Introducing the Sussex Research Hive Scholars

The Research Hive is a space dedicated to researchers in the University of Sussex Library. SAGE Publishing has kindly made a gift to support the Research Hive and the Library’s innovative work in engaging with the research community at Sussex. Each year three doctoral researchers are appointed as Research Hive Scholars to develop a programme of support activities and events for researchers.

We, Louise, Aanchal, and Devyn, are this year's Hive Scholars and are immensely enjoying our time organising events for the doctoral researchers at Sussex as well as taking care of the physical space in the library. Below is a quick introduction to know us a bit better and then followed up with the vision that we have for our time as Scholars and a peek into some of the events we have organised so far!

Aanchal Vij wants to live in a world where winters are optional, masala chai replaces coffee and there are equal funding opportunities for all PhD candidates. As a doctoral researcher in the School of English, her research explores the relationship between nostalgia and American exceptionalism in comics and other literature. When she’s not working, she’s… probably still making sneaky to-do lists by the beach, defending a donut from a seagull.

Devyn Glass would like to live in a world where Brighton doesn’t live under the tyranny of the seagull, where wine and canines are constant companions, and where PhD candidates are paid the living wage. A doctoral researcher in Psychology, her research focuses on interpersonal synchrony in Autism Spectrum Conditions. She is particularly interested in using technology to facilitate social interaction. In her time off, she can be found on a sun lounger with a good book, drinking cocktails – as much as her PhD life allows!

Louise De Azambuja Elali wants to live in a world where postcards have stamps, text messages don’t substitute face-to-face conversations, and PhD candidates are not isolated. A doctoral researcher at the School of Media, Film and Music, her research is about how international students (particularly PhD researchers) build their identity through social media. When she’s not working, you can find her travelling… via words, images or actual airplanes.

Devyn wants to organise workshops around mental health of doctoral researchers, Louise around multidisciplinary research approaches, and Aanchal for the international doctoral experience at Sussex. Between the three of them, they hope to offer a holistic support system to researchers at Sussex. Since our appointment in September, we have organised smaller social events, wellbeing check-ins, and dedicated writing sessions -- but our biggest event was the Doctoral Interdisciplinary Unconference where we invited students to meet their peers from other departments working on similar subject areas. We have over 35 attendees and the event was very well-received (photos from the event below).

During our time, we hope to continue to work to support doctoral researchers and take pride in the ability to share some of our ideas here on the SAGE blog for other universities and academic spaces.