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Mathematics, physics and entrepreneurship: connecting the dots

I am a scientist by education and training, committed to applying mathematical precision and systems thinking to complex organisational challenges.

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I received my Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Brown University, where I developed mathematical models to solve problems in astrophysics. I then worked as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Oxford and St. Thomas’ Hospital, building algorithms to simulate a virtual human heart and improve cardiac surgery outcomes. Following this, I worked as a scientist at GE Research in Bangalore in the Aerospace Lab.

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Across these roles, I found myself drawn to a deeper question. Why do some complex systems perform reliably under pressure, while others break down? Over time, that curiosity expanded from physical systems to organisational systems.

Experience

2015 - Present

Serein Inc.

Bangalore, India

CEO and founder

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Serein is a science-led organisation designing modern learning and capability solutions for future-ready workplaces. Grounded in data and behavioural research, we help businesses strengthen leadership, improve collaboration and adopt AI responsibly.

 

Working across 35 countries, we support startups and enterprises in translating strategy, culture and compliance into measurable outcomes.

2013 - 2015

GE Research

Bangalore, India

Research scientist

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Scientist in aerodynamics and acoustics lab in GE Global Research in Bangalore. Worked in multidisciplinary teams on design and algorithms for products in healthcare and aeronautics.

2011 - 2013

Research associate

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In Oxford and subsequently in St. Thomas hospital in London I worked as a part of the EUHeart project. The project involved image scientists who collected MRI, ECG data of heart failure patients, mathematicians (me and others) and computer scientists who built the
blood flow model on top of the data.

 

This mathematically modelled virtual heart gave information which the cardiac surgeons used to make better decisions regarding implanting
pace-makers in children and elderly patients. This work is now being used by the Virtual Physiological Human Institute which works with the European Commission in several healthcare initiatives.

Education

2007 - 2010

Brown University

Division of Applied Mathematics

Providence, US

PhD, MSc in Applied Mathematics

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Thesis - High Order WENO Method in Computational Cosmology

Thesis Supervisor - Professor Chi-Wang Shu

Recipient of Stella Dafermos award in recognition of accomplishments in graduate study
 

PhD dissertation involved designing a mathematical algorithm and a computer program to solve the scattering phenomena of starts in the 'early universe'. This mathematical model uses currently observed radiation data (collected by astrophysicists) to 'predict' the kind of scatterings and collisions took place between the first starts which formed right after the 'dark ages', millions of years ago.

2004 - 2006

UMass Amherst

Amherst, US

MSc in Applied Mathematics

Thesis Supervisor - Professor Panayotis Kevrekidis

2000 - 2003

BSc in Applied Mathematics

Publications

Full list on Google Scholar here

© 2025 Ishani Roy
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