Vaishnavi Gondane: Project Coordinator

1. What is your role and what does it involve?

I currently work across three interconnected roles at UCL: Project Coordinator at the UCL Social Data Institute (SODA), Senior Postgraduate Teaching Assistant (SPGTA) on the Making History module in the History Department, and LAHP-funded MPhil/PhD researcher at The Bartlett School of Architecture.

In my role at SODA, I coordinate the UKRI-funded Data Storytelling for Digital Research Infrastructure project, led by Dr Igor Tkalec. This involves planning and delivering training workshops, managing budgets and procurement, liaising with external partners and speakers, and supporting initiatives that address skills gaps across the digital research infrastructure landscape.

Alongside this, as an SPGTA for Making History, I support seminar teaching, student engagement, and assessment, working closely with the teaching team to help students develop critical historical thinking, research, and writing skills.

In parallel, my PhD research examines South Asian lascar sailors through a decolonial maritime architectural lens, focusing on steamships and ports as lived infrastructures shaped by labour and energy systems. This work directly informs my role at SODA by shaping how I think about narrative, evidence, and responsibility in communicating complex research, particularly around infrastructure, labour, and histories that are often rendered invisible.

2. How long have you been at UCL and what was your previous role?

I have been at UCL for over two years. Before taking on my current roles, I worked in research administration at the Bartlett School of Architecture, where I supported research development, external funding bids, and research culture initiatives across the school. This involved working closely with academic staff on grant preparation, events, and strategic planning, and gave me a strong understanding of how research is supported and sustained within the institution.

Prior to joining UCL, I completed an MA in Architectural History and worked in a range of research support and coordination roles, which helped me develop experience in academic project delivery, research administration, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

I was drawn to UCL because of its strong research culture and its commitment to interdisciplinary work across departments. Over time, this environment encouraged me to pursue doctoral research alongside my professional and teaching roles, allowing me to remain embedded in both the academic and operational life of the university.

3. What working achievement or initiative are you most proud of?

One achievement I am particularly proud of is work that sits at the intersection of research, partnerships and institutional responsibility. During my time as a Researcher and Project Coordinator in The Bartlett Faculty External Engagement Office, I was involved in developing data-driven ways of understanding how The Bartlett’s research contributes to London’s communities and urban futures. What mattered most to me was not simply measuring impact, but asking more careful questions about where impact is felt, who it reaches, and how research relationships might be strengthened or re-imagined. Mapping research and engagement activity across London and translating this into actionable insights reinforced my belief that evaluation can be a reflective and ethical practice, rather than a purely technical one.

I feel a similar sense of pride in my work on the Research Culture Fund (2024–25), particularly in coordinating the Work/Life Hacks for Women in Academia seminar series. Creating a supportive, thoughtfully structured space for honest conversations about academic, care, and sustainability felt especially important. Alongside organising the seminars, I drafted a substantive report that brought together insights from women across diverse disciplines and career stages. Having the opportunity to listen to, learn from, and synthesise these experiences deepened my understanding of the structural and everyday challenges women face in academia, and highlighted the importance of making such knowledge visible at an institutional level.

Across both initiatives, what I value most is contributing to work that makes research cultures more reflective, inclusive, and attentive to the people who sustain them. This work has also prompted me to reflect on my own position and responsibilities as an early-career researcher at UCL, shaping how I think about care, and sustainability within academic life.

4. Tell us about a project you are working on now which is top of your to-do list?

A major focus at the moment is preparing the next round of Data Storytelling workshops taking place in London in early 2026. This includes coordinating venues, finalising programmes, supporting speakers, and ensuring the workshops remain inclusive and aligned with UKRI priorities around skills development.

Alongside this, I am progressing my PhD research, which explores the lives of South Asian lascar sailors during the 19th-century transition to coal-powered steamships. The project examines ships, ports, and maritime infrastructures as architectural spaces that shaped labour, racial hierarchies, and lived experience, drawing on archival research in Britain and South Asia.

I am also supporting seminar teaching and assessment for Making History, which remains an important and rewarding part of my week.

5. How might colleagues collaborate with you or support your work?

I’m always keen to collaborate on projects related to research training, interdisciplinary teaching, and decolonial or historical approaches to space, labour, and infrastructure. Colleagues might get involved by contributing ideas for workshops, suggesting speakers, or helping shape activities that reach wider and more diverse audiences.

I also welcome conversations with colleagues interested in data storytelling, maritime or architectural history, or innovative pedagogical practices. Whether through joint projects, shared teaching interests, or informal exchanges of ideas, I’m always happy to explore ways of learning from and working with others across UCL.