MY STORY

Who am I?

Hi! I’m Varshit.

Until September 2023, I was the Head of Technology at Blackboard Radio - an Edtech start-up with the mission to support working professionals in improving their communication skill sets.

There, I managed 3 divisions - technology, analytics and marketing.

Since the company is winding down due to cash flow issues, I am available for new opportunities.

I have a strong education background in coding, healthcare, communications and data science. I completed my bachelor’s degree from IIT Kharagpur and earned a master's from Imperial College London.

Originally, I was a synthetic biologist by training.

During my time at IIT, I specialised in experimental bioengineering. I worked on vaccine development against a virus infecting Indian silkworm crop.

But at Imperial, I switched to the Maths department and got trained in computational biology (CS+Maths+Biology).

For 10 months, I worked on developing a new understanding of cancer metabolism. The particular focus of the project was comparing how cancer cells have a different metabolic than healthy cells and how that can be used to cure them.

I am also co-founder of India Biotech Leaders of Tomorrow (IBLoT) - a non-profit focussing on promoting Bio-entrepreneurship in India. I act as the communications for IBLoT and lead all strategic communication, Public Relations, and content marketing work.

Outside of work, I have a strong interest in performing arts.

I am an amateur theatre artist and performed in 12+ stage and street plays across India and London.

I am also passionate about public speaking. I am a communication consultant at Toastmasters International (a Global Non-Profit leading to improve Public Speaking) and have won several state-level Public Speaking contests.

I also have a strong interest in writing and have written for Felix (Imperial College Student Newspaper), as well as Oncobites (A cancer biology blog run by PhD students at UNC Chapel Hill), as well as manage the IBLoT substack newsletter.

You can also find my writing on Quora and Reddit.

Academic Achievements

• Graduated with Distinction - Imperial College London

• Graduated with Honours - IIT Kharagpur

• Selected among 100 Leaders of Tomorrow - Global Biotech Revolution

• Kishore Vigyan Protsahan Yojana Awardee

• Published a First Author article in Peer peer-reviewed journal.

• GRE score 330 - First attempt