate researchers. This workshop will de-mystify the viva process rules and requirements and provide you with useful guidance about how you can prepare for the big day throughout your PGR journey.



Open research: principles, practices and purpose

Theme: Core
Date: Thursday 9 May 2024
Time: 11:00-12:30 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: This workshop will look at the concept of open research and explore opportunities for implementing open research principles into your own practice.



Figures, images and visualising information

Theme: Thrive
Date: Thursday 9 May 2024
Time: 14:00-17:00 (UK)
Location: Online via Zoom

Description: 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.



Planning, structuring and writing your thesis (Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences)

Theme: Core
Date: Friday 10 May 2024
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Location: Essex House room 18

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.

Sussex Researcher School

E: researcher-school@sussex.ac.uk