Research interests

• Inclusive practice in doctoral training design and delivery
• Diversity and wellbeing in STEM research environments using STEAM interventions
• Enhancing Black Asian Minority Ethnic and International PGR belonging through professional development
• Cross-cultural translation and South Asian cinema
• EDI change agency in researcher development

Current research

Neelam’s current research explores how we can improve and enhance UK doctoral training through student co-creation, anti-racism, allyship, decolonisation practice and inclusive curriculum approaches. Neelam’s innovative work demonstrates how inclusive practice, student partnerships, interdisciplinarity, anti-racism and EDI values can be combined and embedded into UK Doctoral training. Her ultimate goals is to help HEIs across the sector to learn how adapt and reconfigure professional training and trainer competencies to improve Black Asian Minority Ethnic staff and student experience, belonging and progression. 

Neelam has been using her research as a cultural theorist to develop new culturally intelligent approaches to mentoring practice. She has successfully applied the Reverse Mentoring Practice’s unique model of resistance to develop a white male UEB member’s cultural empathy and understanding of racism and systemic inequalities in higher education, with a particular focus on Black women. For this project, Neelam developed learning materials drawing from South African Ubuntu philosophy, Black feminism, African and Hindu Folklore and Vedic philosophy.

Neelam also continues to research and publish on cross-cultural translation and Indian cinema.

Neelam’s teaching experience covers a wide variety of researcher professional development topics relevant to the PGR lifecycle and researcher careers. She has designed and delivered professional development workshops for PGRs as well as junior and senior Academic staff. Subjects have included research integrity, time and project management, coaching and mentorship, supervisory relationship management, presentation skills, critical reading, viva examinations, researcher career development and introduction to research funding.  She has several years of PGR 1-2-1 coaching experience, advising PGR students on how to holistically navigate their research degree, disciplinary environments and career development. Neelam has previously taught on UG (all stages) and MA modules for Film Studies, Media Studies and Cultural Studies courses at the University of Sussex.

Before joining the University of Southampton in February 2023, Neelam worked as a Doctoral College researcher developer and trainer. She has had a range of teaching, academic, research and professional service roles in several different Higher Education Institutions (including Surrey, UCL, Kingston and Sussex). She has benefited from a portfolio career working across research and innovation, integrity and ethics, teaching and education, widening participation, student wellbeing and careers/professional development.

Neelam has significant EDI consultancy experience and held a number of roles including department and faculty EDI lead, steering group chair, staff network lead and SAT member for chartermarks. She has several years of commitee servicing experience and is a trustee / member of council for an external charitable body.

Neelam has experience of leading a large team of academic staff as a programme lead for PIER WP summer schools at London Metropolitan University. She was succesful in redesigning and running two summer schools for 200 disadvantaged ethnic minority FE students in East London. Engagement increased from 14% to 98% as a result of Neelam’s multi-pronged inclusive approaches).