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Mathematics, physics and entrepreneurship: connecting the dots

I am a scientist by education and training. I'm passionate about using scientific methods to make lasting change and build safe and inclusive society.

 

I received my Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Brown University. My dissertation was on developing mathematical models to solve Astrophysics problems. Following this, I spent time as a Post-doctoral scholar at University of Oxford and St. Thomas Hospital where I worked on mathematical algorithms to build a virtual human heart to make cardiac surgeries more efficient. Following this I spent some time as a scientist at GE research in Bangalore in the Aerospace Lab.

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During the course of my work, I became interested in how some companies were successful in growing an innovative and diverse culture, while many others struggled. Serein is an attempt at using science to enable diversity and inclusion and drive organisational development in every business in India.

Experience

2015 - Present

Serein Inc.

Bangalore, India

CEO and founder

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Serein has pioneered a data-driven approach to diversity and inclusion and prevention of sexual harassment. Comprised of a team of scientists, lawyers and sociologists, Serein works with organisations on driving better business outcomes through diversity and inclusion.

 

Serein works with over 5000 startups, major corporates and leading academic institutions in India, Singapore, Vietnam.

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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