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“The JRA scheme really did change my life trajectory. I am beyond grateful for the amazing opportunity."
By: Emma Wigmore
Last updated: Monday, 7 July 2025
Natalia James and her research poster
Natalia’s JRA poster
According to the QS World University Rankings 2025, Sussex is ranked 16th in the UK for employment outcomes out of 90 higher education institutions. This metric reflects how well graduates succeed in securing jobs or pursuing further study after graduation.
Supported by generous donations to the Sussex Fund and the Kroto-Walton Fund, the Junior Research Associate (JRA) scheme at Sussex underpins this success, serving as a powerful springboard for both employability and academic progression.
Through the eight-week JRA scheme that runs each summer, undergraduate students get the chance to be active contributors to cutting-edge research projects, either by joining existing initiatives or proposing their own. This gives them a valuable opportunity to immerse themselves in real, impactful research. Every JRA is mentored by an academic supervisor and a PhD researcher, providing guidance that helps students grow both intellectually and professionally.
Students also receive a bursary, which not only serves to encourage full commitment because students don’t need to find other jobs to support themselves over the summer, it opens the scheme up to all, regardless of their financial means.
To truly grasp what an impactful and life-changing opportunity the programme offers undergraduate students, we hear first-hand from a former JRA. Natalia James participated in the scheme in 2023. She says:
"I am the first in my family to go to university. In 2024, I graduated from Sussex with a degree in Sociology and Criminology. I remained at Sussex and am now studying for a Social Research Methods MSc, after which I will start my PhD.
“As an undergrad I became increasingly interested in research, particularly in an under-researched area that I started to explore in the second year of my degree. The topic was classroom behaviour-tracking apps used in secondary schools in England and how they are experienced by parents of students with Special Educational Needs. I decided to sign up for the JRA scheme as it offered me the perfect opportunity to research this area further and get paid at the same time.”
The JRA programme culminates with an exhibition of research posters and the opportunity to represent Sussex at the Posters in Parliament event in London. Natalia, as creator of one of the top two research posters in her JRA cohort, was selected to showcase her research findings there. She says:
“Posters in Parliament was really inspiring and gave me a real confidence boost. As a first generation scholar I often suffer from imposter syndrome, but discussing my research with academics from different universities, as well as receiving positive feedback, fuelled my determination to continue with it. Just being at the event taught me important new skills too, namely sharing knowledge and networking. These will serve me well during my PhD.”
Natalia is hugely grateful for the opportunity to take part in the JRA programme. She says:
“Before starting university, just completing an undergraduate degree seemed like a massive achievement. Postgraduate education was never even on my horizon. But now look at me!
“That said, without the bursary that I received I would not have been able to afford to participate in the scheme and I may never have realised my full potential. My academic journey might have ended and so too my opportunity to continue my research. The JRA scheme really did change my life trajectory. I am beyond grateful for the amazing opportunity.”
The JRA scheme is more than just a summer job - it’s a launchpad. It helps students clarify their academic ambitions, gain confidence in their abilities, and contribute meaningfully to their field before they even graduate. For many, like Natalia, it’s a defining feature in their academic journey.
It costs £3,500 to support a Junior Research Associate. The JRA Scheme is an investment in the future of research and innovation, so by making a gift to the Sussex Fund you can feel proud that you are playing your part in it.