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Monthly Career Webinar

Proteins and Patience: A Pharmacist’s Journey into Structural Biology & Drug Discovery

Event Information

Event Date

January 29, 2026

USA Time

08:00 AM (PST)

Canada Time

11:00 am (EDT)

Bangladesh Time

10:00 pm (GMT+6)

Location

Teams Online

Speaker Name

Dr. Mohammad Kawsar Manik

Organizer

Talent Tweak

Registration Fee

Free

Register Now

Event Description

This session is part of the Talent Tweak Monthly Life Science Career Webinar Series, designed to help students, young researchers, and professionals explore diverse career pathways across academia, biotechnology, structural biology, and the global drug discovery ecosystem. Each session highlights a specialized scientific field and the real-life journey of an accomplished researcher, showing how curiosity, resilience, and strategic decision-making shape a successful scientific career. 

This month’s session focuses on Structural Biology and Biophysics in Modern Drug Discovery—fields that sit at the heart of understanding how molecules interact with biological targets. Instead of diving too deep into complex techniques, this webinar will provide an accessible overview of how structural biology contributes to identifying drug targets, designing therapeutics, and solving fundamental biological questions. 

The speaker will share his remarkable journey from Bangladesh → East West University → Korea (KGSP Scholarship) → Australia (UQ PhD) → Harvard Medical School → Bristol Myers Squibb, offering insights into the perseverance, professional strategy, and scientific mindset that shaped his career. Attendees will learn how to build a competitive profile for international research careers, navigate opportunities across countries, and transition from academia to industry. 

Presented by:

Dr. Mohammad Kawsar Manik, Scientist at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)

In this interactive session, you will:

    • Gain a beginner-friendly understanding of how structural biology and biophysics drive drug discovery. 
    • Learn how techniques such as X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and biophysical assays are used in modern biomedical research. 
    • Understand how scholarships (KGSP, RTP, CRI, etc.), research experiences, and mentorship shape a strong scientific career path. 
    • Discover practical steps to prepare for international higher studies, competitive PhD programs, and postdoctoral opportunities. 
    • Receive career guidance on transitioning from academia to biotech/pharma, networking, communication, and building global scientific visibility.

Who should attend?

  • Highly motivated senior undergraduate students interested in biomedical, biochemical, or biophysical research 
  • Graduate-level research students (MSc, MPhil, PhD) exploring academic, structural biology, or drug discovery careers 
  • Postdoctoral researchers seeking guidance on global fellowships, career development, and industry transition 
  • Industry scientists interested in learning how structural biology shapes therapeutic development 
  • Anyone passionate about drug discovery, structural biology, biophysics, or global academic research careers 

Webinar Rules & Regulations

  • This webinar is a 1 hour and 30 minute session, beginning with a brief 5-minute overview of the rules and an introduction to the speaker.
  • The session will consist of a presentation by the guest speaker, followed by an interactive Q&A segment
  • Registration is required. All registered participants will receive the webinar access link 24 hours before the event.
  • Participants may submit questions during the session, which will be addressed during the Q&A period.
  • The webinar is conducted strictly for educational purposes and is not intended for commercial promotion.

Speaker Bio

Dr. Mohammad Kawsar Manik is a structural biologist and biophysicist whose career spans Bangladesh, Korea, Australia, the United States, and global pharmaceutical research. His academic journey began at East West University (Dhaka), followed by earning the prestigious KGSP scholarship to pursue his master’s studies in Korea. He later completed his PhD at The University of Queensland, Australia, funded by the internationally competitive RTP Scholarship.

Dr. Manik then joined Harvard Medical School as a postdoctoral researcher, where he was awarded the distinguished Cancer Research Institute (CRI) Fellowship. His research spans structural biology, biophysics, membrane proteins, and therapeutic discovery, with publications in top-tier journals including Science. He has presented at numerous international conferences and received multiple awards and scholarships throughout his career. 

He now works as a scientist at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), contributing to drug discovery programs using structural and biophysical approaches. Dr. Manik is passionate about inspiring students from Bangladesh and around the world, demonstrating that with curiosity, persistence, and strategic planning, one can build a global scientific career and make meaningful contributions to human health.