JRA Academic Posters
Each JRA is asked to design an academic poster, which is then displayed in an annual exhibition to celebrate the work of the JRAs This page tells you everything you need to know about designing and displaying your poster.
Poster submission deadline for all JRAs is Monday 2 September 2024 at 4pm.
- Why do I have to design a poster?
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As per the terms and conditions of the JRA contract, all students are required to design an A1 academic poster as the main output of their JRA project. While this allows academics, and others interested in the scheme, to understand what you have been researching over the summer, it provides a much bigger benefit for the student. By designing and presenting an academic poster, you will gain experience in communicating your findings to a wider audience through a method frequently used in the academic community.
- What happens to my poster after I design it?
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All JRA posters will be professionally printed and displayed at the annual JRA Poster Exhibition. The event is held after the completion of the JRA Scheme, often in October. It is open to faculty, staff, students and the general public, and tends to be very busy. Once the exhibition is over, all JRAs are allowed to keep their poster, as well as certificate confirming that they have successfully completed the JRA Scheme.
- Will my poster be judged or assessed?
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Although the main purpose of the exhibition is to celebrate undergraduate research and all the completed research projects, there is also a competitive element. Once all JRA posters have been submitted, then they will be judged by a mix of academics and faculty members and the top 5-10 posters will be selected. These finalists present their poster and research project to a small judging panel and based on these poster presentations, alongside the posters themselves, the top two are selected and awarded a prize on the day of the exhibition.
The first and second prize winners are also invited to represent Sussex at BCUR's annual Posters in Parliament exhibition in the Spring.
- I have never designed an academic poster before. Will I get any support?
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As designing an academic poster will be a new experience for most JRAs, there are two workshops included in the JRA training session, which will give you all the information and knowledge you need to design a poster. These workshops are divided into Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities and Natural and Physical Sciences, so please ensure that you attend the correct session for your project area.
Please note that all JRA training sessions are mandatory but if you are unable to attend either session, or would like some additional guidance, then please have a look at our JRA Poster Guidelines for further advice. to help you through the process. Also, please have a look at the previous JRA projects page (link), where you will find a gallery of some previously shortlisted JRA posters too.
- When do I have to submit the poster?
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The poster submission deadline for all JRAs is Monday 2 September 2024 at 4pm.
Note: Posters must be submitted by the stated deadline. It is your responsibility to ensure that your poster reaches us in time. We cannot accept late posters due to any technical or electronic issues. Students who submit their posters late, or who fail to submit a poster, will be penalised.
- How do I submit my poster?
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All JRAs must submit a PDF version of their poster. It must be A1 size and in portrait orientation. It should be sent as an email attachment (or via WeTransfer if the size of the poster is too large) to undergraduate-research@sussex.ac.uk. We will send out more guidance on this nearer to the submission date.
All you have to do is design the poster - staff will have these professionally printed and ensure they are ready to be displayed during the exhibition.
Winning JRA Posters 2023
Shortlisted posters from the 2023 JRA scheme, including winner Tom Baird-Taylor and runners-up Natalia James, plus the People's Choice Award winner Keerthy Vijendran.
