How to Find Researchers or Join the C2D3 Community at Cambridge

Updated

The Cambridge Centre for Data-Driven Discovery (C2D3) brings together researchers and expertise from academic departments and industry to advance data science, machine learning and AI. You can search its profile directory of over 300 Cambridge researchers, or apply to join the community — C2D3 states it welcomes both University of Cambridge staff and students and external parties. You can also sign up to the mailing list and follow blog posts and community highlights.

Search the researcher profile directory

C2D3 hosts a searchable directory of more than 300 researchers at Cambridge working across data science, machine learning and AI.

  • Who it's for: anyone looking for Cambridge expertise — collaborators, industry partners, journalists or prospective students.
  • What to do: use the profile directory search on the C2D3 site to look up researchers by name or topic.
  • What you get: a way to identify people and groups working in your area before reaching out directly.

The directory is a discovery tool; it does not itself arrange introductions, so follow up with the researcher or their department using contact details you find there.

Apply to join the community

C2D3 describes itself as open to "external parties and University of Cambridge staff and students." If you want to be part of the network rather than just search it:

  1. Go to the C2D3 site and find the join/apply option linked from the community section.
  2. Submit an application to join.
  3. Once accepted, you can be listed and take part in community activity.

Eligibility is stated broadly (Cambridge staff/students and external parties), but acceptance is by application, so treat joining as a reviewed process rather than automatic sign-up.

Stay connected: mailing list and blog

  • Mailing list: C2D3 invites visitors to join its mailing list for updates — the simplest low-commitment way to follow events, talks and opportunities.
  • Blog and community highlights: the site publishes blog posts and research community highlights, useful for seeing what the network is working on before you engage.

What C2D3 covers

The centre's activity is organised around several areas reflected on its homepage:

Area What it points to
Data Science – Machine Learning – AI The core research focus
Events/Talks Seminars and community events
Supporting your research Resources for researchers
Industry Engagement with external partners
Opportunities Roles, funding or calls
Education Teaching and training activity

Recent news items illustrate the range: a University of Cambridge-led review on young people's views on health data research, an AI crop-mapping tool tested in Senegal, a trial on AI-driven contrail avoidance, and Cambridge contributions to the AI Materials Foundry.

Practical tips

  • Start with the profile directory if your goal is finding a specific expert; start with the mailing list if your goal is staying informed.
  • If you are outside Cambridge, the stated openness to external parties means industry and other partners can apply, but plan for a review step.
  • Check the events/talks and opportunities sections regularly, since these change more often than the directory.