Research Hive

Sussex Research Hive

Researchers and staff in the Research Hive
The Sussex Research Hive is the Library's designated area for researchers, open to all doctoral students and research staff. It provides private study areas, bookable meeting rooms and space for information discussion and collaborative work.

SAGE Publications have given funding to support both the Research Hive and the Library's innovative work in engaging with the research community at Sussex. Further information is available from the University's press release.

Three Research Hive Scholars have been appointed to support the new area and to engage with and foster the research community at Sussex. The Scholars will be on hand in the Hive to talk about the support available to researchers and to find out what users want from their research community. These hours will be advertised in the Research Hive, the University's online events system and on the Doctoral School blog.

As part of their roles, the Research Hive Scholars will evaluate use of the space and make recommendations for its future development. Please send any feedback about the areas to the Scholars: researchhive@sussex.ac.uk.

Follow the Research Hive on Twitter and read their blog to find out about the latests events and when the Scholars are available.

Research Hive Scholars

Sindi Gordon

I am a third year doctoral student from the Centre of Community Engagement, My research is a creative and critical investigation into the dialogic relationship between memory and imagination and its potential for personal freedom. My background is in documentary filmmaking and developing projects that encourage people to tell their own stories. I previously studied for my Masters at Sussex University in Creative Writing and Personal Development. During my time here I have gained an understanding and appreciation of the daily challenges, concerns and aspirations of researchers.

I am now working as one of the Library’s Research Hive Scholars and I am looking forward to developing activities that encourage and support doctoral researchers to work collaboratively and individually. I will be working in the Research Hive each week, feel free to say hello and share any ideas that you have about the space.

Liz Thackray

I'm a doctoral researcher in Sociology. My research focuses on the meanings of the metaphor of struggle and fight in the special needs system from the perspective of those who work with and those who live with high functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome. You may notice the grey hairs in my photo; I sometimes say, only half in jest, that my doctoral research is retirement preparation. Over the years I have worked in many different roles with people from a wide range of backgrounds and have learned to appreciate how much I can gain from and give to people with very different backgrounds and interests to mine.

As a Research Hive Scholar, I look forward to participating in an interdisciplinary, collaborative community, working with and getting to know other doctoral researchers and learning together as we progress on our doctoral and life journeys. During the coming year, together with Lefteris and Sindi, I will be spending time in the Research Hive and assisting in developing activities that offer opportunities for collaboration, learning and fun. Do say hello when you see me in the Hive and share any ideas you have about using the space the Hive offers us as researchers.

Lefteris Zenerian

My name is Lefteris Zenerian. I am a Doctoral researcher at the Sociology department. My research is concerned with the social relations that form among people working in similar industries in geographical proximity. My fieldwork takes place in Brighton, which has a very high presence of digital media economic activities, and my methodology is qualitative.

My role as a Research Hive Scholar entails communication with Doctoral researchers and the planning of activities aimed at the fostering of the research community in Sussex. I will be spending Monday mornings and afternoons working at the Hive, but I will be dropping in at other times, so do not hesitate to approach me if you have any queries.