Driven to explore and excel
Tonushree Dutta and Sourav Kumar Ghosh are graduate students in ECE working towards their doctoral degrees under the guidance of Professor John Sartori. Besides pursuing their research goals, they are both busy as officers of the Council of Graduate Students (COGS). Married to each other, Dutta and Ghosh deliberately work to seek out a balance between their work and academic commitments and their personal lives. So what has drawn the couple to a challenging program and how do they keep going, meeting their personal, research, and social commitments? We talked to Dutta and Ghosh to learn more about their interests and what drives them.
Share with us a little bit about your backgrounds.
Tonushree Dutta (TD): I come from a family where both my parents are bankers, but they have always encouraged my interest in STEM. Coming from Bangladesh, where the number of women in STEM is still relatively low, my parents never let me face any discrimination. I studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering [at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology] in a class of 196 students, where only 25 of us were female. This experience further reinforced my determination to excel in my field and contribute to increasing female representation in engineering. I chose Electrical Engineering because I was fascinated by how electrical and computing systems power modern technology. Over time, I developed a strong interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare applications, which ultimately shaped my research path in my Ph.D.
Sourav Kumar Ghosh (SKG): We don’t grow when things are easy; we grow when we face challenges. My own hardships pushed me to confront real-life challenges, and it was this urge to analyze and resolve them efficiently that ultimately led me to choose engineering. My mother has been my greatest inspiration in pursuing engineering. She managed our family business with remarkable analytical skills, always finding the most efficient solutions to any challenge. Wanting to support her, I began learning different aspects of the business and handling real-life problems. Through this experience, I realized that the most effective solutions not only resolve obstacles but also bring about the best outcomes. This insight motivated me to study industrial engineering in my undergraduate years.
A doctoral program is challenging on many fronts. Why did you choose to pursue it?
TD: Despite the challenges of time commitment, research setbacks, and the pressure of publishing, I chose to pursue a Ph.D. because I genuinely love research. The process of asking questions, exploring possibilities, and discovering new insights has always fascinated me.
SKG: Through my academic journey, I have realized that true innovation and impactful solutions often require a deeper level of exploration beyond what undergraduate and master’s degrees offer. My research experiences, particularly in applying machine learning to healthcare challenges, have reinforced my desire to contribute meaningful advancements in this field. While a Ph.D. is demanding in terms of time, research, and publications, I see these challenges as opportunities for growth. The ability to critically analyze problems, develop novel methodologies, and push the boundaries of knowledge excites me.
What has driven your interest in your particular areas of research interest?
TD: My research focuses on AI-driven pain prediction with wearable devices using different physiological signals. What excites me the most is the potential to make healthcare more personalized and proactive. Chronic pain is a complex condition, and many patients struggle to get the right diagnosis and treatment. If we can use AI to predict pain levels in real time, we can help improve pain management and quality of life.
SKG: My interest in my research area stems from a strong desire to bridge the gap between data science and healthcare, particularly in improving decision-making for complex medical cases. Ultimately, my research is fueled by the vision of creating intelligent, interpretable, and clinically useful models that integrate both structured and unstructured medical data to develop decision-support systems that enhance healthcare efficiency and patient care.
Did either of you have any turns on the road between your bachelor’s degree and your entry to the doctoral program?
TD: After completing my bachelor's degree, I worked as a lecturer at a university in Bangladesh for one and a half years. During this time, I was responsible for designing and teaching lab courses in electrical engineering, with a focus on subjects such as electrical circuits, signals, and analysis—similar to the lab courses I now assist with as a teaching assistant (TA) at the University. This experience strengthened my foundational knowledge and fostered my passion for both teaching and research. It also helped me realize my desire to pursue a Ph.D. to expand my expertise.
SKG: My journey from industrial engineering to an electrical engineering Ph.D. program was driven by my growing interest in machine learning and its diverse applications. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I worked on various research projects that required knowledge of microcontrollers, sensors, and integrated circuits. These experiences not only strengthened my technical foundation but also prepared me for my role as a teaching assistant.
You are pursuing your doctoral degrees in similar areas of research. How has that impacted you?
TD: Having a partner who understands the demands of research has been incredibly supportive. The Ph.D. journey is full of challenges, and being able to share experiences, discuss problems, and celebrate small wins together makes a significant difference. It’s reassuring to know that we’re both navigating similar paths, offering each other guidance, and motivating each other to keep going. Balancing research and personal life is a priority for us, so while we often discuss our work, we also set aside time for activities like travelling or arranging get togethers with friends, outside of academia.
SKG: Tonushree’s background in electrical engineering was incredibly helpful during my early days at the University. Coming from an industrial engineering background, I had to quickly adapt to new concepts in logic design and digital systems, especially as I took on my TA responsibilities for EE2301: Introduction to Digital System Design. Her insights and explanations made it easier for me to grasp key concepts, allowing me to confidently teach and support students. Beyond academics, having someone with a strong foundation in EE to discuss technical challenges with was reassuring and motivated me to push through the initial learning curve.
