AI & ML Careers – Explore top careers in Drug Discovery
Date: 25th July 2025
Time: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM IST
BioTecNika, India’s leading biosciences training platform, successfully hosted a dynamic and career-focused webinar titled “Top Careers in AI & ML-Driven Drug Discovery – ‘How to Get Started in 2025”.
This 60-minute session, hosted by Mrs. Urmimala, explored the booming intersection of artificial intelligence and drug discovery. With three domain experts, Dr. Neeraj, Mr. Tushar Dhyani, and Mr. Prodyot, the webinar offered clear career pathways, technical skill guidance, and actionable tips for anyone aspiring to enter this high-impact field.
Speaker Spotlights
Dr. Neeraj Kumar – Computational Biologist & Bioinformatics Scientist at Biotecnika
Dr. Neeraj started the expert sessions with a deep dive into the rapidly growing job ecosystem around AI-powered drug development.
He outlined key sectors hiring in 2025:
- Big Pharma (e.g., Pfizer, Novartis)
- AI-first Biotech Startups (e.g., Recursion, Insitro)
- Bio-IT firms (e.g., Schrödinger, Agnitha)
- CROs and Research Institutes
Popular job roles included:
AI Research Scientist, Bioinformatics Analyst, Molecular Modeling Expert, Clinical Data Scientist, and the emerging “AI Drug Hunter.”
He also shared competitive salary benchmarks—ranging from ₹12–25 LPA in India to $85k–$150k globally—and highlighted remote opportunities through decentralized trials.
Tushar Dhyani – Senior Bioinformatics Scientist, Elucidata
Mr. Tushar Dhyani presented a practical roadmap for learners from both biology and tech backgrounds.
Key takeaways included:
- Core Technical Skills: Python, R, PyTorch, GNNs, Bash
- Domain Knowledge: Disease biology, molecular chemistry, and pathway mapping
- Data Skills: Working with genomics, EHRs, and molecule graph structures
He emphasized the importance of building real-world projects, maintaining a GitHub portfolio, and pursuing certifications like AWS ML Specialty, Google TensorFlow Developer, and BioTecNika’s advanced AI courses.
Soft skills such as interdisciplinary communication and problem-solving were also underscored as crucial differentiators.
Prodyot Banerjee Bioinformatics Scientist | BioTecNika
Mr. Prodyot provided an actionable session tailored for students, freshers, and career switchers.
For students, he suggested exploring:
- Internships at NVIDIA Clara Health, Genentech, or NIH programs
- Research labs at institutes like MIT and the Broad Institute
For professionals, he recommended:
- Transitioning via internal moves or bootcamps (e.g., Insight Data Health)
- Participating in Kaggle challenges like Mechanism of Action Prediction
- Contributing to open-source platforms like DeepChem
- Attending conferences such as NeurIPS ML for Health
- Job searching using terms like “AI Drug Discovery Associate” on BioTecNika’s portal, BioSpace, and Nature Careers
He emphasized credibility through collaboration with wet-lab researchers to validate AI models.
Webinar Outcomes: What Participants Gained
Participants left the session with:
- A clear understanding of AI career options in drug discovery
- A detailed skills roadmap to enter the field
- Portfolio-building strategies to stand out in job applications
- Exposure to global internships and job opportunities
- Live Q&A insights on hiring trends, required certifications, and transition strategies
About the Speakers
Dr. Neeraj Kumar – Computational Biologist & Bioinformatics Scientist at Biotecnika
Dr. Neeraj Kumar is a computational biologist and bioinformatician with deep expertise in AI-driven drug discovery, cheminformatics, and structural bioinformatics. He holds a Ph.D. from CSIR-IHBT & AcSIR, with research focused on machine learning for virtual screening and drug repositioning. A former postdoctoral researcher at Penn State University, he has worked on immunoglobulin analysis and advanced molecular modeling tools like AlphaFold and GROMACS. His work is published in top journals and supports innovation in HIV drug discovery and AI-guided pipelines. He currently contributes to the BioIT department at BioTecNika.
Tushar Dhyani – Senior Bioinformatics Scientist, Elucidata
Tushar Dhyani is a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist at Elucidata, where he leads projects in genomic data analysis and pipeline development. He specializes in single-cell RNA-seq and multi-omics, delivering ML-ready insights that drive research and business outcomes. His work has contributed to major cost-saving solutions in cancer diagnostics and enterprise genomics. A continuous learner, Tushar blends bioinformatics with data engineering to create scalable, impactful solutions.
Prodyot Banerjee Bioinformatics Scientist | BioTecNika
Mr. Prodyot Banerjee is a Bioinformatics Scientist at BioTecNika with expertise in the intersection of biology and data science. In his session, he explores career paths across academia and industry, highlighting roles like Bioinformatician, Computational Biologist, and Data Scientist. He emphasizes the value of hands-on experience through projects, internships, and certifications, while also stressing the importance of networking and staying updated with industry trends. His talk offers actionable guidance for anyone looking to build or advance a career in bioinformatics.
What’s Next?
BioTecNika encourages all life science professionals, students, and researchers to take the next step in their AI career journey.
Enrollments are now open for BioTecNika’s upcoming flagship course: “AI & ML in Drug Discovery” — starting 31st July 2025.
“This is not just the future—it’s already happening. Let AI enhance your drug discovery career,” said the BioTecNika Team.
About BioTecNika
BioTecNika is India’s top biosciences education platform, offering job-oriented training in Bioinformatics, Clinical Research, Drug Discovery, and more. By combining expert mentorship with real-world curriculum, BioTecNika prepares students and professionals to lead in the fast-evolving biotech landscape.
