Professional Development

The Professional Development Committee focuses on organizing career development initiatives, skill-building workshops, and networking opportunities for Harvard Medical School postdocs. We aim to help deepen trainees’ knowledge of their potential career options, build their professional networks, and decide their professional direction. The committee aims to support postdoctoral scholars in academic, industry, and alternative career pathways.

Goals:

Organize career-focused seminars and panels featuring academic and industry leaders.
Develop structured workshops on grant writing, leadership, and transition to industry.
Strengthen collaborations across HMS-affiliated institutions to enhance professional networking opportunities.

Professional Development Committee 2025-2026

Co-Chair (Alternatives to academia) – Allison Gabbert, PhD: agabbert {at} bidmc.harvard.edu

Co-Chair (Alternatives to academia) – Arjun Sharma, PhD: arjun_sharma {at} hms.harvard.edu

Co-Chair (Academia) – Jacob Ludington, PhD: jludingt {at} bidmc.harvard.edu

Allison Gabbert

Co-Chair, Professional Development Committee 2025-2026

Postdoctoral Fellow at Schmaier Lab

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Harvard Medical School / BIDMC

Allison is a co-chair of the Professional Development Committee for the Harvard Medical Postdoctoral Association (HMPA) at Harvard Medical School. She helps plan and coordinate events that expose postdocs to potential career paths. She understands that...

Allison Gabbert Co-chair of Professional Development

Arjun Sharma

Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the Blood Coagulation and Vascular Biology Program

Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Dr. Arjun Sharma is Chair of the Professional Development Committee for the Harvard Medical Postdoctoral Association (HMPA) at Harvard Medical School. He is a Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA T32 Postdoctoral Research Scientist in the Blood Coagulation and...

Arjun Sharma Co-chair of Professional Development

Jacob Ludington

Co-Chair, Professional Development 2025-2026

Postdoctoral Fellow in the Schulman Laboratory

Department of Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Jacob is co-chair of the Professional Development committee for the Harvard Medical Postdoctoral Association (HMPA) at Harvard Medical School. He aims to equip HMS postdocs with the tools, connections, and guidance they need to thrive beyond the bench...