Dr. Arun Sharma

I am currently managing the Indian Biological Images Archive (IBIA) at the Indian Biological Data Centre (IBDC), Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, Haryana, India. My responsibilities include leading the IBIA team in the development and maintenance of the archive, biological image data curation, quality control, and visualization of image datasets to ensure adherence to FAIR data principles.

Previously, I have contributed to the design and development of innovative computational resources and intelligent systems aimed at advancing research efficiency. My research interests lie in applying artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data science methodologies to solve complex problems across healthcare, agriculture, and life sciences domains.

I have extensive experience in developing deep learning–based diagnostic and prognostic tools, biological databases, and web-based platforms that facilitate large-scale biological data integration, analysis, and visualization. My expertise also encompasses big data analytics, data mining, and ontology-driven metadata standardization, with a focus on enhancing data interoperability, reusability, and open access.

I am deeply passionate about leveraging computational approaches to support translational research and promote open science through the establishment of accessible and sustainable bioinformatics infrastructures. My professional goal is to stay at the forefront of advancements in AI, bioinformatics, and information technology, and to apply this evolving knowledge toward the development of impactful, globally relevant scientific solutions.

Education:
Ph.D. (Biological Sciences)

Technical Skills:
Perl, PHP, Python, R, PBS scripting, AutoGluon, Tensorflow, Keras, SVM, Weka, image classification, augmentation, segmentation, MinIO, D3 graphics library, shell scripting, Django, HTML, CSS, AJAX, JavaScript, MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.

Soft Skills:
Ability to interpret complex biological data and identify meaningful patterns.
Open-mindedness and adaptability to diverse scientific perspectives.
Organizing large, multi-stage bioinformatics analyses and data pipelines.
Precision in coding, data curation, and quality control.
Designing novel algorithms, databases, or visualization tools.
Eagerness to learn from interdisciplinary environments.
Following open science and data-sharing ethics.

