IU Indianapolis graduate student commencement speaker Sahiti Somalraju. Photo by Liz Kaye, Indiana UniversitySahiti Somalraju will serve as the graduate student speaker at the Indiana University Indianapolis 2025 Spring Commencement on May 15 at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.

She will graduate with a master’s degree in bioinformatics from the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, where she also earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical informatics.

It was the school’s undergraduate degree program in bioinformatics that brought Somalraju to Indianapolis from her hometown of Naperville, Illinois.

“I’ve always had an interest in genetics and developed a passion for bioinformatics after learning about the field in high school,” she said. “As I began looking into bioinformatics programs in the U.S. for undergraduates, I was surprised that there weren’t that many. It was mainly offered as a master’s course at many universities.

“So that’s what drew me to this campus, along with the many research labs and how engaged the faculty here are in research. I just knew that this place would provide me with a strong foundation in bioinformatics early on.”

Somalraju got involved in research quickly as an undergraduate student, joining the Janga Lab of Genomics and Systems Biology as a bioinformatics research assistant her freshman year. Her experience in the lab, where she has worked since 2022, helped sharpen and shape her research skills.

“When I joined the lab, I was fortunate to have two mentors who helped me get comfortable with programming and supported me in developing the critical thinking needed to overcome research challenges and shape new project ideas,” she said. “And Dr. Janga makes sure that every research assistant in his lab is working on a project that really interests them.”

Somalraju developed a passion for researching how RNA dynamics, such as RNA modifications, influence cellular processes and may contribute to the development of diseases. Her expertise is in analyzing data from high-throughput sequencing technologies, including next-generation sequencing and Nanopore single-molecule RNA sequencing — revolutionary methods for studying massive amounts of genetic information with greater detail and efficiently.

Sarath Chandra Janga, the Janga Lab’s principal investigator and an associate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, nominated Somalraju to serve as the graduate commencement student speaker.

“Sahiti exemplifies the qualities of a well-rounded and dedicated scholar, consistently demonstrating excellence in every endeavor she undertakes,” he said. “It has been a distinct privilege to mentor her from her undergraduate studies in biomedical informatics through to her current research.”

IU President Pamela Whitten, left, greets Sahiti Somalraju at the Indiana University booth at a 2024 Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration event. Photo by James Brosher, Indiana UniversitySomalraju has also gained valuable experience and made connections beyond campus, thanks to IU Indianapolis’ location and partnerships.

“Indianapolis is emerging as a biotech hub, and I think it’s really great that IU Indianapolis is in the center of that,” she said. “We get a lot of opportunities thanks to our proximity to the city, from internships to networking events with Eli Lilly and 16 Tech, as well as conferences and symposiums. Having access to these opportunities allows us, as students, to get more involved and learn from professionals.”

Somalraju plans to eventually work in the bioinformatics industry, but after graduating with her master’s degree, she will stay at IU Indianapolis to pursue a Ph.D.

“When you transition into a Ph.D., you start taking lead of your own projects, and that is something I want to do,” she said. “I’m already involved in and really passionate about a lot of projects here, and I want to expand on those.”

While Somalraju has many achievements to celebrate, her academic journey hasn’t been easy. Pursuing a Ph.D. and representing her class on the commencement stage are accomplishments she didn’t imagine were possible when she began college.

“As an out-of-state student, I didn’t know anyone on campus, and it was difficult battling through homesickness, loneliness, and starting to learn about myself while also managing academics,” she said.

“During my first semester of freshman year, I felt really lonely and started to doubt if I even wanted to continue pursuing bioinformatics. The next semester, I tried my best to get out of my comfort zone, and that’s when I started making connections and feeling a sense of belonging on campus.”

She was motivated to speak at commencement to spread the message that those who face challenges are not alone.

“We’ve all experienced stress or burnout, even some days feeling like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this,’” she said.

“Something that really helped me is reminding myself about why I’m doing this in the first place, and making sure that I stayed true to that, even during difficult times. That’s an important lesson I’ve learned during my college experience, and I want to share that with others.”

Tia Broz is a communications consultant in the Office of the Vice President for Communications and Marketing.