Early career researchers
The School of Education and Social Work is dedicated to supporting the ongoing development of its early career researchers (ECRs), including post-docs, research fellows, research assistants and associates.
Welcome to the School of Education and Social Work.
I’m sure you will find this a creative and exciting place to work.
We have a group of excellent researchers in the Faculty and my role is to represent your views and voices on any issues affecting you as researchers and to communicate these back to the Faculty Research and Innovation Committee. This process is part of the spirit of collaboration and mutual support we all strive to achieve in this research environment.
All too often research can be a solitary process with the experiences and challenges of new researchers often going unheard. My role is to help to ensure this doesn’t happen and that we are able to use our collective voice to influence and create mutually beneficial and positive change.
I look forward to meeting with you during your induction.
Dr Jeongeun Park
ECR Representative
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Sussex Researcher School coordinates university-wide provision and support for ECRs, including information on how Principal Investigators can support ECRs.
The University has also signed the ‘’ committing us to an appropriately managed and supportive environment for research staff, with opportunities for professional development.
See further details about training and development, one-to-one support and career planning.
- School Induction
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We value our Early Career Researchers and offer a range of activities as part of the induction. Induction within the School has three main objectives:
- To help you settle into your new environment
- To help you understand your responsibilities
- To help ensure you are introduced to other members of staff (professional services, academic faculty and other research colleagues)
Within the first couple of weeks, you will meet your Principal Investigator (PI), School Lead for Research and Innovation, ECR Representatives, Head of Department, Research Centre Directors, Assistant Research Manager and any other members of faculty and Professional Services staff in the School deemed relevant. In addition to receiving day-to-day support from your PI, you will also be assigned a research mentor who will be available to meet with you periodically for advice and support as part of your allocation of ten (pro rata) career development days.
- Getting Started
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Welcome Guide for New Researchers - see Sussex Researcher School for helpful notes on what to expect in your first days, weeks and months of working at the university. This includes a local School level induction, as well as your start of contract discussion with your PI which should take place within a month of you starting.
Sussex Researcher School also has a set of FAQs and can be contacted at researcher-school@sussex.ac.uk.
There is also more up to date information on Faculty support on the . Contact fosocsci_research@sussex.ac.uk for access issues or if you have any other questions.
In addition, do make sure to set up your Elements Profile.
- Research Mentoring
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In addition to receiving day-to-day support from your PI, you will also be assigned a research mentor who will be available to meet with you periodically for advice and support. Some of the benefits of a one-to-one mentoring relationship are:
- Having a supportive relationship with someone outside of your line management, with whom you can explore and progress professional development goals
- Having the opportunity to learn from a more experienced colleague(s)
- Tailored support and guidance appropriate to your situation/career stage
- Confidential and objective discussions
If you haven’t yet been allocated a mentor please contact the ESW Assistant Research Manager via fosocsci_research@sussex.ac.uk.
The university also offers some different mentoring options for ECRs: Mentoring : Training and Development : ... : Sussex Researcher School : Schools and services : Â鶹´«Ã½ÉçÇøÈë¿Ú.
- Individual Research Plans
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The School of Education and Social Work is committed to ensuring that its Research Staff are fully engaged with its research culture and practices. Part of this process is an annual opportunity to reflect on your research activity over the previous year and consider how far your research aims have been realised, obstacles and facilitators. This exercise should be seen as an opportunity for research development, as well as a mechanism for capturing collective intelligence that will inform research planning as well as training/ development requirements for the following year. It does not form part of your ADR (Achievement and Development Review) or research mentoring. However, if you choose to, you can use it for both.
An online link to the IRP is circulated annually in order to support planning and support for next academic year.
- Career Development, Training & Support
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Every ECR is entitled to ten career development days per year (pro rata for part-time staff). These can be used for a variety of career-related activities, including meeting with a research mentor (see above) and attending career development training sessions.
Sussex Researchers School presents a range of useful training in their ECR focused training and you will be put onto their mailing list. In addition, the staff Learning and Development pages also signpost to a range of courses, including Management Essentials, that you can access to develop your career. There are also courses available to manage your wellbeing.
You will be aligned with a Research Centre and can access any of the seminars and other events such as reading groups and writing workshops that are put on by any of the Research Centres across the School and Faculty. See the for the latest upcoming events.
You might also consider putting yourself forward to be an ECR rep within the Faculty and in so doing be the voice of the research staff community. Please contact your Assistant Research Manager via fosocsci_research@sussex.ac.uk if this is something that interests you.
See also the latest on promotion and progression procedures. ECRs have equal entitlement to promotion training within the School and Faculty and you will be notified when this becomes available.
Sussex Researcher School signpost to Support for Early Career Researchers in the university, including practical support, policies and guidance.
- Human Resources & Practical Support
- Teaching
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Depending on your research funder, it is anticipated that research staff will be able to undertake a small amount of teaching, and or supervision activity (to be negotiated with the PI and Head of Department), to support their professional development. This may include one-off lectures, or supervision of undergraduate or masters dissertations.
Research staff new to teaching will be required to take the University’s ‘Starting to Teach’ module from their allocation of career development days.
- Printing, Office Space & Access
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Printing
All Multi-Functional Devices (MFDs) located across the campus and in each building have a 'secure printing' facility. To use the new MFDs, you’ll need to load a new printer driver, as follows:- Click the windows “Start” button
- Where it says “Search programs and files”, type in \\anuosprt01.uosprinting.com
- Double click on UoS_Secure_Print_Letter
- …wait for a couple of minutes…
- Double click on UoS_Secure_Print
- Close the windows that pop open.
- Probably set the new printer, UoS_Secure_Print as your default (once set up and ready to go) – On the Devices and Printers option.
- Then send all prints to this print queue, and you’ll be able to print on any of the MFDs
Workspace
You will be offered workspace by your Principal Investigator, in conjunction with the Senior Operations Manager. It is likely the space may be shared with other ECR colleagues.Access to Essex House
The normal open hours of the building are 8.30am - 4.30pm on weekdays.If you wish to gain access to Essex House outside these hours you must record your presence and notify the University Security Services office:
- call (01273) 67 8234
- email security@sussex.ac.uk
This is so security staff know to try to find you in the event of an emergency. Sussex Estates and Facilities operates a 24-hour a day, 365 days a year security service for the University.
On leaving, please check that the door of the office you were using is locked and all lights are turned off.
In an emergency
Call 01273 87 3333 immediately in case of an emergency, or visit the Security reception.
The Security reception is available at the north entrance to Bramber House, opposite the Student Centre. Security are available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Security are available to support with first aid, feeling unsafe, suspicious objects or persons, and any other related security emergencies.
Further information is here: Emergencies : Services : Estates : Schools and services : Â鶹´«Ã½ÉçÇøÈë¿Ú
- End of Contract Support
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As you approach the end of your contract, you should arrange a meeting with your line manager (usually your PI) to discuss your next steps. You should also discuss your training and development needs and longer term career plans (looking beyond the end of your contract) as part of your reflections and discussions with your line manager in your Achievement and Development Review (ADR). You can also discuss with your mentor and/or reflect on your next steps in your IRP.
You will be formally notified by HR when your contract is coming to an end. If you would like more specialised or specific advice, you can make an appointment with HR (hradmin.socialsciences@sussex.ac.uk) who can also talk to you about the University's redeployment procedure.