Junior Research Associate (JRA) Scheme

Source: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-research/junior-research-associates Parent: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-research

Find out how to become a top young researcher with the skills and expertise for a successful research career.

What is the JRA scheme?

At Sussex, most of our undergraduate research takes place within our Junior Research Associate (JRA) scheme.

The eight-week programme is offered to all of our high performing undergraduate students over the summer. If you're accepted onto the scheme, you get a bursary to work on your research full time, work closely with supervisors, and network with other researchers.

You'll also attend training workshops and have access to University resources.

At the end of the scheme, you'll put together a research poster which is displayed at our Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition.

Since 2008, more than 450 students have participated in the programme - including students from Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and there are special provisions for Sussex Neuroscience students.

Find out more

Visit the Sussex Undergraduate Research Office website.

The JRA scheme is a unique opportunity to not just learn new things but find out how to approach problems and design solutions, and to work closely with people who have chosen to do that for a living.” Brady\ Biomedical Science BSc

How you can benefit from the scheme

If you're offered a place on the scheme, you'll benefit from:

workshops on research skills including an introduction to managing research data, effective literature searching and an introduction to research study skills
an introduction to postgraduate study, where you can explore further study after your undergraduate course
networking with the Sussex library research team and admission to the Sussex research HIVE, which is an area designated for researchers
a workshop to help you create your research poster
social events such as a barbeque, quiz and networking session.

Some of our junior research associates choose to continue working alongside their supervisor after the scheme has finished and sometimes this leads to their work being published.

The JRA scheme has given me clarity on what type of career I would like, the steps it will take to get there, and also my ability to do it.” Natasha\ Zoology BSc

Eligibility for the scheme

You can apply for the scheme in your second year of academic study. You must have completed one year of study and not be in your final year.

You must:

be seriously considering postgraduate study
have agreed for your project to be supervised by an active Sussex academic for the duration of the scheme and mentored by a PhD student
choose to join an existing project or come up with an original proposal (as long as an academic is willing to supervise it).

You can apply for the scheme from any academic discipline at Sussex including Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS).

Life on the JRA scheme

You can hear from some of our students below, or find out about some of our JRA social events.

Georgina Ralph \ Psychology BSc \ [Find out more](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-research/junior-research-associates/georgina-ralph)\

Thomas Kober\ Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence BSc \ [Find out more\ ](https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-research/junior-research-associates/thomas-kober)

International students

If you're an international student studying at one of our partner universities and you're looking for a research placement in the UK you may be eligible for our eight-week International Junior Research Associate scheme (IJRA).