Introducing the Sussex Research Hive Scholars 2023/2024!
The Research Hive is a dedicated space within the University of Sussex Library, created especially for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) and research staff.
Sage offers funding to support both the Research Hive and the Sussex Research Hive Scholar programme, allowing researchers to engage with other members of the community at Sussex.
Each year three doctoral researchers are selected to be Research Hive Scholars, to support the space as well as provide additional support to the community through events, activities, and communication.
This year, the Sussex Research Hive Scholars are Carla, Vijay, and Rob! Explore the Hive Scholar Bios below to get to know them a bit better and explore some of the events and activities they have organised so far!
Carla Douglas Gonzalez
Carla is a second-year PhD student at the Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex. She is from Chile, and her research revolves around understanding how decentralized energy systems, particularly community energy projects, contribute to Eco social Transitions in Chile and the UK. With a background in environmental engineering and a Master’s degree in Energy from the Australian National University, she brings over 10 years of experience in renewable energies, local governance, environmental assessment, and community participation, primarily in the public sector. She’s had the privilege of being involved in the advancement of community energy in Chile since its inception. This includes supporting legislative changes that permit community projects and contributing to the “Guide for the creation of Cooperatives of Community Distributed Generation in Chile”. Presently, she is a member and co-founder of the Chilean NGO Energia Colectiva, dedicated to promoting community energy projects in the country.
Vijay Kumar
Vijay studied physics at the University of Leeds and came to Sussex in 2021 to complete his PhD in trapped ion quantum computing after spending a couple years in industry and research. His research focuses on the design and fabrication of quantum computing microchips. He is fascinated with technology, innovation, and how it intersects with academia. He takes great interest in the research community as a whole and would like to make it a more welcoming and exciting place for everyone.
Rob Dickinson
Rob studies politics, psychology, and public health with a focus on the contemporary Far-Right. In his third year as a PhD candidate, he is using Natural Language Processing to analyse social media data to better understand COVID-19 misinformation and how it might be combatted. Additionally, he is pursuing an independent project alongside Tom Cowin examining PragerU as a far-right institution and media producer as well as broader questions regarding how the far-right is functionally radicalising people and manipulating new media sources to do so. Their first paper has been published, with their second in submission and a book cohort of 10 currently writing the first book on PragerU. Lastly, he is a Research Fellow with the Dangerous Speech Project, tracking and analysing speech within the 2024 US Presidential Election for violent rhetoric.
So far, the Hive Scholars have been involved in making some practical changes to the Hive space, including adding more standing desks in the Hive space to allow for more comfortable working, using the walls as an interactive way for PGRs to provide feedback, and introducing peer support hours where PGRs can support each other during their research journey.
They have also organised several social events, including post-induction drinks, a board games night, and a Hive Holiday Party. Each of these events provided a great space for post-graduate researchers to share thoughts on how to improve the PGR community and feedback about the Hive space, as well as help PGRs de-stress from their research.
With upcoming quiz nights, picnics, and career events on the agenda for the rest of the year, the Hive Scholars’ exciting plans will aim to continue nurturing the PGR community and Hive space at Sussex.