Rohit Joseph Sebastian
London,United Kingdom
Summary
Migration researcher with expertise in crisis migration, labour mobility, and migration governance, holding an MSc in Global Migration from University College London. Experienced in qualitative research, policy-relevant analysis, and field engagement with refugee and migrant communities. Demonstrated ability to design research methodologies, conduct interviews with forced migration-affected populations, and deliver evidence-based reports relevant to migration governance and humanitarian contexts. Bringing regional familiarity with Gulf migration systems alongside experience in migration policy analysis, community engagement, and research publication development.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
Work history
Independent Student Researcher
University College London
London, United Kingdom
2025.01 - 2025.09
- Designed and implemented research examining migration governance and labour mobility pathways shaping Syrian- Christian Keralite nurses migration into National Health Service, UK.
- Conducted 12+ in-depth interviews with migrant nurse professionals and families to analyse mobility decisions and institutional adaptation.
- Applied ethical research practices, thematic analysis, and evidence-based reporting methods to produce policy-relevant findings.
- Managed end-to-end research delivery including methodology design, data collection, analysis, and reporting within strict timelines.
- Produced a 12,000-word research report now being developed into an academic manuscript for publication submission.
- Generated policy-relevant insights linking labour migration systems and institutional governance responses.
- Complied with UK GDPR rules and norms pertaining to participant data management, recruitment, storage, and protection for over 12 participants as a part of masters dissertation. Received data protection certificate for same.
- Key Achievements
- Completed independent migration research project awarded Distinction for analytical and methodological excellence.
Guest Lecturer
Bharata Mata College
Kochi, Kerala
2021.09 - 2023.03
- Taught Psychoanalysis, Memory Studies, Psychology of Literature; designed syllabus linking Post-colonialism and Cultural Studies. Also, supervised 7 student dissertations.
- Facilitated curriculum planning by collaborating with 12 faculty members, communicating plan to over 70+ undergraduate students.
- Faculty Mentor (Personal Tutor) to over 5 first-year undergraduate students facilitating their academic & personal development.
Team Leader — Opinion Writer and Field Interviewer
Indian Folk
Chennai, India
2018.08 - 2019.04
- Conducted interviews with over 40 Sri Lankan Tamil refugee households documenting displacement experiences and livelihood challenges.
- Engaged with migrant and displaced communities to understand settlement, employment, and mobility constraints.
- Applied qualitative interviewing methods ensuring ethical engagement with vulnerable populations.
- Documented crisis-driven migration of Sri-Lankan Tamil and displacement realities supporting community-level understanding of refugee challenges.
- Strengthened analytical capacity in understanding conflict-related migration dynamics.
- Authored analytical opinion pieces addressing migration, inequality, and community-level crisis impacts.
- Coordinated live public debates and digital engagement initiatives.
- Promoted to Team Leader, supervising contributors and managing publication workflows.
- Key Achievements
- Authored 40+ articles, with 15 featured among platform’s most-read publications.
- Led content coordination and contributor management ensuring timely publication delivery.
Outreach Slum Volunteer
Loyola College
Chennai, India
2017.07 - 2018.03
- Participated in rural and urban outreach programmes addressing livelihood vulnerability and access to services.
- Engaged with over 55 marginalised households through field visits and documented community needs for action at institutional level.
- Adopted measures to promote female sanitation and alleviate homelessness.
- Key Achievements
- Recognised with Best Volunteer award for contributions to community engagement initiatives.
Social Media Volunteer
United Nations Environment Day Campaign
Kochi, Kerala, India
2018.05 - 2019.06
- Conducted outreach campaigns promoting climate action and environmental sustainability messaging.
- Supported marketing team during promotional events by live-tweeting proceedings, providing real-time updates to followers In various Social Media platforms.
- Employed over 20+ memes as medium to promote awareness regarding environmental sustainability.
- Worked with local farmers in Vaikom, Kerala promoting jute bags as sustainable agricultural practice.
- Achievement
- Received UN certification acknowledging efforts.
Education
MSc - Global Migration
University College London (UCL)
United Kingdom 09/2024 - 09/2025
MA - English Literature & Cultural Studies
Loyola College
India 06/2019 - 07/2021
B.A - English Literature
Loyola College
Chennai 06/2016 - 04/2019
Skills
- Migration Policy and Dialogue
- Research and Publications
- Ethnography & Labour Migration
- Migration and Development
- Protection of Migrants
- Community Stabilization
- Early Recovery from Disaster/Conflict
- Livelihoods Assistance / Income Generation
- Needs Assessments
- Capacity-Building and Training
- Writing and Editing for Media
- Social Media
- Community Engagement
- Expert in Microsoft Office Applications
- Qualitative tools- ATLASti and Nvivo
- Quantitative tools- R
Websites
Social Media Volunteer – United Nations Environment Day Campaign
United Nations Environment Day Campaign, Social Media Volunteer, Supported outreach campaigns promoting climate action and environmental sustainability messaging., Developed creative social media materials improving public engagement., Worked with local farmers promoting sustainable agricultural practices in Kerala., Key Achievements, Improved youth engagement with environmental awareness campaigns through digital communication initiatives., Contributed to adoption of sustainable practices within local farming communities.
Languages
English
Native
Arabic
Beginner
Hindi
Fluent
Malayalam
Native
References
- Dr Hannah Schling - Supervisor, MSc Global Migration, UCL
- Dr Tariq Jazeel - Professor, Department of Geography, UCL
Timeline
Independent Student Researcher
University College London
2025.01 - 2025.09
Guest Lecturer
Bharata Mata College
2021.09 - 2023.03
Team Leader — Opinion Writer and Field Interviewer
Indian Folk
2018.08 - 2019.04
Social Media Volunteer
United Nations Environment Day Campaign
2018.05 - 2019.06
Outreach Slum Volunteer
Loyola College
2017.07 - 2018.03
MSc - Global Migration
University College London (UCL)
09/2024 - 09/2025
MA - English Literature & Cultural Studies
Loyola College
06/2019 - 07/2021
B.A - English Literature
Loyola College
06/2016 - 04/2019