ED&I Fellows 2024-2025
We are delighted to announce the 2024-2025 cohort of MPLS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) Fellows who will help advance ED&I work within the Division.
This is the fifth year of running the ED&I Fellowship scheme with representation from across our departments. These Fellows will work with the central MPLS ED&I Team, ED&I Steering Group and departmental leads to champion ED&I for the Division. Find out more about them below (listed alphabetically).
If you’re interested in getting involved with our work, please contact diversity@mpls.ox.ac.uk.
Alisa Apreleva
Department of Physics (Astrophysics)
Postgraduate researcher, Zooniverse science communication lead
Pronouns: she/her
Hi. I am a Science Communication Lead and postgraduate researcher at Zooniverse, the world’s largest citizen science platform. My current research focuses on accessibility and the experiences of neuro-minorities—ranging from ADHD to Parkinson’s—in digital participatory science. Before joining Zooniverse in March 2024, I worked as a journalist, a homeschooling mom, an international humanitarian advocacy leader, and a music therapist. As a creative wellness entrepreneur, I am constantly inspired by the power of expressive arts to bridge gaps between people of all abilities, ages, and cultures. I aim to continue fostering diverse communities through creativity and conversation in my role as an MPLS ED&I Fellow.
Department of Statistics
DPhil student
Pronouns: he/him
I am currently a 2nd year DPhil student in the Statistical Machine Learning CDT within the Department of Statistics. Broadly speaking, I am interested in developing robust and data-efficient learning methods. As a first-generation university student from a working-class family in Iran, I am especially passionate about encouraging individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue higher education, with a particular focus on advancing racial equity.
Department of Biology
DPhil Candidate
Pronouns: she/her
I'm a DPhil Candidate from the Department of Biology. My research focuses on adult stem cell migration during regeneration in planarians. As an incoming fellow, I am particularly interested in exploring how to integrate DEI in systems and operations, and am keen to build innovative solutions to achieve this goal.
Nathan Creighton
Mathematical Institute
DPhil student
Pronouns: he/him
Hi, I’m Nathan, a second-year D. Phil student working on L-functions in the Faculty of Mathematics! Making everyone feel welcome in the department and able to thrive is very important to me. Certainly compared to my secondary school, where I had to go to The Supreme Court to overturn their decision to reject all students with a physical disability, Oxford is already very inclusive, and I hope to contribute to and enhance this.
At Oxford, we are fortunate to have some of the greatest minds and innovators in the world, but I believe everyone stands to benefit from a more inclusive Department, not just those in underrepresented groups. We all rely on the exchange and development of ideas between colleagues, and I want to help ensure Oxford doesn’t miss out on the next big idea due to any non-academic barrier to participation.
Communication is crucial to the department, but people communicate in different ways; if I’m giving a talk for an hour it can become unclear by the end. For other people in the Department, conditions such as anxiety may inhibit them giving a lecture to hundreds of people, and I’ll be looking at alternative ways to learn from their ideas. Feel free to contact me with any Equality, Diversity and Inclusion ideas you have for the department!
Garrett Deceuninck
Department of Engineering Science
Administrative Assistant and Receptionist
Pronouns: he/him
I am an Administrative Assistant and Receptionist for Engineering Science. I am incredibly excited to have been selected as an ED&I Fellow, and to have a voice in these topics. I have some training in counselling and a particular interest in supporting people with mental health conditions and neurodivergence as I have personal experiences of the challenges that can come with them. If I can help even one person who may feel like they don’t belong, I’ll know that my efforts have been worth it.
Katrina Dickson
Department of Computer Science
Programme Manager
Pronouns: she/her
I am the programme manager for the Oxford Applied and Theoretical Machine Learning Group (OATML) in the Department of Computer Science. Prior to this role I had a fifteen year career as a leader in a technology company, where I also served as an advocate for women and underrepresented communities, as well as supporting mentorship and career development programmes. I am excited for the opportunity to take an active role in supporting ED&I initiatives in the division. As an incoming ED&I fellow, I hope to contribute to creating a safe and inclusive environment for MPLS students, researchers, faculty, and professional services staff.
Neave Taylor
Department of Chemistry
DPhil Student
Pronouns: she/her
Hi! I am in my second year of a DPhil in Physical and Theoretical Chemistry in the Perkin group where I am studying the structure and properties of an important battery component with molecular detail. I am passionate about reducing barriers and improving belonging for people from marginalised groups in STEM. The ED&I work of MPLS and my department has made a big positive difference to my experience as a student to date, so I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this effort as an ED&I fellow in 2024-25.
Oliver Thomas
Department of Materials
DPhil student
Pronouns: he/him
I am a DPhil in the group of Prof Rob House researching next-generation sustainable battery materials. My journey through higher education has not been straightforward, as I have had to overcome challenges posed by both mental and physical health problems. During this time I have come to appreciate the importance of feeling accepted and valued no matter your individual circumstances and challenges. I want to help work towards an environment where everyone is empowered to feel comfortable to talk about their concerns and struggles as well as their victories, as in my experience taboos are the antithesis of wellbeing. I hope to be able to work with international communities and professional societies to improve the discourse around wellbeing and if nothing else I will be a willing ear for those who feel they have no one to go to. If you want to talk or have any ideas for EDI initiatives at oxford please give me a message at oliver.thomas@materials.ox.ac.uk.