PHARMACY USU PUBLIC RELATIONS – The Faculty of Pharmacy at Universitas Sumatera Utara successfully organized a Workshop on Visiting Professor in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry featuring international academic and researcher Prof. Dr. Hina Siddiqui from the H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Pakistan, who is also a COMSTECH Distinguished Scholar. The event took place on Tuesday–Wednesday, May 5–6, 2026, from 09.00 a.m. to 04.00 p.m. at the Faculty of Pharmacy USU.
This international workshop represented one of the Faculty of Pharmacy USU’s commitments to supporting the development of higher education, improving research quality, and strengthening international academic collaboration networks in the fields of organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry. The activity was attended by students who have an interest in the development of research and innovation in pharmacy and chemical sciences.
Throughout the workshop, participants received various scientific materials relevant to the development of research and academic writing skills. One of the main topics discussed was Writing Research Proposals for External Funding Opportunities, which focused on strategies for preparing competitive research proposals to obtain external funding from both national and international institutions. During this session, Prof. Hina Siddiqui explained several important components of research proposal preparation, including developing the research background, designing research methods, formulating research objectives, and planning research budgets and outputs.
In addition, the workshop also discussed NMR Data Interpretation for Small Molecules, which provided participants with an in-depth understanding of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy data interpretation for small molecule analysis. In this session, participants were introduced to techniques for identifying chemical compound structures through NMR spectrum analysis, which is one of the essential methods in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and drug development research. The material was considered highly beneficial in supporting analytical skills and research development in modern pharmaceutical sciences.
In her presentation, Prof. Hina Siddiqui also emphasized the importance of international collaboration in the advancement of science and research. According to her, research development in organic and medicinal chemistry requires synergy among academics, researchers, and educational institutions from various countries in order to produce innovations that have a meaningful impact on public health and the advancement of pharmaceutical sciences.
The workshop was conducted interactively with high enthusiasm from the participants. Attendees actively participated in discussions, question-and-answer sessions, and shared research experiences related to the development of bioactive compounds, chemical analysis techniques, and opportunities for international research collaboration. The dynamic academic atmosphere throughout the activity reflected the participants’ strong interest in research and innovation in pharmacy and medicinal chemistry.
This activity served not only as a platform for knowledge transfer, but also as a means of strengthening the academic and research capacity of the Faculty of Pharmacy USU academic community. Through the international workshop, participants were expected to improve their ability to prepare high-quality research proposals, broaden their scientific perspectives, and strengthen laboratory analytical skills that can be applied to future research development.
In addition to providing academic benefits, the event also opened opportunities for research collaboration and scientific publication between the Faculty of Pharmacy USU and international institutions, particularly in the field of organic and medicinal chemistry. The presence of a visiting professor from the University of Karachi became a strategic step in expanding international networks and enhancing the global academic reputation of the Faculty of Pharmacy USU.
The Faculty of Pharmacy USU expressed its appreciation and gratitude to all participants who attended the workshop with enthusiasm and active participation throughout the event. It is hoped that the knowledge and experience gained from this activity will inspire innovation, improve research quality, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of pharmaceutical and health sciences in Indonesia.
The implementation of this workshop also supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4: Quality Education through improving educational quality and academic competence; Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure through strengthening scientific research and innovation; and Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals through enhancing international collaboration in education, research, and scientific development.