Title: Postdoctoral Researcher
Company: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, University of California, San Diego
Education: PhD in Computational Physics, Temple University (2021); BS/MS (Integrated), Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Bhopal, India (2015)
Career History: Postdoctoral Researcher, Salk Institute for Biological Studies (2022-Present); Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California, San Diego (2022-Present); Graduate Research Assistant, Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, Temple University (2017-2021); Graduate Teaching Assistant, Department of Physics, Temple University (2015-2017); INSPIRE Research Fellow, Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Bhopal, India (2014-2015); Indian Academy of Sciences Research Fellow, Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER), Pune, India (2012-2013)
Avik Biswas, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher at Salk Institute for Biological Studies, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of science.
Growing up in a small town in India with limited resources, Dr. Biswas nevertheless worked hard academically and proved himself to be one of the most impressive students—not just in his area, but throughout his country. Earning a Certificate of Outstanding Merit by the Office of the Governor within the Department of Logistics, he was one of 10 individuals selected to be part of the Youth in Leadership Program in India by the Council for Scientific Research. The program provided him with the resources to spend an entire summer in a research laboratory, where he could shadow professional scientists and witness how research is conducted in the field. This impactful experience inspired him to later apply to and attend the Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, one of the top research-focused universities in India. In addition to earning an INSPIRE Fellowship from the Department of Science and Technology and a Summer Research Fellowship from the Indian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Biswas attained an integrated Bachelor of Science-Master of Science from the university in 2015.
With particular expertise in biophysics, Dr. Biswas then pursued his doctorate in the United States, where he attended Temple University. Throughout his studies, he was active as a graduate research assistant at the university’s Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology from 2017 to 2021; during this time, he was also recognized by the College of Science and Technology as the Best Teaching Assistant, which remains a career highlight. Under the guidance of an exemplary academic community and his PhD advisor, Ronald M. Levy, to whom Dr. Biswas attributes his success, he focused his research on the evolution of drug resistance in HIV and has authored several papers on the topic for professional journals. Since attaining a PhD in computational physics in 2021, he has found success as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, San Diego and at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
Looking toward the future, Dr. Biswas strives to apply his expertise and knowledge of artificial intelligence and methodologies to help solve relevant biological problems and certain pathogenic infections, particularly HIV, AIDS, and the West Nile Virus. He would also like to see himself in a research-intensive university or institute in a fast-paced position with his own group. Outside of his primary responsibilities, Dr. Biswas takes time to contribute to Doctors Without Borders and volunteers at local soup kitchens, churches, and educational and school activities.
