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Mathematics can help cancer researchers describe and investigate complex biological processes through models; it does not, by itself, diagnose cancer or determine a patient’s treatment. In a Hindustan Times interview published October 1, 2026, Gopinath Sadhu explains how he moved from studying mathematics to research at the intersection of biology and oncology.
How Sadhu moved from mathematics to cancer research
Sadhu’s account, as reported in the Hindustan Times interview, begins with a practical ambition: he wanted to teach high-school mathematics. During his undergraduate studies, he tutored students in his village and nearby areas. He says teaching helped him support his family while strengthening his own grasp of mathematics.
By the end of his master’s degree at Burdwan University, he had decided to pursue research. He says he qualified for CSIR-UGC NET JRF and GATE in 2019, applied to PhD programs at several IITs, and joined the Mathematics PhD program at IIT Guwahati.
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From a mathematics PhD to interdisciplinary work
At IIT Guwahati, Sadhu says he learned to respond to setbacks by examining why an idea or approach had failed and trying another perspective. He credits his PhD supervisor, Prof. D. C. Dalal, with encouraging him to explore the interface between mathematics and biology. His interest in mathematical biology and oncology developed during the PhD, particularly around questions of cancer evolution.
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After submitting his thesis, he joined the Department of Bioengineering at IISc Bengaluru as a research associate, working with Prof. Mohit Kumar Jolly. The interview describes him at publication as a postdoctoral researcher at IISc working in mathematical biology and mathematical oncology; that is a time-specific description from October 1, 2026.
What mathematics can contribute to cancer research
Sadhu describes cancer-related biological systems as complex and says some of their underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Mathematical modeling offers researchers another way to investigate such systems: it can represent relationships among processes and help researchers reason about how a biological system behaves under stated assumptions.
That is a research approach, not a clinical promise. The interview does not identify a particular model as clinically validated, claim patient-specific prediction, or report a change in treatment outcomes. Its point is that mathematical tools can help researchers study biological questions—not that equations alone can settle them.
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For Sadhu, learning biology is part of asking a useful modeling question. A mathematical expression has to connect to a biological process if the model is to address biology meaningfully. He urges students not to stop at solving an equation, but to ask what its terms represent. As he put it: “I think it is equally important to ask: What does each term represent physically or biologically? What phenomenon is this term describing?”
This emphasis points to the interdisciplinary nature of the work. Researchers need mathematical skill, enough biological understanding to frame questions, and the ability to communicate with colleagues who may use different scientific language.
What students can take from his path
Build concepts before relying on formulas
For his CSIR-UGC NET JRF and GATE preparation, Sadhu says he focused on understanding concepts rather than memorizing formulas. He practiced problems, identified weak areas, and repeatedly revised fundamentals. His experience tutoring also helped him clarify ideas by explaining them.
Practice steadily and learn from setbacks
His advice is to practice consistently and keep working through difficult problems. He describes research as uncertain: “Research does not always give you the results you expect, and there were many occasions when an idea or approach did not work.” He also says, “Consistency over a long period is much more important than studying intensely for a few days.”
Stay open to another discipline
Mathematics students interested in computational biology or mathematical oncology can begin by learning the fundamentals of biology and asking how mathematical terms correspond to biological phenomena. They also need to explain their reasoning clearly to collaborators outside mathematics. Sadhu’s account presents this openness, alongside a strong mathematical foundation, as part of crossing disciplinary boundaries.
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What the interview does—and does not—establish
The Hindustan Times interview offers Sadhu’s account of his education, mentors, research interests, and advice. Those career details and views are attributed to him through that interview; they are not independently verified here. The article does not provide a specific cancer model, publication record, experimental result, or clinical outcome. Its value is as a first-person account of how a mathematics student can move toward research on biological questions, not as evidence that mathematical oncology has already produced a particular benefit for patients.
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