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  • Developing Yourself as a PI

Managing Researchers

The Principal Investigator (PI) or line manager plays a key role in supporting the career development of their early career researcher (ECR) throughout the research contract

The welcoming and managing researchers leaflet outlines key information and resources available to support PIs in effectively welcoming and managing researchers.

Supporting ECRs new to Sussex

Researcher Induction

As a line manager or PI, you play a key role in ensuring new early career researchers (ECRs) feel welcomed and supported from the moment they join Sussex. A clear and structured induction helps new colleagues settle in quickly, understand expectations, and identify training and development opportunities to support both their role and their career progression.

The New Staff Induction Checklist (Early Career Researchers) has been developed to guide this process. It should be completed by you with your new researcher, with copies kept by both.

1. Pre-Onboarding (before your new researcher arrives)

• Review the for managers.
• Notify the relevant School office of the new starter’s details and start date, and arrange office space, furniture, IT equipment, and any workplace adjustments.
• Contact the new researcher in advance to welcome them, confirm first-day arrangements (where to meet, what time, parking or travel information), and share their induction schedule.
• Allocate a main point of contact in case you are unavailable, and assign a colleague as a ‘buddy’ to answer practical questions. You may also wish to arrange a mentor (considering Athena Swan guidance).
• Prepare an induction schedule for the first 1–2 weeks (e.g. team meetings, introductions, shadowing opportunities, health and safety briefing).
• Request IT setup via the ITS website (email, accounts, hardware, phone if required).
  
  

2. Onboarding: First Day

• Meet and greet your new researcher at the agreed time and place.
• Ensure their Right to Work check is complete with HR before they start any work.
• Introduce them to their induction schedule, immediate team, their buddy, and key colleagues.
• Accompany them to collect IT equipment, staff ID, and SALTO card access.
• Give them a tour of the building (fire exits, facilities, offices).
• Discuss working hours, flexible working, sickness reporting, and annual leave procedures.
• Explain the department and School structure, including line management.
• Ensure they begin mandatory online training via LearnUpon (Unconscious Bias, Equality & Diversity, etc.).
• Introduce policies on driving for work, , and risk assessments.
• Encourage staff member to attend the ECR training and development series provided by Researcher Development, and to attend an when invited
  
  

3. Onboarding: First Week

• Set up regular check-in meetings.
• Discuss their job description, key responsibilities, probation, and appraisal process.
• Introduce the Policy and Resources Library for ECRs and Health & Safety procedures.
• Make your new employee aware that they need to consider digital accessibility best practices and legal obligations when they are creating materials
• Share information on employee wellbeing, rewards, and benefits (see Your health and wellbeing webpage)
• Ensure they are added to relevant mailing lists, MS Teams groups, and communication channels.
• Show them how to use and .
  
  

4. Onboarding: First Four Weeks

• Explain how the probationary period works, and arrange reviews at 1, 3, and 6 months.
• Confirm that mandatory training on LearnUpon has been completed.
• Work with them to set SMART objectives for the probationary period (see ).
• Discuss development needs and encourage engagement with University training and opportunities.
• Provide information on School/department-specific policies, practices, communication channels, and activities.
  
  

Key resources for new ECRs

You may wish to familiarise yourself and direct new staff members to the pages below.     

Supporting International Researchers

New research staff coming to Sussex from overseas need support before they arrive. Please see our International Researchers page for practical information.  Researchers may wish to contact the school's HR advisor for assistance regarding visas.

Researcher Development manages the University’s partnership with the European Commission’s  initiative, which provides support and assistance to researchers living and working in the EU.  

EURAXESS have produced a comprehensive guide for international researchers moving to the UK that contains all of the general information you need to know about living and working in the UK. See the for the latest information.

You can send any queries for EURAXESS via the local contact address Euraxess@sussex.ac.uk.

Supporting Researcher Career Development

The University has an agreement to support the career development of researchers, which is laid out in the . Under this agreement researchers have a minimum of 10 working days (pro rata) for professional development activities per annum.

Whilst Researcher Development provide training and development workshops, Organisational Development have a suite of development activities and resources available for all members of staff, it should be noted that not all development activities necesssitate attending courses. Examples of professional development activites can be found in Part 2 of the Research Staff Professional Development Guidance.

Supporting Researcher Appraisals and Progression

The University runs an annual appraisal process for Sussex researchers.  Appraisers should meet with research staff appraisees to discuss progress against their research objectives as well as their career development aspirations and goals.

Appraisal meetings provide an opportunity to reflect on past achievements and identify areas where your staff hope to develop new skills or take on new opportunities and responsibilities.

Quick Links: Essential Resources, Policies and Processes

It is important for PIs to be aware of University policies and the legislation in regards to staff employed by the University.

Please find links below to important policies, guidance and support relating to your researchers:

Employment

 The wider context of the University