We are a government-backed collaboration between leading South East research universities; University of Sussex, The Open University, and Queen Mary University of London. We have connections with the universities of Portsmouth, Southampton and Hertfordshire. 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.
About DISCnet
DISCnet is an STFC Centre for Doctoral Training, providing a platform with which we train new generations of post-graduate data intensive scientists – over 100 PhD students over five cohorts, and counting.
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 six UK-leading universities with expertise in STFC science: the Universities of Southampton, Sussex, Portsmouth, Queen Mary London, Hertfordshire and the 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 University of Sussex Department of Mathematics, and the University of Southampton School of Electronics & Computer Science.
Dr Natasha McCarthy
Associate Director, National Engineering Policy Centre, Royal Academy of Engineering
Dr Chris Cormack
Managing Director, QuantFoundry, particle physicist
Dr Chris Gibson
Programme Manager, IBM Research Europe, computer scientist
Professor Seb Hoeing
Head of Astronomy, University of Southampton
Prof Jacob Dunningham
Professor of Physics, University of Sussex; Executive Director of the South East Physics Network (SEPnet)
Dr Russell Johnston
Head of Data Science, Sainsbury's Bank, astrophysicist
Benjamin Carvell
Research Theme Lead, NATS
Dr Jonathan Leslie (Chair)
Director of Data Science, Pivigo, biologist
Dr Cristian Rossi
Geospatial Science Lead, Satellite Applications Catapult
DISCnet Management Team
DISCnet is led by a management team of academics from the core partner universities.
DISCnet Deputy Director;
Director of Partnerships and Placements
University of Sussex
Susanne Bell
DISCnet Manager
University of Sussex
Institute Representatives
DISCnet's Institute Representatives help to maintain strong connections with their universities.
