Diva Sinha
Summary
Dedicated, highly organised and motivated professional with experience in research assistance. project coordination, project management and research administration. Highly passionate about education, research and keen to grow professionally within research assistance and administration services at educational institutions.
Overview
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Project Coordinator
SOAS, University Of London
12.2022 - Current
- Worked with over 30 academics from different departments across SOAS on their respective projects. Provided expert assistance in managing their internal grant funds, ensuring compliance with funding regulations and facilitating smooth project execution
- Supervised multiple projects from project start through finish
- Served as a coordinator at events such as workshops and conferences, ensuring their successful completion. Effectively managed logistics, timelines, and resources to meet deliverables and targets, resulting in well-executed and impactful events.
- Demonstrated strong financial management skills by carrying out financial transactions, monitoring project budgets, and supporting the processing of expenses and applications for conferences, workshops, and other events
- Assisted the Principal Investigators, internal and external award holders leads in the effective and timely recruitment and onboarding of research staff, contributing to the formation of a skilled and capable project team.
- Provided coaching and guidance to academic staff in making internal research grant applications. Assisted in improving the quality of application drafts and provided valuable feedback on project costing and funders' terms and conditions, increasing the success rate of grant applications.
- Effectively managed internal grant funds, providing expert assistance and guidance to academics, professional staff, and Ph.D. students, resulting in smooth project execution and compliance with funding regulations.
- Played a crucial role in creating a webpage on SharePoint, contributing to the development of a centralized platform for information sharing and collaboration. The webpage served as a valuable resource for disseminating research culture-related information and fostering engagement among researchers. This tab provided a structured and accessible platform for early career researchers and senior academics to connect and engage.
- Liaised between departments at university to facilitate communication and keep all parties updated on project developments.
- Managed competing demands and professionally adapted to frequent change, delays and unexpected events.
- Maintained database and spreadsheets with accurate project status.
- Tracked expenses using Agresso and Excel to keep project on task and within budgetary parameters.
- Prepared meeting agendas and minutes for distribution and record keeping.
- Assisted with onboarding newly hired staff members and coached on task prioritization.
- Responded to requests for information on materials to inquiring parties.
- Arranged travel and accommodation for team members and project partners.
- Coordinated venue and catering arrangements, speaker and attendee liaison and material distribution for meetings, conferences, workshops, seminars and events.
- Monitored research project progress, identified risks and took corrective action as needed.
- Maintained open communication by presenting regular updates on project status to award holders, RKE managers and professional services staff.
- Reported regularly to managers on project budget, progress and technical problems, if any.
- Scheduled and facilitated meetings between award holders, stakeholders and RKE staff members to discuss objectives, schedules and conflicts.
- Developed strong relationships with stakeholders, both internal and external, fostering collaboration and effective project implementation.
- Successfully facilitated the coordination of multiple projects, resulting in the achievement of project objectives within specified timelines and budgets.
- Received positive feedback from academics, professional staff, and stakeholders for providing expert support and guidance. Demonstrated a strong ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders and contribute effectively to the success of their projects
- Played a key role in enhancing the research culture and knowledge exchange by coaching academic staff and providing expert assistance in grant management and proactively addressed financial queries and concerns by liaising with colleagues in Grants and Contracts, ensuring accurate and timely resolution
Research Assistant
SOAS, University of London
07.2022 - 12.2022
- Provided optimal assistance to the principal investigator of the project in organizing a three-day workshop, ensuring its successful execution and achievement of research objectives
- Demonstrated exceptional organizational skills and initiative by planning and managing the entire three-day workshop in the Principal Investigator's absence
- This included booking rooms, coordinating logistics, and arranging catering services for the event
- Produced a comprehensive workshop report that served as a valuable resource for the Principal Investigator and their team in advancing their research proposal grant to the ESR (European Social Research) and other relevant bodies
- The report effectively summarized workshop outcomes and findings, supporting the case for funding
- Acted as a key liaison between the SOAS immigration team, the head of the Development Studies department, and visiting scholars from overseas
- Facilitated the production of immigration letters to support scholars' visa applications and collaborated with the Finance Team to ensure timely reimbursement for any incurred costs
- Demonstrated strong communication and coordination skills by effectively managing multiple stakeholders, including the Principal Investigator, visiting scholars, department heads, and administrative teams, to ensure smooth operations and seamless collaboration throughout the project
- Received positive feedback from the Principal Investigator and other team members for exceptional attention to detail and efficiency in organizing and executing the workshop, resulting in a productive and engaging research event.
- Raised purchase orders and processed invoices and reimbursement claims for external and internal speakers and research team members
- Booked travel and accommodation for team members
- Attended seminars and symposiums to improve overall knowledge and understanding.
