Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science

The Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science will train a new generation of PhD students to handle the exploding volumes of data produced by modern scientific instruments. This matters because experiments in particle physics, astronomy, and other fields now generate petabytes of information—far too much for traditional analysis methods. Without skilled researchers who can develop and apply advanced computational techniques, much of this data would remain unexplored, and the scientific insights it contains would be lost. The centre addresses a critical skills gap: the need for experts who can bridge fundamental science and data science. If successful, the programme will produce researchers capable of building the software, algorithms, and machine learning tools needed to extract discoveries from massive datasets. While the immediate impact is on fundamental science—enabling new findings about the universe—the skills these students develop are directly transferable to industries that rely on big data, such as medical imaging, finance, and climate modelling. This is primarily a training initiative, not a research project with a specific application. Its long-term value lies in creating a workforce that can turn data into knowledge, both in academia and beyond.