The Inspiring Journey of Rachit Kumar: MD-PhD Student at the Perelman School of Medicine
In the world of biomedical research and medicine, a few individuals stand out for their ability to merge computational innovation with clinical applications. One such rising scholar is Rachit Kumar, an MD-PhD student at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His academic journey from Georgia Tech to Penn Medicine highlights a career built on resilience, innovation, and passion for improving patient care through data science, deep learning, and computational biology.
This article provides an in-depth look into his academic achievements, professional experiences, and evolving research interests, offering a glimpse of how young physician-scientists are reshaping the medical and computational research landscape.
Early Life and Education
High School Years
Rachit Kumar’s foundation for scientific exploration was laid during his time at Sycamore High School, where he excelled academically and actively participated in science-related activities. His early exposure to laboratory research and mathematics set the stage for a career that would later bridge engineering, biology, and medicine.
Undergraduate Education at Georgia Tech
In 2016, Rachit enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology, one of the premier engineering schools in the United States. He pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering, graduating in 2020 with a perfect GPA of 4.0. During his years at Georgia Tech, he actively contributed to several student organizations, including the Biomedical Engineering Society, American Medical Student Association, and Student Hospital Connections.
Georgia Tech provided him with the foundation to integrate engineering and life sciences. His undergraduate years also gave him opportunities to teach as a Undergraduate Teaching Assistant (UTA), where he supported students in advanced courses, including SolidWorks design, biomedical systems, and transport principles. His teaching role not only sharpened his technical skills but also fostered mentorship abilities crucial for a future academic career.
Research Experiences That Shaped His Career
Wheeler Lab at Georgia Tech
From 2017 to 2020, Rachit Kumar worked as a Research Assistant in the Wheeler Lab, located at the Georgia State/Georgia Tech Center for Advanced Brain Imaging. His projects primarily focused on cognitive neuroscience, investigating perceptual and memory-based decision-making across different age groups. He was actively involved in implementing software experiments, analyzing fMRI data, and even managing the lab’s digital infrastructure. This experience deepened his interest in computational neuroscience and prepared him for more advanced research.
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Rachit’s next transformative opportunity came at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he served as an Undergraduate Research Fellow from 2018 to 2020. Under the mentorship of Dr. Tilak Ratnanather, he applied computer vision techniques to histological brain images. His work involved segmenting cerebral cortex layers to better understand how neurological conditions affect brain structures.
He also contributed to accessibility projects, including developing cost-effective on-demand captioning for deaf and hard-of-hearing students using Microsoft Translator. This innovative project showcased his ability to combine technical expertise with socially meaningful applications.
Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Tri-Institutional Program
In 2017, Rachit joined the Gateways to the Laboratory Summer Program, part of the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD initiative involving Weill Cornell, Rockefeller University, and Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Here, he investigated the IDH1 gene mutation and its impact on resistance to menin inhibitors in glioblastoma treatment. This early exposure to translational oncology research reinforced his interest in pursuing the combined MD-PhD track.
MD-PhD Journey at the University of Pennsylvania
Dual Training in Medicine and Research
After his successful undergraduate career, Rachit Kumar entered the MD-PhD program at the University of Pennsylvania in 2020. This prestigious program trains physician-scientists to tackle the most pressing questions in biomedical science and clinical practice.
Rachit defended his PhD in Genomics and Computational Biology in 2025 under the mentorship of Dr. Marylyn Ritchie. His dissertation, “Graph Neural Networks for Interpretable Biomedical Data Analysis in Genomics and Structural Biology”, reflects his focus on applying machine learning and network science to complex biomedical datasets.
Research Interests at Penn
At Penn Medicine, Rachit’s research integrates:
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Graph Neural Networks (GNNs): Leveraging graph representations to analyze biological networks.
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Biomedical Data Analysis: Using computational pipelines for genomics, proteomics, and clinical datasets.
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Machine Learning Applications: Employing deep learning and automated ML tools for disease prediction and clinical decision support.
His primary disease focus includes Alzheimer’s disease and other complex conditions where computational methods can uncover hidden biological insights.
Academic Contributions and Skills
Technical Expertise
Over the years, Rachit Kumar has built a robust technical skillset that includes:
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Computer Vision – Image segmentation, pattern recognition in histological and radiological data.
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Deep Learning – Development of neural network architectures tailored to biomedical applications.
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Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) – Streamlining model building and evaluation.
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Graph Machine Learning – Applying GNNs to model relationships in biological systems.
Publications and Recognition
His contributions are reflected in academic publications, including integrative multi-omics approaches for Alzheimer’s disease and novel frameworks for biomedical graph learning. His work is cataloged on Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and through his personal site rachitk.github.io.
Broader Impact
Mentorship and Teaching
Beyond research, Rachit has consistently taken leadership roles in teaching and mentorship. From tutoring high school students at Mathnasium to guiding biomedical undergraduates at Georgia Tech, and later mentoring junior researchers at Penn, he demonstrates a passion for knowledge sharing.
Advocacy for Accessibility in Science
His involvement in projects supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing students shows a commitment to inclusivity in STEM. Through initiatives like STEM-HEAR at Johns Hopkins, he worked to ensure that students with hearing loss could thrive in research environments.
Future Outlook
As he nears completion of his MD-PhD training in 2027, Rachit Kumar is poised to become a leader in computational medicine. With expertise spanning genomics, neuroscience, and deep learning, he has the potential to shape the next generation of precision medicine. His career trajectory suggests a future where computational methods are not only tools for research but also direct contributors to clinical decision-making and patient care.
Conclusion
The journey of rachit kumar reflects the essence of a 21st-century physician-scientist: blending data science, engineering, and medicine to solve real-world health challenges. From his undergraduate research at Georgia Tech and Johns Hopkins to his groundbreaking PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, he continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in biomedical research.
With an unwavering commitment to advancing medical science through computational innovation, Rachit Kumar represents the promise of a future where data-driven insights guide every aspect of patient care.
