Dr. Lucy Sonali Hembram

RESEARCH/ INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE-11 years

In 2022, an empirical minor project (one year) was formulated and executed titled “Mapping Witchcraft Practices and Personality Attributes in Santal Community: An Exploratory Study”, sanctioned by Utkal University under the World Bank-supported Odisha Higher Education Programme for Excellence and Equity (WB-OHEPEE). Fieldwork was conducted across the tribal pockets of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts to investigate the psychological triggers behind witchcraft accusations. The researcher analysed regional crime data and collective cognitive biases while mapping out the intersection of economic marginalization and gender stereotyping. The study successfully pinpointed the role and intensity of major personality attributes driving these superstitious beliefs during community crises. Consequently, the investigator designed tailored psychosocial intervention frameworks and community sensitization measures to disrupt this deep-rooted social evil and prevent future inhuman practices

• General Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Human Resource Management (HRM)
• Human Resource Development (HRD)
• Organizational Psychology
• Counselling Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Research Methodology
• Positive Psychology

a ) 4 MPhil students

b) 42 PG students

• Presented a research paper titled “Gender Bias in Machine Translation: A Cognitive and Socio-Linguistic Review” at RD University (organized by the Centre of Excellence for Translation and Life Writing) on 7 April 2026.
• Presented a research paper titled “Role of Employment Status on Self-Concept Clarity and FOMO in Emerging Adulthood”, representing Utkal University, at the ICSSR-sponsored International Conference on Workplace Dynamics hosted by the Central University of Haryana from 11–13 March 2026.
• Presented a research paper titled “Understanding the Psychology of Help Seeking: A Comparative Study of Gender and Academic Stream Among Psychology and Non-Psychology Students” at the National Seminar organized by BJB Autonomous College on 30–31 January 2026.
• Presented an international paper titled “Wellbeing and Odia Culture: A Review through the Lens of Positive Psychology” at the International Conference on Positive Psychology and Mental Health, organized by the Department of Psychology, Utkal University, in 2025.
• Presented an international research paper titled “A Comparative Study of Hope and Wellbeing Across Age, Gender, Family Types and Residential Background” at the International Conference on Positive Psychology and Mental Health, organized by the Department of Psychology, Utkal University, in 2025.
• Presented an international paper titled “A Comparative Analysis of Men’s Marital Satisfaction in Single-Earner vs. Dual-Earner Couples and Joint Family vs. Nuclear Family” at the 3rd International Conference of Applied Psychology and IVth Indian Congress of Industrial and Organizational Psychology on Building Sustainable Organizations: Psychological Issues and Challenges, organized by the Department of Applied Psychology, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science & Technology, Hisar, on 7–8 March 2025.
• Presented an international paper titled “Women’s Marital Adjustment: Role of Emotional Intelligence and Employment Status” at the international conference PSYHW 2022, organized by the Department of Psychology, SGT University, on 27 November 2023.
• Presented an international research paper titled “Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Perceived Stress Among Young Adults” at the 5th International Conference on Innovative Strategies and Advancements in Academics and Research: Navigating Global Scenarios, jointly organized by the Indian Mental Health & Research Centre and Shia P.G. College, Lucknow, in 2023.
• Presented a national paper titled “Food and Mood: Eating Behaviour and Happiness in Young Adults” at the National Seminar on Nurturing Happiness, Enhancing Wellness, and Cultivating Mindfulness: A Journey Towards Psychological Well-Being, organized by the Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Uttarakhand Open University, on 27 November 2023.
• Presented an international paper titled “A Study on Perceived Social Support and Depression Among the Elderly” at the International Conference on Dialogues and Deliberations in Social Sciences and Humanities (ICDDSSH-2022), organized by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sabarmati University, Ahmedabad, on 29–30 July 2022.
• Presented an international paper titled “A Study of Social Media Dependency: Its Effect on Perceived Social Support of Young Adults” at the International Conference on Human Dignity and Mental Health in the New Normal (ICDMH-2021), organized by the Department of Psychology, Utkal University, in 2021.

International Conferences: December 2019

• Presented a poster titled “A Co-relational Study of the Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Paranormal Beliefs Among Post-Graduate Students” at the International Conference on Adolescent’s Behaviour: Care vs. Concern, organized by NAOP, Department of Psychology, Ramanujan College, University of Delhi, Delhi, from 19–21 December 2019.
• Presented a paper titled “Impact of Internet Dependence and Parental Attachment on Adolescents’ Happiness” at the 29th Annual Convention of the National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) International Conference, organized by Pondicherry University, from 19–21 December 2019.
• Presented a paper titled “Parental Attachment Style and Happiness Among Adolescents in Elementary School” at the 29th Annual Convention of the National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) International Conference, organized by Pondicherry University, from 19–21 December 2019.
• Presented a paper titled “A Study on the Quality of Life and Burden of Wives of Alcoholics” at the International Conference EHBSA-2019, organized by Krishi Sanskriti, New Delhi, at the Regional Institute of Education, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 9 March 2019.
• Presented a paper titled “Internet Addiction: A Study on Usage and Perception of Social Networking Sites Among University Students” at the International Conference EHBSA-2019, organized by Krishi Sanskriti, New Delhi, at the Regional Institute of Education, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on 9 March 2019.

