Research in practice: A Student Research Experience Placement with LITE

My Student Research Experience Placement with LITE was titled Investigating Research Fellows’ Experiences of Using the LITE Impact Framework: Understanding Utility and Challenges. It has been a genuinely rewarding research experience, and one that gave me both independence and continuous support from the team involved.

Right from the start, I was involved in all stages of the research process. Understanding and designing the research study was one of my first tasks, and although it felt like a big responsibility, I found myself becoming more confident as I went along. Knowing I had supervisors who were encouraging and approachable made the experience much less daunting.

A key learning point for me was developing and applying qualitative research techniques. I had the chance to conduct interviews, analyse data, and work through the entire cycle of qualitative research. This was particularly valuable because I was able to integrate socio-technical systems methods, something I had studied during my Masters, into the project. Applying these ideas in a practical setting helped me see the direct connection between theory and practice, which I found really interesting and has deepened my subject knowledge.

The most challenging part of the placement was the analysis stage, especially the coding. It was not always easy to decide which themes to keep in and which to leave out. At times, I worried about whether I was making the right decisions. However, the positive and continuous support from my supervisors (LITE Impact Officer Robert Averies, LITE Head of Research Emma Peasland, and LITE Head of Operations Ben Witz) helped me navigate those moments. They encouraged me to trust my judgement, which made a real difference in how I approached the work.

Overall, this placement has given me a set of skills that I will carry forward into my future. I now feel much more confident in handling qualitative research from start to finish. These skills are directly relevant to my career goals, as I plan to pursue further research. The experience has also broadened my perspective on research itself: I came to see it not just as an academic exercise, but as something collaborative, reflective, and ultimately impactful.

For other students considering a placement like this, I would strongly recommend it. It adds valuable research experience to your skillset, helps you connect with researchers, and gives you a realistic sense of how research works in practice. For me, it has been an excellent opportunity to learn, contribute, and grow as a researcher.