Mathematics in Biology

“As a child, I wanted to become a mathematics teacher. That dream led me to pursue a B.Ed degree, but life had its own plans. Almost unexpectedly, I found myself stepping into academia, embarking on a journey through a PhD and later a PostDoc in the fascinating space where mathematics meets biology.

I am the first person from my village to earn a PhD. Coming from rural West Bengal and a state university, my transition to IIT Guwahati felt overwhelming at first. I had been trained in a system where rote memorization dominated, but IIT’s rigorous environment demanded conceptual depth. But slowly, I embraced the challenges, and in doing so, laid the foundation for the kind of academic resilience I would carry forward.

When I began my PhD in 2020, the pandemic disrupted everything. The silence of a shut-down campus, the loss of access to libraries, and the isolation weighed heavily. Publication delays left me anxious, often questioning if I was falling behind. It was my supervisor’s unwavering encouragement that steadied me. He taught me to see rejection as part of growth and after four years, our first paper finally got published.

My research focused on modeling tumor growth and metastasis using mathematical equations and simulations. It was uncharted territory for me and even for my supervisor. He introduced me to experts, guiding me to write emails, and encouraging me to present my work on international stages in the UK and Germany.

Coming from a modest economic background, I began tutoring students right after school to support my family, and during my PhD, the MHRD fellowship eased some of the weight of being the sole earner. My family’s faith in me, despite our limited means, became my greatest strength.

Today, as a PostDoc at IISc, I realize how vital it is to frame research questions that are not only mathematically sound but biologically and translationally meaningful. For those who wish to pursue research in interdisciplinary fields, a strong grasp of fundamentals and clearly defined, realistic problems are essential.”

-Gopinath Sadhu, PhD in Mathematics, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

Interviewed and written by Payel Das