Languages:
Hindi, English

Publications:
1. Birla, S., Varshney, T., Singh, A., Sharma, A., Panigrahi, A., Gupta, S., Gupta, D., Gupta, V. (2024): Machine learning-assisted prediction of trabeculectomy outcomes among patients of juvenile glaucoma by using 5-year follow-up data. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology 72(7):p 987-993. DOI: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_2009_23.
2. Sharma, A#., Garg, A#., Ramana, J. and Gupta, D. (2023): VirulentPred 2.0: an improved method for prediction of virulent proteins in bacterial pathogens. Protein Science 32 (12), e4808.
3. Sardar, R#., Sharma, A#., & Gupta, D. (2021): Machine Learning Assisted Prediction of Prognostic Biomarkers Associated With COVID-19, Using Clinical and Proteomics Data. Frontiers in genetics, 12, 636441.
4. Sharma A#, Rani S# and Gupta D. (2020): Artificial Intelligence-Based Classification of Chest X-Ray Images into COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases. International Journal of Biomedical Imaging. 2020:8889023.
5. Sharma A#, Satish D#, Sharma S, Gupta D. (2020): Indian major basmati paddy seed varieties images dataset. Data in Brief. 33:106460.
6. Kumar SN, Saxena P, Patel R, Sharma A, et al. (2020): Predicting risk of low birth weight offspring from maternal features and blood polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentration. Reprod Toxicol. 94, 92-100.
7. Sharma A#, Satish D#, Sharma S, Gupta D. (2020): iRSVPred: A Web Server for Artificial Intelligence Based Prediction of Major Basmati Paddy Seed Varieties. Front Plant Sci. 10, 1791.
8. Kaur J, Sharma A, Dhama AS, et al. (2019): Developing a hybrid antimicrobial resistance surveillance system in India: Needs & challenges. Indian J Med Res. 149, 299-302.
9. Kaur J#, Sharma A#, Kumar A, Bhartiya D, Sinha DN, Kumari S, Gupta R, Mehrotra R, Singh H* (2019) SLTChemDB: A database of chemical compounds present in Smokeless tobacco products. Sci Rep. 9, 7142.
10. Kaur J, Sharma A, Gupta R, Singh H. (2018): Development of comprehensive data repository on chemicals present in smokeless tobacco products: Opportunities & challenges. Indian J Med Res. 148:4-6.
11. Singh H, Kaur J, Sharma A, et. al. (2018): Knowledgebase of smokeless tobacco products and their chemicals. Tob. Induc. Dis. 16, A594.
12. Gaur AS., Bhardwaj A., Sharma A. et al. (2017): Assessing therapeutic potential of molecules: molecular property diagnostic suite for tuberculosis (MPDSTB). J Chem Sci 129: 515.
13. Sharma, A. et al. (2016) dPABBs: A Novel in silico Approach for Predicting and Designing Anti-biofilm Peptides. Sci. Rep. 6, 21839.
14. Sharma, A. et al. (2014): BioPhytMol: a drug discovery community resource on anti-mycobacterial phytomolecules and plant extracts. Journal of Cheminformatics, 6:46.
15. Sharma A, Singla D, Rashid M. and Raghava G.P.S. (2014) Designing of peptides with desired half-life in intestine-like environment. BMC Bioinformatics 2014, 15:282.
16. Sharma, A. et al. (2013): Computational approach for designing tumor homing peptides. Sci. Rep. 3, 1607.
17. Sharma, A. et al. (2013): In silico approaches for designing highly effective cell penetrating peptides. Journal of Translational Medicine, 11:74.
18. Vashisht R, Mondal AK, Jain A, Shah A, Vishnoi P, et al. (2012) Crowd Sourcing a New Paradigm for Interactome Driven Drug Target Identification in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PLoS ONE 7(7): e39808.
19. Sharma, A. et al. (2012) PolysacDB: A Database of Microbial Polysaccharide Antigens and Their Antibodies. PLoS ONE 7(4): e34613.
20. Tyagi A, Ahmed F, Thakur N, Sharma A, Raghava GPS, et al. (2011) HIVsirDB: A Database of HIV Inhibiting siRNAs. PLoS ONE 6(10): e25917.
21. Singla D, Sharma A, Kaur J, Panwar B and Raghava GPS (2010): BIAdb: A curated database of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. BMC Pharmacology 10:4.
22. Rashid M, Singla D, Sharma A, Kumar M and Raghava GPS (2009): Hmrbase: a database of hormones and their receptors. BMC Genomics 10(1): 307.
#Equal contributors; * corresponding author

Presentations:
Delivered two lectures on “Basics of Artificial Intelligence and Applications in Biotechnology”, for Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Biotechnology (PGDIB) students (2025 batch) at Regional Centre for Biotechnology (RCB), Faridabad, Haryana.

Presented a poster titled “IBIA: Indian Biological Images Archive”, during the The 17th Annual Biocuration Conference, held at the Indian Biological Data Centre in Faridabad, India from March 5-8th, 2024.

Delivered a lecture under the ICGEB-DBT Science-Setu Programme on “A biologist’s view towards the utility of artificial intelligence-based approaches to combat COVID-19 pandemic”, 6th July, 2021 at ICGEB, New Delhi,India.

Delivered a hands-on demonstration and lecture session entitled “Image Classification using Artificial Intelligence (AI) Techniques”, during a workshop entitled “Artificial Intelligence: Concepts and multidisciplinary applications in modern biology” held between 17th - 20th September, 2019, at ICGEB, New Delhi.

Grants and Awards:
AIOS IJO Gold Award 2024 by the All India Ophthalmological Society & Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, for the publication titled “Machine learning-assisted prediction of trabeculectomy outcomes among patients of juvenile glaucoma by using 5-year follow-up data”.

CSIR- Sr. Research Fellow Award: April 3, 2013 - April 30, 2016.

Professional Affiliations:
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Immunology journal.