Research Analyst- Freelance
Research Partnership
04.2022 - 07.2022
- Conducted thorough research and analysis of data, producing comprehensive reports on research activities
- The reports provided valuable insights and information to support decision-making processes and inform business strategies
- Demonstrated exceptional research skills by conducting in-depth investigations and gathering data from over 50 interviews and research articles
- Covered diverse topics such as medicine, health, environment, politics, and law, showcasing versatility and adaptability in research methodologies
- Played a crucial role in supporting business growth by providing superiors with thorough market research
- The research findings equipped the organization with essential market intelligence, enabling targeted approaches to attract new clients and expand business opportunities
- Received positive feedback for the quality and accuracy of research deliverables
- The reports and analyses prepared during the freelance engagement were praised for their depth, clarity, and valuable insights
- Demonstrated strong organizational skills and time management abilities, meeting project deadlines consistently
- The ability to effectively manage multiple research projects ensured timely completion and client satisfaction
- Developed expertise in research methodologies and data analysis techniques, further enhancing the quality and depth of research outputs
- Demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning and staying updated with relevant industry trends and best practices.
Editorial Assistant
SOAS, University of London
04.2021 - 11.2021
- Produced compelling content for various communication channels, including editorial spreads, blog posts, Facebook, email, and the journal's website
- The content effectively captured the attention of the target audience and conveyed the significance of research contributions
- Consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic and professionalism, delivering tasks in a timely manner
- Maintained a track record of reliability and commitment to producing high quality work
- Played a pivotal role in supporting the communications editor and editor-in-chief in the smooth operation of the journal
- Contributed to streamlining processes, improving efficeincy, and ensuring the timely publication of research articles
- Proactively enhanced the visibility and importance of the journal within the wider SOAS community through strategic utilization of social media platforms
- Implemented effective social media campaigns and engagement strategies to increase readership and promote the journal's impact
- Actively engaged with doctoral students and the doctoral school, fostering collaboration and dialogue throughout the publication process
- Assisted in facilitating the printing, publishing, and finalization of the research journal, creating a platform for showcasing the work of doctoral researchers
- Received positive feedback from colleagues and contributors for providing valuable assistance, demonstrating a helpful and enthusiastic attitude
- Played a supportive role in creating a positive and collaborative environment within the journal team.
Reception Administrator
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
05.2022 - 06.2022
- Successfully provided temporary reception administration cover at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) in a fast-paced environment
- Assisted the LSHTM reception team in effectively addressing and resolving student and staff inquiries through front-facing customer service
- Displayed strong communication and interpersonal skills in providing courteous and helpful assistance to visitors and stakeholders
- Acquired pro ciency in using CEMS systems to produce, update, and reissue identity cards for students, staff, and consultants
- This contributed to the smooth functioning of access control and security measures within the institution
- Demonstrated organizational skills by managing the administrative tasks associated with booking delivery items for academic staff
- This included coordinating the shipment of biological samples both domestically and internationally
Education
BA - Religion SOAS
University of London
MSc - Environment, Politics and Development
SOAS, University of London
Skills
- Problem-Solving
- Proficiency in Agresso
- Proficiency in Worktribe
- Proficiency in Excel
- Time Management
- Adaptability
- Proficiency in MS Office, Suite, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook
- Organizational Skills
- Research and Data Collection
- Research and Research Finance
- Good Clinical Practice
- Knowledge of HR, Recruitment and Selection
- Knowledge of CMS and SharePoint
- Project Management
- Project Coordination
- Knowledge of research methods
- Grants, funding, budgets
- Knowledge of Adobe Applications ie Photoshop, InDesign
- Report Writing
- Briefing Preparation
- Event Planning and Execution
- Project Organization
- Stakeholder Relationship Management
- Research Finance Management
Additional Information
Courses
1. Mandatory Training for all staff: Unconscious Bias
2. Understanding Diversity
3. Cultural Diversity and the City and Inclusion
4. Inclusive Mindset
5. Mental Health Awareness
6. Working Well in Academia with special emphasis on Diversity and Inclusion
7. Good Clinical Practice
8. Introduction to Good Clinical Practice
9. Good Clinical Practice Refresher
10. Google Professional Certificate in Project Management.
Timeline
Project Coordinator
SOAS, University Of London
12.2022 - Current
Research Assistant
SOAS, University of London
07.2022 - 12.2022
Reception Administrator
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
05.2022 - 06.2022
Research Analyst- Freelance
Research Partnership
04.2022 - 07.2022
Editorial Assistant
SOAS, University of London
04.2021 - 11.2021
BA - Religion SOAS
University of London
MSc - Environment, Politics and Development
SOAS, University of London
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