In conversation with our young researchers: Dr. Soumyabrata Ghosh

13 August 2021

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Clinical and biological data.

Data is an asset. Future clinical advances will depend on the quality of data which we are collecting today.

Biomedical research is rapidly transforming into a data driven field of study. As a consequence, proper data infrastructure, management, and analysis are becoming critical.

Dr. Soumyabrata Ghosh is a postdoc researcher in the Bioinformatics Core group of the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB) at the University of Luxembourg. He focuses on the clinical and biological data domain. His research aims to ensure the quality and integrity of the data and extract meaningful insight from it.

Bioinformatics, an interdisciplinary scientific field

Bioinformatics can be defined as “the application of computational tools to organise, analyse, understand, visualise and store information associated with biological macromolecules.” Interdisciplinary at heart, bioinformatics combines computer science, mathematics, physics, and biology.

Basically, bioinformatics consists of developing software tools and algorithms while analysing and interpreting biological data using a variety of specific software tools and algorithms.

“My research is focused to ensure the quality and integrity of the data and extract meaningful insight from it. I’m using both classical bioinformatics and newer data-science approaches for the analysis. As most of my projects have direct connection with the practicing clinicians, epidemiologists, patient organisation, and health policy officials, it is inspiring to see the real impact of my research.”
Dr. Soumyabrata Ghosh

Dr. Soumyabrata Ghosh is experiencing how biomedical research is rapidly transforming into a data driven field of study.

Science as a way of life

After completing his PhD in engineering from Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, Dr. Soumyabrata Ghosh worked in both academic and industrial research. His focus area was specialised computational systems and their application in the biomolecular interaction modelling.

“I believe that science is a way of life. It is difficult for me to think about any other profession as an alternative. For me, apart from the usual target of publication and grant, research should have a purpose – a humble humanly purpose.”
Dr. Soumyabrata Ghosh

After joining LCSB, the bioinformatician shifted his research direction towards the clinical and biological data domain.

Why Luxembourg as a research destination?

Coming from Kolkata, a city in the eastern part of India, Soumyabrata feels that his decision to join the Bioinformatics Core group of LCSB largely contributed to his personal growth.

To him, “the country offers an openness and breathing space for new researchers.”

“The research environment and opportunities I got here as a new postdoc are quite incomparable. It is a privilege to work with science visionaries. And also finding mentors and team-mates have a huge positive impact on my work.”

“Infrastructure-wise Luxembourg is rapidly developing. Recently, supercomputing node Meluxina started its operation. I think that LCSB’s IT infrastructure and technical expertise can compete with the top research institutions in EU or North America.”
Dr. Soumyabrata Ghosh

Working on multiple EU and national projects

Due to his role in the interdisciplinary and collaborative projects, Dr. Soumyabrata Ghosh works with a variety of professionals – including clinicians, health workers, statisticians, experimental biologists, software engineers, project management and legal staffs.

Being in the intersect of translational medicine and information technology, the researcher is involved in the workflow management and data analysis of multiple EU projects like IMI-Biomap, IMI-Immuniverse, H2020-SYSCID as well as critical national projects like NCER-PD, and CON-VINCE. Soumyabrata is also coordinating the data and process standaridisation efforts including FAIRification or OMOP in various EU consortia and internally at LCSB.

“LCSB has an environment of openness and approachability. Bioinformatics Core, which has more than 50 members, shines with the team spirit among the researchers and technology people. “
Dr. Soumyabrata Ghosh