


About DISCnet
DISCnet is an STFC Centre for Doctoral Training, providing a platform upon which we can train a new generation of post-graduate data intensive scientists – over 70 PhD students over four cohorts.

DISCnet is a government-backed collaboration between the South East’s leading research universities; Southampton, Sussex, Portsmouth, Queen Mary University of London, and the Open University. Our remit is to build working relationships between businesses and postgraduate student researchers.
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has awarded an ‘A’ rating to the DISCnet Centre for Doctoral Training.
Training the next generation of data science leaders
DISCnet capitalises on our existing long-term collaborative and business engagement experiences through the South East Physics Network, SEPnet. It exploits the established and close interdisciplinary links between five UK-leading universities with expertise in STFC science: the Universities of Southampton, Sussex, Portsmouth, Queen Mary University of London, and Open University.
Innovative Training Programme
Our students will be trained in the latest skills required for the rapidly growing data economy including: programming, big data handling, data analytics, and the latest statistical and machine learning techniques that underpin artificial intelligence. These skills will be honed on some of the most challenging big data science questions in particle physics and astrophysics.

Data is only useful if you know how to use it
By partnering with DISCnet, businesses and non-profit organisations have the opportunity to employ some of the UK's best trained data scientists on projects that matter to your business.
Advisory Board
The DISCnet Advisory Board is formed of industrial partners and interdisciplinary academic partnerships including; DISCUS, The Data Intensive Science Centre at University of Sussex, ECS, The School of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampon, and The Department of Mathematics at University of Sussex.
Dr Natasha McCarthy
Royal Academy of Engineering, Lead the National Engineering Policy Centre
Dr Chris Cormack
Managing Director, QuantFoundry, particle physicist
Dr Chris Gibson
Programme Manager, IBM Research Europe, computer scientist
Professor Seb Hoeing
Head of Astronomy, Southampton University,
Dr Colin Maulde
Operations Manager, Tessella, physicist
Dr Russell Johnson
Head of Data Science, Sainsbury's Bank, astrophysicist
Regius Professor Andy Lawrence
Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Director, ScotDIST
Dr Johnathan Leslie
Director of Data Science, Pivigo, biologist
Dr Christian Rossi
Catapult
Dr Thomas Babbedge (Chair)
Chief Scientist and Deputy Head of GreshamQuant, Gresham Investment Management, astrophysics
View the DISCnet Brochure

DISCnet Management Team
DISCnet is led by a management team of academics from the core partner Universities.