Why did you choose the U?
TD: The University of Minnesota stood out to us because of its strong reputation, excellent research facilities, and interdisciplinary opportunities. It provides a collaborative environment that fosters innovation, especially in fields like electrical engineering and AI. Another key factor in our decision was that the University funded both of us, which allowed us to continue our studies together while having the resources and support needed to succeed in our research.
SKG: I applied to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities because it offers the perfect environment to extend my research in artificial intelligence and machine learning. I was particularly inspired by the impactful research being conducted here in the application of machine learning in healthcare. The work of Professor John Sartori in this field deeply resonated with my research interests, and I was eager to contribute to and learn from the groundbreaking advancements happening at this institution.
What are some highlights and lowlights of your academic and related experience here?
TD: One of the biggest highlights of our time at the University of Minnesota has been finding a shared research path while working on different topics under the same advisor, Professor Sartori. His mentorship has been invaluable—he genuinely cares about his students while also ensuring that research progresses effectively. I also had the privilege of starting my Ph.D. journey with a three-year College of Science and Engineering Fellowship, which provided great support in the early stages of my research.
Of course, the journey has also had its challenges. Like most Ph.D. students, we have faced manuscript and grant proposal rejections, an inevitable part of academic life. One of the most stressful periods was when we both had to change advisors after about one and a half semesters. However, during that difficult time, the graduate program coordinator at the time, Sarah Dohm, helped us with a smooth transition. Beyond research, we have been actively involved in leadership roles at the university, allowing us to contribute to the academic community in meaningful ways. We like organizing different events outside our Ph.D. related work and that is our way of relaxing perhaps!
SKG: Some of the highlights of my academic journey here include completing my M.S. in ECE and finishing my preliminary written exam in February 2025. A significant milestone was preparing the draft for the New Opportunities to Improve Outcomes (NOTIO) grant application in 2023 [offered by the University's Medical School], which was later accepted. Additionally, I had the opportunity to serve as a Resource Instructor for CSE TALK 2023, where I mentored first-year international graduate students, helping them improve their TA skills, navigate classroom challenges, and adapt to cultural differences in teaching at the University.
One of the most challenging phases of my graduate studies was my first semester, where I had to balance TA responsibilities, graduate coursework, and research simultaneously. Managing everything at once felt overwhelming at times, but it ultimately helped me develop strong time management and adaptability skills, shaping me into a more efficient researcher and instructor.
Do you have anything that you wish you had known before starting your program that you would now like other prospective students to know?
TD: One of the things I appreciate about the University is the great health insurance provided to graduate assistants. It’s something that isn’t often talked about but is incredibly important, especially for international students navigating a new healthcare system.
There are also many leadership opportunities available for graduate students, which allow you to get involved beyond just coursework and research. Additionally, the University is connected with various institutions, like the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI), which provides access to high-performance computing resources that have been invaluable in research. In addition to the many resources available across the University, the ECE department has been incredibly supportive throughout my journey. From Jeanine Maiden in payroll to Kyle Dukart as Chief of Staff, and Ann Rausch as the Graduate Program Coordinator, every one of them has been tremendously helpful. I want to mention each of them in my story, as my experience at UMN would have been much more challenging without their support.
If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to my past self before starting this journey, it would be never to underestimate myself. A Ph.D. is challenging, and it’s natural to experience self-doubt at times. But what’s important is to never lose confidence or courage—imposter syndrome is common, but persistence and self-belief make all the difference.
SKG: Make every course project count—try to approach each one with a research-oriented mindset, and if possible, aim to publish a conference paper from your work. Engage with people from different cultures, as this will broaden your perspective and help you understand different viewpoints. Be bold and courageous, and don’t hesitate to advocate for yourself. If you ever feel overwhelmed by the workload, communicate your concerns clearly with the relevant faculty or supervisors.
Dutta and Ghosh have participated and won second place in the IHDC competitions for two consecutive years. Their individual abstracts have been selected for the poster session at the 2025 National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Regional Meeting. The event will be co-hosted by Medtronic and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
Dutta is the Graduate Student Coordinator of the ECE Grads Group. She is the president of Council for the Advancement of Underrepresented Scientists and Engineers (CAUSE), and Ghosh is an officer at the organization. They are both officers of the Council of Graduate Students (COGS). Recently, both were recognized for their contributions to the student community. Dutta was a recipient of the 2025 President's Student Leadership and Service Award. Ghosh is a recipient of the 2025 CSE Community Impact Awards - Graduate Student Award awarded by the College of Science and Engineering.
Ghosh will start his data science artificial intelligence and informatics internship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for summer 2025. The internship aligns with his research and involves developing reinforcement learning and machine learning models to analyze healthcare data.