Shovik Bandyopadhyay

2016 Astronaut Scholar

Hometown

Eureka, MO

Major

Biology

College

Science, Honors College

 

Shovik Bandyopadhyay, of Eureka, Missouri, studies biological science in the College of Science and Honors College. He is laying the foundation to pursue his goal to discover new and better treatments for blood cancers.

 

"I aspire to focus on research in cancer biology while maintaining patient contact," he said. "My research should translate into treatments and maintain the human side of medicine."

 

At Purdue, Bandyopadhyay has conducted research in the lab of Ji-Xin Cheng, a professor of biomedical engineering and chemistry, and spent his summers in the lab of Stephen Oh at Washington University in St. Louis. He initiated a cooperative effort between their laboratories to research the combination of two drugs for a synergistic interaction to fight chronic myelogenous leukemia. Bandyopadhyay said he also is committed to supporting the health of his local community and citizens abroad.

 

"Shovik is highly regarded for his academic talents in biology, which he expands with activities outside the lab and the classroom," said Rhonda Phillips, dean of the Honors College.

 

Bandyopadhyay began a regional "Get Onboard Active Living University" program together with IU Health, which taught and mentored nearly 100 elementary school children in 12 sessions with Purdue student mentors. The Purdue volunteers were drawn from students who also volunteer for Timmy Global Health, an organization close to his heart. With Timmy, Bandyopadhyay went to Quito, Ecuador, to care for local citizens attending the clinic.