Indranil Bhattacharyya B.Sc (Data Science and Applications)
Science and Engineering go hand in hand – one helps us understand the natural world while the other applies that knowledge to pave the way for further enrichment. And at the overlap of these two domains, stands Indranil Bhattacharya – a Data Scientist at Renault Nissan Technology and Business Center, India, and a degree level student of the IITM BS Degree in Data Science and Applications. A testament to relentless learning, Indranil’s path to data science was anything but conventional.
Holding a MSc in Chemistry, Indranil’s fascination lay in the intricate world of medicinal
chemistry and drug development. But sometimes, the universe tends to unfold in unforeseen ways. Back in 2020, an NPTEL course introduced him to the groundbreaking ways in which machine learning was reshaping the field of drug discovery. This amalgamation of two distinct domains was like flint and steel; they sparked to redefine his professional aspiration. Just as serendipity would have it, Indranil soon stumbled upon an advertisement regarding the launch of the IITM BS Degree.
Coming from a non-CS background, Indranil’s journey through the BS Degree has been transformative.
For Indranil, the IITM BS Degree is special. “It changed my life altogether”, he fondly says. According to him, this program equips students with hands-on experience that goes beyond model building. ”In the industry, only model building is not sufficient. One has to have experience in full-stack development, database interaction, and Linux”, he emphasises.
Once done with his Diploma in Data Science, he secured an internship with Renault Nissan (which soon turned into a full-time role). This opportunity was more than just a job – it was an attestation of his rigour and diligence.
But Indranil’s definition of success was incomplete without one important step – to give back. “One thing I understood is that I can also contribute to the community by teaching and mentoring fellow students”, he shares. Currently a TA for the Software Engineering course, he also serves as a mentor for the MLP (since 2023) and BDM projects. With a hearty laughter and humility, he says “At the end of the day, I genuinely enjoy those little moments when a student comes up and says that my session helped them”, he pauses; “that is the kind of impact that sticks with you. And honestly, who would not want the chance to support a class of 100 students and be recognised for their efforts?”
When asked how he juggles multiple responsibilities, his response was refreshingly candid - “You have to set your priorities”, he says. According to Indranil, some days one might not get enough time to study but a student should try and catch up quickly. Apart from academic activities, he has also been active in the co-curricular ecosystem. Coming from the first batch of BS Degree students, he served as a group leader and eventually became the Deputy Secretary of Bandipur House. He also laid the foundation for what will eventually evolve into the AWS Cloud Club, now officially affiliated with AWS. He too had his fair share of involvement in Paradox, where he organised an event called “Deep Racer” among others.
“I had no experience in coding,” he recalls.
Yet, his passion for learning pushed him forward.
During our discussion, he appreciated how the diploma and degree level courses, along with periodic boot camps, are designed to prepare students for the real world challenges.
Backing this up, he cites his own example of how his favourite subjects – Statistics 2, MLT, and Deep Learning – have become frequent utilities in his role as a Data Scientist.
“I always emphasize participating in hackathons and Kaggle competitions. CGPA is important, but so is upskilling and understanding concepts” he advises.
At the end of our conversation, he shares his dream of merging Chemistry with Data Science, especially to harness the power of machine learning for innovations in drug discovery. Indranil Bhattacharya’s journey is a testament to what’s possible with curiosity and determination. From Chemistry to a successful career in Data Science, his journey demonstrates how the IITM BS Degree offered him the right opportunities that he needed. He is just like you and me but his [still unfolding] journey and ambition leave us with a hopeful reminder – it’s never too late to start!
– Written by Satyaki Goswami
