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in the first place. The interviews till then had would never have a conversation on cancer
been challenging but mostly technical, with a without driving home the clinical relevance of
mix of computer science and machine learning the problem. Back then, this mentor had not yet
problems thrown in. But then, at the very end, become the Director of RGCB, but was a vibrant
came the most daunting challenge — convince cancer researcher whom I admired greatly. Now,
a practicing oncologist of my awareness clinical no brownie points for guessing the identity of this
oncology. It so happened that he was a practicing person — Professor M Radhakrishna Pillai or MRP
oral cancer surgeon who invited me to discuss a as we fondly referenced him in our conversations.
cancer type I was most familiar with. I jumped at There ends my little story and I can only remember
this suggestion and blurted out “Oral cancer” and RGCB with fond memories. I am aware this has
then the discussion started. Ten minutes into the been a rather short tale, but please remember the
punctuated by tea times and a lunch break. The conversation, during which time, I was quizzed wisdom in this saying “As is a tale, so is life: not
smell of hot “parippu vadas” wafting through the on hyperplasia, dysplasia and leukoplakia; he how long it is but how good it is, is what matters”
air as you climb the stairs leading to the cafeteria is stopped abruptly and told me the interview was
an olfactory core memory for sure. Washing down over. Now, when an interview that is supposed to
these yummy vadas with steaming hot “Chaaya”, last three quarters of an hour ends prematurely,
while engaging in a fervent scientific conversation you pretty much get the idea. After thanking
with my colleagues, was certainly a favorite part him profusely (a lame, last ditch attempt to turn
of the day for me. With scientists ensconced in things around), I left the room a very disappointed Biography
the many high chairs around the dining table, not person. Two weeks went by and I did not hear
only was many a great scientific proposal born, back from the institute. Feeling certain about the Ramkumar Hariharan, PhD, is currently a
but also terrific (and sometimes terrible) jokes upshot of that ominous short interview, I inquired senior data scientist at Fred Hutchinson
shared. It was not uncommon to witness serious with the recruiter anyway. They told me I should Cancer Research Center in Seattle. He
scientific conversations happening at one table expect to receive a communication very soon. is also a visiting scientist to RIKEN,
while hearing peals of laughter at an adjacent A day later, the post did arrive and when it did, it Japan, boot camp leader at General
one. What better way to foster creativity than to blew my mind —a full offer letter with details on Assembly, Seattle, and affiliate faculty with
mix science and humor? compensation, and other benefits. After joining Northeastern University, Seattle. His active
the cancer institute, I met with the surgeon who pursuits at the Hutch include applying deep
Ramkumar Hariharan, PhD For another, the RGCB library was where the had interviewed me. To my pleasant surprise, he learning algorithms for biomedical image
more geeky ones amongst us usually hung out. invited me to coffee and told me he had never seen recognition, building ensemble models for
One cannot but remember the warm, welcoming a non-clinical person, far from it a data scientist, structured datasets, and developing and
I turned 38 this year. Publicly announcing your smiles of the librarian and the helpful suggestions to know cancer pathology this deeply. Now, what delivering short courses in the areas of
age to woo an audience, especially when you of the library staff. Maybe it was the books or has this event anything to do with RGCB, even data science and programming. He is a
are middle aged, is a foolish thing to attempt maybe it was the friendly library personnel, but remotely? Well, here’s where our story begins. For hardcore Pythonista and uses the language
and seldom works. While not a ripe old age, can’t spending time at the library was always a pleasant me, the pathology part was no alien! I had always extensively in his job. He hails from Kerala,
I be excused for beginning to get into the habit and scientifically stimulating experience. For the looked at cancer from this clinical point of view India, and has a PhD in an interdisciplinary
of looking at each decade of my life to reflect on uninitiated, assuming this is still true, the library and not just as cells growing on plastic dishes or field. He loves going through the think-code
the most exciting and fun-filled memories? My is literally (and figuratively!) one of the coolest as pretty cartoons on a computer. Turning back debug cycle iteratively to crack complex
thirties have been filling up with sweet memories places on campus to escape the brutal summers. the clock a decade, this view of cancer took shape computational problems. In his career so
of our moving to the US and of rising, or more It was March 2017. My family, even after five years during my wonderful years as a program scientist far, he has transitioned seamlessly across
precisely, trying to raise a happy child. Looking of living in Seattle, was still battling winter blues. at RGCB. No presentation on cancer at RGCB different job profiles globally, starting out as
back on my twenties, perhaps the strongest and However, personally, despite the overbearing grey was complete without an explicit reference to its a bioinformatics scientist in India.
most exhilarating of all my memories are centered skies and the seemingly endless drizzle that is clinical relevance. Opportunities for collaboration
on RGCB. So, which are the core memories that typical of Seattle, I was feeling quite excited. For with oncologists, cancer surgeons and radiation Ram is currently delving deep into artificial
stand out and, why? good reason too, because I was in the final stage therapists from the local Regional Cancer Center, intelligence and solidifying his deep learning
interviews for a very senior position at one of were not only welcomed but also strongly expertise. Outside of work, he loves spending
For one, remembrances around the excellent RGCB the top cancer research institutions in the US. It encouraged. time with his family, trying out new eat-outs,
cafeteria make up a disproportionate slice of the was a demanding position, one where I would not and is passionate about writing short stories
memory pie. Cafe, tea, lunch...hmmm? I suspect only be crunching big data to make predictions, Turning the clock back even further, my focus for children.
this is in part attributable to a pleasant remnant but interacting with cancer researchers, software on clinical cancer research was born at the
of the British rule — any Keralite’s typical day is engineers and oncologists to gather the data Regional Cancer Center, because my PhD mentor