Research

Date: Tuesday 19 May 2026, 15:00-16:30

Venue: Room 207, 10 Professors Square

On 19 May, the PSES Interdisciplinary Research Theme (IRT) hosted a forum for PhD candidates to discuss the opportunities and challenges of interdisciplinary research and to connect with fellow doctoral researchers from across the College of Social Sciences (CoSS). The event brought together 20 PhD candidates representing a range of schools and disciplines.

The forum included contributions from PSES IRT co-leads, who reflected on the value of interdisciplinary research while acknowledging the practical challenges it often entails. Discussions covered topics including publishing interdisciplinary work, career development, funding opportunities, and managing multidisciplinary doctoral supervision.

Participants shared experiences of navigating research across disciplinary boundaries and explored strategies for positioning interdisciplinary work within existing academic structures. A recurring theme was the tension between growing institutional and funder support for interdisciplinarity and the continued prevalence of disciplinary silos in academic practice. Participants also highlighted the challenge of developing expertise across multiple fields while maintaining a strong disciplinary foundation, as well as the demands of engaging with extensive and diverse bodies of literature, concepts, and theoretical frameworks.

The forum provided a space for peer exchange and reflection on common experiences, while also fostering new connections among doctoral researchers. Discussions emphasised the importance of building a stronger interdisciplinary community of practice for postgraduate researchers and creating ongoing opportunities for collaboration and mutual support

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First published: 5 May 2026