Diverse CDT were invited to reveal key aspects of its innovative approach at the EPSRC’s annual meeting of CDT Directors yesterday.
Principle Investigator, Stephanie Wilson, and Centre Manager, Nicola Kirkby, shared their reflections on innovations in Diverse CDT with Centre Directors from across the UK at the EPSRC’s CDT Directors Meeting in Birmingham.
One of the key innovations they discussed was the CDT’s approach to inclusive recruitment.
Diverse CDT took a phased approach to recruitment, designed to accommodate the fact that different people look ahead to the future options at different times of the year.
A soft launch in January 2025 was followed by a more concerted effort in March, where it advertised studentships more broadly, supported by targeted advertising. It followed this up with a stretch recruitment round in May.
This enabled connection with a wider range of people, not just those who are familiar with the PhD application life cycle in the UK. The approach enabled Diverse CDT to welcome a diverse range of students – in lived experience, in background, in age, and in their interest in data visualization.
Rather than asking for a personal statement, the application focused on where potential students were interested, and in what the capacity or stakes of data visualization could be.
Prospective students were also asked where they saw social change as most urgent or most within reach through data visualization, how their unique experience might be harnessed through this cohort-based approach to PhD study and research, and how they might work within a group.
Another factor that contributed to diversity of applicants was that Diverse CDT did not need to specify a narrow range of degree backgrounds.
Thinking beyond recruitment to retention
The aim is to support a different kind of social cross section, demographics, experiences etc. Bringing someone into PhD study comes with the responsibility to support them through the long journey that is a PhD. The objective is not just bringing them into the door.
With the first stage of 2026 recruitment complete, the strategy looks like it will be just as positive this year.
Although Diverse CDT is one of the newest doctoral centres in the UK, they hope that more established CDTs can draw on their experience of connecting with diverse applicants in ways that work for them.