The Researcher Development Programme (RDP) have opened for registration a number of workshops and events taking place over February, see below some of the upcoming workshops and view the full schedule and details via our webpages.
Please note that workshops are added on a rolling basis so do keep checking our webpages for new additions throughout the Autumn term.
Becoming a doctoral researcher: Skills, strategies and support (CAMPUS)
Date: 02 February 2023
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Workshop description: Pursuing a PhD isn’t just about knowledge – you need to manage yourself, too. Make a successful start to your doctorate with this practical workshop designed to prepare you for the journey ahead. You’ll get the opportunity to meet researchers from across the University and will gain an insight into the necessary skills to thrive during your PhD, as well as consider strategies in time management and how to seek and build meaningful support networks.
Book now via SussexDirect
Figures, images and visualising information (ONLINE)
Date: 02 February 2023
Time: 14:15-17:00 (UK)
Workshop description: Displaying information in a visual format is an excellent way for researchers to communicate their work. You can enhance your research papers, thesis, conference posters, presentations and public engagement activities with accurate and clear visual representations. This workshop is designed to introduce participants to various types of visual formats including standard graphs, information visualisations and graphics for publication. This workshop will provide an overview of information visualisation and further resources for participants to explore in their own time. It also covers the principles of visualising data, examples of excellent visualisations and poor visualisations and case studies including examples from the instructor’s own publications and experience.
Book now via SussexDirect
Improve your literature searching skills (ONLINE)
Date: 03 February 2023
Time: 15:00-16:30 (UK)
Workshop description: Literature searching is an essential part of doctoral research. This workshop explores how to effectively apply search strategies and techniques to online databases in order to find the most relevant literature to support your research.Using the multidisciplinary databases Scopus and Web of Science as examples, the facilitators will demonstrate effective search techniques and discuss the development of literature searching strategies for doctoral projects.
Book now via SussexDirect
Undertaking a Literature Review in the Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences (CAMPUS)
Date: 06 February 2023
Time: 14:00-17:00 (UK)
Workshop description: The literature review forms a substantial part of your doctoral thesis and is also an ongoing process. Through clear examples, individual exercises, and group discussion, this workshop gets you started with your review. You will also receive guidance from the Library’s Research Support team to help you with your literature searching.
Book now via SussexDirect
How to edit your own academic writing (ONLINE)
Date: 08 February 2023
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Workshop description: Are you close to a draft of your thesis chapter, article or book contribution? Are you disheartened to feel it resembles a baggy monster that needs taming? If so, come along to this workshop. Through self and group reflective tasks and suggested techniques, you will come away with more ideas for getting your writing into shape. Come prepared with some writing (a draft chapter or section) including a page of which you would be happy to share with peers. During the workshop you will have guidance on polishing and refining your work.
Book now via SussexDirect
Communicating your research to non-specialists (ONLINE)
Date: 09 February 2023
Time: 13:30-15:30 (UK)
Workshop description: Communicating your research to non-specialists in a concise and engaging way is a premier skill for researchers: not everyone does it well, yet everyone has the capacity to do so. This webinar brings together some crucial factors for success. Take-away tools will support you in understanding your audiences, choosing what to include and what to leave out; constructing an engaging and meaningful narrative; and how to tailor the detail of your research (and its impact) in accessible language.
Book now via SussexDirect
Introduction to ethics (ONLINE)
Date: 14 February 2023
Time: 11:00-12:00 (UK)
Workshop description: Join Lauren Shukru and Tim Parkinson from the university’s ethics team for a brief introduction to the ethics review process and how to start thinking ethically about your research from the outset. There will be a short presentation after which we encourage you to ask questions relating to ethics and your research.
Book now via SussexDirect
Social media bootcamp (ONLINE)
Date: 15 February 2023
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Workshop description: This online workshop is designed specifically for researchers who are looking to develop their online presence and boost their career prospects through social media. There are now numerous channels available that can be used to amplify your research, promote an enterprising project and attract future employers. In addition, social networks can act as a valuable source of information and a personally tailored news feed. In addition to designing an individual social media strategy, the workshop will include a section on legal considerations, privacy and openness.
Book now via SussexDirect
Networking and Linkedln for PhD researchers (CAMPUS)
Date: 15 February 2023
Time: 10:00-11:30 (UK)
Workshop description: This in-person event looks at ideas and methods to help you with your networking with organisations and people who might help your career choices. Building a network of resources and people who can help you can be important in researching and developing a career.
Book now via Careerhub
Academic Publishing (ONLINE)
Date: 21 February 2023
Time: 13:00-15:00 (UK)
Workshop description: This session will introduce and discuss the practicalities of academic journal publishing. Various means for choosing a target journal will be considered, as will the mechanics of writing an effective paper (including a summary of the aims of each section of an academic report). Strategies for dealing with reviewer comments will also be considered at some length and opportunity will be provided to look at the response-to-reviewer letters of experienced academics.
Book now via SussexDirect
Resolving conflict in your research relationships (ONLINE)
Date: 22 February 2023
Time: 12:30-15:30 (UK)
Workshop description: Conflict may arise in different ways during the course of your research – usually when a need isn’t being met, or a disagreement arises. Developing the way you understand and address conflict situations will improve your communication skills and your relationships, both within the research environment and outside of it. The focus is on learning to manage conflict in a more effective way, choosing from a range of techniques for handling conflict in contexts that are relevant to you. This workshop is conducted in a safe and confidential environment where various issues related to conflict can be discussed.
Book now via SussexDirect
Working with your Supervisor: Practical Tips for Optimising the Supervisory Experience (ONLINE)
Date: 23 February 2023
Time: 10:00-13:00 (UK)
Workshop description: The supervisory relationship is crucial to the success of your PhD. In this interactive 3-hour workshop, you’ll discover practical tips for optimising this relationship. We’ll consider common problems and develop strategies for overcoming them. By the end of the session, you’ll have a clearer sense of the supervisory relationship and how it develops, tools & templates for getting the most out of your supervisory meetings, techniques for requesting & implementing constructive feedback, and an awareness of common problems and how to deal with them.
Book now via SussexDirect
The Productive Researcher: how to keep writing (ONLINE)
Date: 24 February 2023
Time: 10:00-12:00 (UK)
Workshop description: Academic writing can be hard at the best of times. It’s especially challenging during the current pandemic. In this interactive webinar, we’ll discuss how you make writing more manageable, even under difficult circumstances. By the end of the webinar, you’ll have a range of strategies you can apply right away to help you keep going.
Book now via SussexDirect
Researcher Development Team
Doctoral School | University of Sussex
Sussex Researcher Development Programme
@SussexDocSchool
Doctoral Connections 