The DS team is composed of the Executive Board, the managers of the three sites, and the four doctoral students elected to the Board.

It meets at least four times a year, usually shortly before the Board meetings.
This body provides an opportunity for open discussion of any issues that doctoral students wish to raise. It allows the management team and administrators to gain a better understanding of the material, human, and organisational conditions experienced by doctoral students at each site.
The DS office can also make proposals to include topics on the DS Council agenda.