This website is part of a project to improve the induction process for new doctoral researchers at Sussex. Partly funded by Santander and Technology Enhanced Learning, the Researcher Development team worked with two current doctoral researchers – Yumiko Kita and Maria Silvia D’Avolio – to develop the resources.

We sent a web-based survey to all existing PhD researchers, asking them to give us feedback on both the positive and negative aspects of their own induction experiences. After assessing the responses, we identified the 6 main themes that arose: supervision, networking, wellbeing, resources, progress, and training. We then recruited a focus group of 12 doctoral researchers to discuss these themes in more detail. This helped us bring together relevant content and also develop original material to better support new students.

Once this website is officially launched, we’ll be continually updating it in response to feedback and the changing needs of researchers.

If you have any comments or queries, please contact us through researcher-development@sussex.ac.uk.