This field invites collaborative research from a wide range of academic disciplines. Durham CELLS has facilitated such collaboration, both within and beyond the university, through a series of workshops, conferences, funding applications, and papers presented by academics from outside of the university.

Durham CELLS has both junior and senior academic members from the Departments of Anthropology, Philosophy, Sociology, and Theology and Religion, and the Schools of Government and International Affairs (SGIA) and Law. It also organises an annual postgraduate research conference.