• Back to previous menu
• Your community
• • News
  • Events
  • Spotlight on Researchers
  • Apply to be a Hive Scholar
  • Three Minute Thesis
  • Postgraduate Research Experience Survey

Apply to be a Hive Scholar

SAGE Research Hive Scholarships 2025-26

The Library’s Research Hive is a dedicated space for postgraduate researchers and academic staff at Sussex, serving as a hub for the vibrant and diverse research community at the University.

The Library, in partnership with Sussex Researcher School and SAGE Publishing, is offering three SAGE Research Hive Scholarships to support the Hive and the postgraduate researcher community. These partnerships reflect our shared commitment to supporting diversity in both academic publishing and our local research community, bringing together different perspectives for collaboration and development.

Each scholarship attracts a fixed bursary of £3,575 for an eleven-month duration: from the start of September 2025 to the end of July 2026.

The scholarship holders will be required to contribute on average 25 hours per month for the duration of the scholarship period. These hours will be flexible and dependent on any planned activities and events. Some of this time will be spent on-site in the Hive at times to be agreed, but the Scholars will also be expected to manage their own time exploring the needs of fellow postgraduate researchers and developing initiatives to support them. For previous Scholars this has included activities such as running in-person and online peer support study sessions, an event focusing on the experiences of neurodiverse PGRs, a Beyond your PhD event with Careers, peer-led panel discussions, an interdisciplinary methods conference and creative events such as Collage Your PhD  or Creative Thesis

The Scholars will need to work together effectively and flexibly as a self-managing team, under the supervision of the Research and Open Scholarship Librarian.  They will need to maintain regular contact by email/other social media and attend face-to-face and online meetings.

The scholarships present a fantastic opportunity for postgraduate researchers to develop a host of professional skills and expand their research networks through engagement & events. You will have the chance to contribute to & enhance the development of the research community at Sussex and gain first-hand knowledge of academic publishing from Sage and beyond.

How to apply

The scholarships are open to Sussex postgraduate researchers who are currently registered and intend to stay registered until summer 2026.  We are committed to supporting a diverse and inclusive research community and encourage applications from all postgraduate researchers, especially those from under-represented groups. This opportunity is open to researchers already holding another scholarship, but it is the responsibility of the applicant to confirm that their existing scholarship would permit them to apply.

Please use the application form to indicate how you meet the criteria listed in the person specification and provide examples.  You may include a short CV if you wish. The closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 22^nd June and applications should be sent to library.researchsupport@sussex.ac.uk

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 9^th or Thursday 10^th July 2025.  Please specify in your application if you are unable to make one of these dates. Although the scholarship will not begin until September, the successful candidates will ideally be able to meet informally during the summer.

For an informal discussion about the scholarships, please contact Maggie Symes, Research & Open Scholarship Librarian M.Symes@sussex.ac.uk .

Key responsibilities

The Hive Scholars will work together to:

• Support and develop the vibrant postgraduate research community at Sussex

• Model an inclusive approach to the use of the physical and digital spaces associated with the Hive

• Raise awareness of the Hive and its community by working closely with key contacts in the academic Schools e.g. promoting the Hive as part of induction week meetings

• Collaborate with SAGE Publishing to help develop community engagement around key objectives incl. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

• Use social media to engage researchers, promote discussions and offer peer support

• Develop content for the Research Hive Blog and evaluate its efficacy and impact

• Support existing formal and informal researcher activities held by the Library / Sussex Researcher School, including but not limited to: Open Access Week, professional development workshops, and the Summer of Research

• Initiate and organise relevant peer support activities and events through the Hive

• Produce an annual evaluation of the Hive Scholarship and its impact

• When requested, gather and share information on the use and development of the Hive with SAGE and the Sussex Researcher School through written reports and presentations
• Any other duties in support of the Library and Sussex Researcher School, as determined by the line manager

General expectations:

• Approximately 6 hours per week (variable)
• Fortnightly meetings with Library line manager
• Annual visit to Sage in London - Participation in Library staff conference

Support from the Library:

• Line management & support from the Research & Open Scholarship team
• Advice, guidance and input on practicalities

Person specification