UChicago & USussex International Jr. Research Associates Program (IJRA)
Opportunity Description:
The UChicago-Sussex IJRA program provides selected College students the opportunity to participate in a summer of intensive, faculty-mentored research in the Humanities and Social Sciences at one of the UK’s leading institutions of higher education, the University of Sussex. As members of the IJRA program, College students in the humanities and social sciences will have the opportunity to undertake a fully-funded research experience as part of a dynamic community of scholars researching and living together at the University of Sussex in Brighton. This program is distinct from other opportunities for UChicago Humanities and Social Sciences undergraduates to pursue international research because it invites students into a collaborative research experience, apprenticing with and contributing to the work of a leading scholar in an international context.
Program Description: Each year a small cohort of talented and ambitious undergraduate students from the University of Sussex's institutional partners are given the opportunity to undertake research alongside Sussex faculty and scholar for an eight week, full-time intensive summer research experience. The scheme supports peer-to-peer relationships between leading Sussex faculty and high-achieving undergraduates considering a research career. The Sussex IJRA programme is a non-credit bearing programme intended to provide beneficial research experience in preparation for future PhD study for up to a total of eighteen students from its institutional partners around the world; build connections between talented international researchers and Sussex faculty. Sussex IJRA Website: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/global-engagement/partnerships/engagement/international-junior-research-associate-scheme
2022 Research Appointment and IJRA Program Dates: June 27 – August 19, 2022. IJRA researchers will be expected to arrive at the University of Sussex in time for the required program orientation (the weekend before the program begins).
UChicago-Sussex IJRA Scholars will receive:
(1) A ~$6,500 research grant to cover travel, room/board, and a stipend for the eight-week summer research experience funded through the Straetz International Research grant program.
(2) Selection of research training workshops, including:
- Introduction to academic research skills
- Effective literature searching for researchers
- Introduction to managing research data
- Introduction to archives at The Keep
- How to produce an academic/research prospectus
- Introduction to postgraduate study
- Presenting your research: oral presentations
(3) Supervision from University of Sussex Faculty specific to their research project (see the 2022 Project Descriptions Forthcoming)
(4) Some virtual social events may be scheduled with the entire IRJU global cohort. Full offerings available in late spring quarter.
(5) Participation in IJRA virtual summer symposium. Following completion of their summer research, UChicago IJRAs will benefit from the ongoing support of CCRF, including guaranteed funding through the Dean’s Fund for Undergraduate Research-Conference to present their research the following academic year at British Conference for Undergraduate Research (BCUR) or an equivalent symposium.
Primary Responsibilities:
The expectations of the program are as follows:
- Ability to commit to full-time research for the duration of the 8-week experience (approximately 40 hours/week of research and required IJRA programming)
- Commitment to meeting weekly expectations of Sussex Research Mentor, ensuring timely communication and production of work
- Candidate may not hold another research appointment or internship while a UChicago-Sussex IJRA
Minimum Qualifications and/or Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be a current, full-time 3rd-year student at time of application and in good-standing with the University of Chicago;
- Provide evidence of strong research and communication skills;
- Have a minimum 3.5 GPA;
- Eligible majors include: humanities, social sciences, and the arts. Double-majors in non-humanities and arts fields will be considered, relevant to the nature of the research project;
- Willing to devote your energies full-time to this experience and able to be at the Unviersity of Sussex for the duration of the program;
- Time-management skills and ability to work independently, but collaboratively with a Sussex faculty member.
Application Process:
The application will open in February 2022. Please check this page for details.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to those who submit by March 28, 2022.