Nitin
Bayal
Contact
Areas of expertise
Biography
I have been an MSCA-SYS-LIFE postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Computing, University of Turku, since January 2025. I studied Molecular and Human Genetics at Banaras Hindu University, India, from 2012 to 2014. I carried out my doctoral research at the National Centre for Cell Science in Pune and obtained my PhD from Savitribai Phule Pune University in 2023. My doctoral research focused on the skin microbiota of people with leprosy in India. From 2020 to 2021, I worked as a research fellow at the National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi, studying gut microbiota and colorectal cancer. In 2021–2022, I worked as a genomics application scientist at Molsys Scientific and Centyle Biotech, supporting sequencing projects and bioinformatics analyses. From 2022 to 2023, I worked as a Senior Project Associate at CSIR–National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research, contributing to science policy and bibliometric research. I joined the University of Turku as a senior researcher in January 2024. My current research investigates the role of the gut microbiome in cognitive functions.
Teaching
Since 2025, I have taught master’s students on the Systems Biology course (SYST1012) at the Department of Life Technologies, University of Turku. I have shared my expertise through invited lectures, webinars, and technical guidance on microbiome research, sequencing methods, and bioinformatics. Topics have included the microbiome in health and disease, sequencing-based analysis of skin bacterial communities, and data science for gut–brain axis research. In my previous roles as a genomics application scientist, I supported researchers with experimental design, sequencing data analysis, troubleshooting, and the preparation of research reports and manuscripts.
Research
My current research focuses on the human gut microbiome, particularly its role in cognitive functions and the gut–brain axis. In my MSCA-SYS-LIFE project at the University of Turku, I investigate these relationships using a multi-assay approach. I also contribute to collaborative studies exploring the gut microbiome in relation to fatty liver disease, dietary interventions, allergic symptoms, and behavior. In the past, I have studied changes in the skin microbiota of people with leprosy in India and the role of gut microbial metabolites in colorectal cancer. My work combines microbiome research with bioinformatics and sequencing-based analyses, drawing on experience in both experimental and computational methods.