Genomics based technologies are not just accelerating the pace of innovation but also making proactive diagnosis accessible to real people in the simplest way possible.
Arun Hariharan, our next pathbreaker, Senior Scientist III at Strand Life Sciences, manages their cutting-edge Genomics laboratory.
Arun talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about working at the intersection of science, technology, strategy and healthcare accessibility.
For students, balance your skills: Don’t focus only on technical knowledge. Communication, leadership, and teamwork will make you stand out.
Arun, what were your growing up years like?
I grew up with a strong interest in science, especially biology. Even during my school days in the late 90s, I was fascinated by genetics — I remember telling people I wanted to become a ‘Genetic Engineer’ way back in 1996–98!
My parents encouraged me to follow my curiosity, and I spent a lot of time reading books and thinking about how life works at the smallest level — cells and DNA. Apart from academics, I also took part in different activities that let me explore teamwork and problem-solving, which later became very useful in my career.
So, the spark to become a scientist was lit very early in life. That dream carried me forward through my studies and career choices.
What did you do for graduation/post-graduation?
After school, I decided to follow my passion head-on. I completed my Bachelor’s in Genetics, where I got to learn the basics of how DNA, genes, and inheritance work. This made me even more curious about how life can be studied and used to solve real problems.
Post my bachelor’s, although it wasn’t mandatory, I decided to go the extra mile. Along with the help of a close friend, I pursued a project training at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) campus. That hands-on experience gave me a big boost in confidence and knowledge. More importantly, it opened a crucial lead that finally helped me secure admission into Master’s in Molecular Biology (2007–2009) at Bangalore University.
Those two years in my master’s program were very action-packed — I spent most of my days in the lab, doing experiments, and learning how molecular biology has real applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.
Later in my career, I also added a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA from IIM Kozhikode, 2019–22), because I realized that science is not only about experiments but also about managing people, projects, budgets, and strategies.
What were some of the influences that led you to a DeepTech, Research intensive career in Genomics?
There were a few main reasons:
• Key influencers: My teachers in school and college who explained science in exciting ways made a big difference.
• Mentors: During my research internships, I worked with senior scientists who showed me how biology can directly help people through medicine and healthcare.
• Events/turning points: Reading about how genetics could be used to cure diseases was a big turning point for me. It made me realize that working in life sciences means working on problems that can directly save or improve lives.
So, for me, it was never a random choice — it was something I had always wanted since school, and every step kept reinforcing that dream.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path.
My thought process was simple: keep learning, get hands-on lab experience, and slowly move into bigger projects.
Right after my MSc, I started as a Junior Research Fellow at SeriBiotech Research Laboratory, Central Silk Board, working on silkworm genetics. That experience taught me how to do real science — experiments, results, and even understanding mechanisms such as how silkworms fight parasites!
Then at Ganit Labs, I got into Next Generation Sequencing — learning how to work with DNA at scale. This was huge for me because genome sequencing is one of the most powerful tools in modern biology. Ganit Labs was one of the most exciting places to work early in my career. It was set up in 2011 as a public–private partnership between the Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology and Strand Life Sciences, both based in Bangalore. What made Ganit special was its focus on translational genomics — essentially taking discoveries from the lab and moving them closer to real-world applications. The lab worked on genome sequencing, synthetic biology, and analyzing huge amounts of biological data. The atmosphere was a mix of academic rigor (like in universities) and the entrepreneurial spirit of startups. That environment helped young researchers like me learn how to handle large-scale projects, publish impactful research, and also think about how science can become innovation and entrepreneurship. One of the most historic achievements at Ganit was sequencing the entire transcriptome and genome of the Neem plant (Azadirachta indica), making it the first group in the world to do so. I was part of these kinds of high-impact projects, learning cutting-edge genome sequencing and analysis during my 4 years there.
Next, I moved to Strand Life Sciences. Strand Life Sciences is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited and is one of India’s leading genomics and bioinformatics companies.
Strand provides clinical diagnostic services like cancer detection and the diagnosis of genetic diseases. It also develops genomic profiling solutions — basically studying someone’s DNA to help personalized health treatments. The company also partners with big pharmaceutical and biotech organizations, supporting them in oncology, immunology, and drug discovery.
So unlike Ganit, which was a research-focused academic-industry hybrid, Strand is more application-oriented, patient-focused, and industry-facing, delivering solutions that directly impact healthcare.
I wanted to explore something new and leverage what I was learning in business school, so I joined Syngene International in a Business Operations role. This role came during my MBA at IIM Kozhikode. It was a switch from my lab work, focusing more on the business side — things like operations, compliance, safety, and resource allocation. But I realized very soon that I missed being hands-on in science. So even though it was a great experience to taste the business side, I decided to move back to where my heart truly was — science and lab operations.
I grew into leading teams and handling complex research projects — from cancer genetics to clinical diagnostics. Over time, I didn’t just focus on the science but also learned how to run labs, handle budgets, talk to clients, and negotiate with global companies.
Doing my MBA later gave me the tools to connect science with leadership, strategy, and business decisions.
All of this combined to make me not just a scientist, but someone who could lead scientific projects and turn research into real solutions for society.
