Sneha Das, Ph.D. (she/her) joined CSBS in January 2024 as Research Development Manager. In this role, Sneha is responsible for supporting all aspects of CSBS’s research development, including identifying, expanding, and supporting new research initiatives and working to build research capacity in the social and behavioral sciences.

Tell us briefly about your background.
I earned my B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in microbiology from India and started my Ph.D. in microbiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2017. My thesis research was focused on understanding DNA damage and repair mechanisms in a bacteria called E. coli.

Beyond my research, I actively engaged in science writing and communication during graduate school. I was a presenter with the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute and Illinois Extension Community Seminar Series program for several semesters and wrote news articles and blog posts for non-profit science communication platforms.

The Graduate Career Exploration Fellowship introduced me to research development as a potential career path after graduation. I worked with the Office of Proposal Development as a fellow and a graduate hourly for several semesters, gained experience in different aspects of proposal development, and learned about the broader research development community on campus. This experience was crucial in landing my current role at CSBS.

What excites you about this role?
In my brief time here, the CSBS team has made me feel welcome, and I am most excited about learning from and working collaboratively with the fantastic team.

My responsibilities in this role are multifaceted, spanning proposal development support, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and supporting public engagement initiatives. I am excited about the diverse range of professional development opportunities that this role offers.

What do you hope to learn? What do you hope others learn from you?
Being new to social and behavioral sciences (SBS), I am eager to learn more about the SBS faculty and their research. At the same time, I hope to bring a new perspective and contribute meaningfully to the CSBS team.

Where might we find you outside of work?
Outside of work, you’ll likely find me visiting one of the National Parks with my husband, as we love to travel and explore.