National Seminars & Conferences

• Presented a paper titled “A Co-relational Study of Religiosity, Psychological Well-Being, Life Satisfaction and Perceived Social Support Among Older Adults” at the Fortis Third Annual Psychology Conference, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon, in 2019.
• Presented a paper titled “Exploring Conflict Resolution Styles and Well-Being Among Health Professionals in Odisha” at the ICIOP National Seminar, organized by the Department of Psychology, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Gujarat, on 23 February 2019.
• Presented a paper titled “Role of Spiritual Intelligence and Self-Concept on Social Competence of Visually Impaired Adolescents” at the National Seminar on Adolescent’s Behaviour: Care vs. Concern, organized by the Department of Psychology, Banasthali University, Rajasthan, on 18–19 August 2018.
• Presented a paper titled “Role of Gender and Socioeconomic Status on Academic Stress and Coping Strategies of Adolescents” at the National Seminar on Adolescent’s Behaviour: Care vs. Concern, organized by the Department of Psychology, Banasthali University, Rajasthan, on 18–19 August 2018.

Invited talks delivered-(5)

• NABARD – Programme on Retirement Counselling — Delivered sessions on Life after Retirement, focusing on concerns, relationship building, and related issues.
• Mirror Theatre — Served as an Invited Resource Person for the seminar on “Work-Life Balance: Strategies for Modern Professionals” in June 2018.
• Mirror Theatre Employee Mental Health Awareness Programme — Invited as an Expert Guest Speaker on 12 December 2019.

• Member, National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) — Active member of the National Academy of Psychology and contributor to academic and professional activities in the field of Psychology.
• Examination Superintendent, BASLP Assessments (2015) — Served as the Examination Superintendent for BASLP examinations, overseeing logistical execution and administration while ensuring compliance with university regulations and academic integrity standards.
• Member, Board of Studies (2020–2025) — Served as a curriculum expert on the Board of Studies of Ravenshaw University, Dhenkanal Autonomous College, and Berhampur University. Contributed to the evaluation, revision, and restructuring of academic syllabi to maintain high educational and industry standards.
• College Inspection Committee Member (2022, 2024) — Participated in official university inspection panels for Chetna College, BJB Autonomous College, Prasannamani College, and Tigiria College. Assessed academic infrastructure, institutional compliance, and quality assurance parameters for affiliation and accreditation purposes.
• Co-Coordinator, Centre of Excellence in Studies on Tribal & Marginalized Communities (CoE-STMC) — Coordinated interdisciplinary research initiatives, managed institutional projects, and contributed to academic frameworks promoting the socio-economic development and cultural preservation of tribal and marginalized communities.
• Assistant Coordinator, International Office (2020 – Present) — Coordinates student support services, international outreach activities, and global engagement initiatives. Oversees applicant screening, admission interviews, international seminars, guest lectures, and academic collaborations to strengthen the university’s international presence.

1. Institutional Administration & Internationalization

• Assistant Coordinator, International Office (2020 – Present)
  • Manage technical administration, candidate shortlisting based on eligibility criteria, and admission interviews for international applicants.
  • Coordinate and facilitate international seminars, guest lectures, and academic collaborations to strengthen the university’s global engagement and outreach.
  • Oversee student support services, application processing, and campus welfare initiatives for the international student community.

2. National Service Scheme (NSS) Leadership

• NSS Programme Coordinator / Officer (2020 – Present)
  • Planned and executed large-scale community engagement activities, including blood donation camps, campus cleanliness drives, plantation programmes, and seasonal drinking water kiosks (Jala Chatra).
  • Coordinated major student orientation programmes, inter-college camps, voter awareness and registration drives, and collaborative initiatives with institutions such as Savitribai Phule Pune University.
  • Organized and managed public outreach events, including activities associated with the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year Award delegation.
  • Spearheaded COVID-19 response initiatives by mobilizing student volunteers for mask production, food distribution to street animals, emergency shelter support, and awareness campaigns on social distancing, hygiene, and sanitization.

3. Campus Life & Student Welfare

• Hostel Assistant Superintendent | Ladies Hostel-2 (2015–2018), Ladies Hostel-7 (2024–Present)
  • Managed daily residential and mess operations, student welfare activities, and administrative logistics for university women’s hostels.
• Student Sports Liaison Officer (2023–2026)
  • Led and coordinated university student delegations attending major national and international sporting events at Kalinga Stadium, including ITTF-ATTU Championships, Hockey League tournaments, and other prestigious sporting events.

4. Community Outreach & Psychological Interventions

• Outreach Field Lead & Researcher
  • Conduct public awareness and prevention campaigns focused on student mental health, emotional well-being, and suicide prevention.
  • Develop evidence-based community intervention models and rehabilitation strategies to address the psychological, social, and cultural impacts of witchcraft beliefs and witch-hunting practices.