How did you get your first break?
My first real break came when I joined as a Junior Research Fellow after my MSc. I was selected from a competitive pool to work on a project about silkworm genetics. Imagine working with silkworms and discovering how they protect themselves from parasites — it was like uncovering nature’s hidden defense secrets! That project taught me something important: if you stay curious and persistent, you can actually discover things nobody else in the world knows. That feeling of discovery was priceless and gave me the confidence to move forward in research.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Like any journey, my career had its share of challenges, but each one taught me something valuable:
Challenge 1 – Learning complex lab skills quickly: When I first stepped into a genomics lab, the machines, techniques, and terminologies felt overwhelming. I overcame it by practicing consistently, asking seniors for help, and watching closely how they worked. Slowly, my ‘fear of complex technologies’ became ‘friendship with complex technologies.’
Challenge 2 – Moving from scientist to leader: Initially, I was focused only on experiments. But later, I had to lead teams, handle budgets, and even negotiate with global suppliers. That was scary at first! I managed it by learning business management (through my MBA) and seeking guidance from mentors.
Challenge 3 –Handling failures in experiments: Not every experiment works. Many times, months of work may fail. That can crush your confidence. But over time, I learned to treat failure as ‘data’ — every time something failed, it taught me why and how to try differently the next time. That mindset kept me going.
Where do you work now? What problems do you solve?
I currently work at Strand Life Sciences in Bangalore as a Senior Scientist III. My job is to manage cutting-edge Genomics laboratory.
When I came back to Strand, it felt like I was given a clean slate. This time, I was not just doing experiments or sequencing — I was handling much broader responsibilities. I dived into streamlining lab procurement, vendor negotiations, commercial costing, lab operations, and developing/validating new assays. I also worked on cost optimization, which meant figuring out how we could make tests cheaper without compromising on quality. I intentionally took on the tough challenges that others found difficult, because I wanted to learn every possible aspect of running and scaling scientific labs. This second innings at Strand truly shaped me into a science leader, not just a scientist.
I make sure our labs can process thousands of DNA samples quickly, accurately, and cost-effectively. This helps in diagnosing diseases like cancer faster and at a lower cost for patients.
What skills are needed for the job? How did you acquire the skills?
Skills needed: Genetics, lab techniques, problem-solving, leadership, communication, and business strategy. I acquired them through my MSc & MBA, hands-on lab experiences, guidance from mentors, and a lot of self-learning along the way.
My role is more about lab operations, vendor interactions, assay troubleshooting, and strategic decisions. But yes, having a basic understanding of bioinformatics and coding definitely helps. It’s not mandatory to be a coding expert, but if you know enough to hold meaningful conversations, troubleshoot issues, and anticipate problems, it gives you an edge in this field.
What’s a typical day like?
My day is a mix of science and leadership. I work with my team on experiments, troubleshoot lab issues, talk to company leaders about projects, negotiate with suppliers, and brainstorm new ways to improve our workflows.
What I love the most about my job?
Every day I know the work we do could directly help doctors treat patients more effectively. And I also love watching my team grow in their careers.
How does your work benefit society?
The biggest impact of my work is in healthcare. When we make genetic tests and sequencing cheaper and faster, so that more patients can afford them. This means early detection of cancer, better treatment planning, and overall saving lives. In short: the science I do moves from the lab to the hospital to the patient’s bedside — that is the most meaningful part of my career.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
Usually, detecting cancer involves painful and invasive tests —like tissue biopsies. For many patients, this not only causes discomfort but also delays in diagnosis. The idea was simple but bold: could we detect cancer just from something as easy to collect as saliva?
I still remember the long hours we spent in the lab, optimizing every step — from collecting saliva samples to extracting the DNA and sequencing it. There were moments of doubt, and many experiments failed before we finally cracked the method. But when we got the first successful result — where saliva revealed the same cancer-specific mutations that a biopsy would have shown — it was a goosebumps moment for the whole team.
What made it so special was imagining its impact: in the future, a simple test could allow people to detect oral cancer early, without pain, without fear, and without delay. Considering how common oral cancer is in India due to habits like tobacco chewing, such a test could save thousands of lives.
This project taught me that the best science is not just about clever techniques — it’s about solving real problems for real people in the simplest way possible.
Your advice to students based on your experience? Based on my journey, here’s what I’d tell students:
• Follow your curiosity: If something excites you (like my love for genetics), go deeper into it. That spark will guide you.
• Be patient with failure: Science, and life, always have setbacks. Don’t let failure stop you. Learn from it and try again.
• Seek mentors: Teachers, seniors, or professionals — ask questions, seek guidance. You’d be surprised how many people want to help.
• Balance skills: Don’t only focus on technical knowledge. Communication, leadership, and teamwork will make you stand out.
• Dream big, start small: It’s okay to start with small projects or internships — over time, you’ll connect those dots into your big dream.
Future Plans?
I want to continue growing as a life sciences leader, working at the intersection of science, technology, and healthcare accessibility. My goal is to create solutions that make advanced genetic tests available to the wider population at affordable prices. In the long run, I also dream of mentoring young scientists and helping students see how exciting and impactful a career in science can be.