We are delighted to announce that one of our third-year DPhil Students, Vik Shirvaikar, is one of the new 2023-24 MPLS Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Fellows. The MPLS Division strives to create an inclusive culture where different perspectives and experiences are encouraged, and each person is respected and treated fairly, so that individuals of all backgrounds can fully contribute their talents to our scientific community.
MPLS recognises that there are incredibly talented individuals across the Division who are passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) and are dedicated to making positive change within our institution. To garner this energy and support this work, since 2020-21 we have annually recruited a team of ED&I Fellows to help inform and implement our ED&I action plan and wider divisional work.
You can also find out more about what past Fellows have been up to, including initiatives and activities they have led on.
I'm a third-year DPhil student at St. Peter's College in statistics, where my research focuses on causality and prediction for clinical trial analysis. Through advocacy and volunteer work in my home state of Texas, and as a student welfare officer here in Oxford, I've developed a commitment to making STEM environments more welcoming and accessible to all. As an incoming fellow, I hope to focus on the intersection of ED&I and welfare. No two members of our diverse community walk the same path, and I believe it's our responsibility to listen, understand the unique obstacles each individual faces, and then take action to promote well-being and help people thrive.
Vik Shirvaikar