Interested PDA Positions: Chair & Research Day Chair
Krishna Chinta
Tell us about yourself.
I am a postdoctoral scholar in the laboratory of Dr. Adrie Steyn in the Department of Microbiology, where I study immunometabolism and spatial multiomics. I completed my Ph.D. in Immunology from the UAB Graduate Biomedical Sciences in December 2025, focusing on how nutrient availability and carbon sources affect myeloid cell metabolism and immune responses during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. I am passionate about advancing scientific discovery through collaboration and mentorship. Beyond the lab, I actively engage in initiatives that promote professional development, STEM outreach, and community service.
What is your vision for the PDA?
My vision for the PDA is to foster a supportive, inclusive, and engaging environment where postdoctoral scholars can thrive both professionally and personally. I believe every postdoc should have access to strong mentorship, professional development opportunities, and a peer network that supports their growth. I hope to promote a culture of collaboration, encourage community outreach and service, and ensure that postdoctoral voices are heard and represented. By building meaningful connections and supporting the diverse needs of postdocs, the PDA can help scholars achieve their career goals and make the most of their time at UAB.
Describe your leadership experience, service activities, and involvement with associations like the PDA.
I have been actively involved in service, outreach, and mentoring activities both within and outside UAB. At UAB, I volunteered for 2026 Postdoctoral Research Day and participated with the BPDA in the Juneteenth celebration organized by the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (2026). During my graduate training, I served as an oral and poster judge for the UAB Undergraduate Research Expo from 2019 to 2021 and volunteered as vaccine staff at UAB Hospital during the 2021 COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Beyond UAB, I volunteer at the Birmingham Zoo and serve as a pen pal for Letters to a Pre-Scientist, a STEM outreach program that connects scientists with middle school students from low-income and underserved communities across the United States. Through these experiences, I have enjoyed contributing to scientific education, community engagement, and mentorship.
If elected to your chosen position, what initiatives or activities would you like to implement?
If elected, I would like to build on the strong career and professional development programs already offered by the PDA and the Office of Postdoctoral Education (OPE). One of my main priorities would be strengthening connections between current postdocs and UAB postdoctoral alumni working in academia, industry, and other career paths. I would like to explore opportunities to connect current postdocs with UAB postdoctoral alumni through seminars, panel discussions, and networking events where they can share their experiences, career paths, and professional insights. Having trained and worked at UAB for several years, I am familiar with many of the resources and opportunities available to trainees and would like to help connect postdocs with these resources more effectively. Since postdocs usually only see each other at formal workshops or seminars, I would like to arrange a regular monthly or bi-monthly informal postdoc lunch. This will give us a simple, low-pressure way to get to know peers outside our immediate labs or departments and spark new collaborations. These would mostly be casual opportunities to connect, though we could occasionally include a light topic like a quick discussion with a guest or a specific career topic to keep them engaging and helpful. In addition, I would work with the PDA, the OPE, and UAB leadership to advocate for continued support for travel awards, professional development funding, and other resources that enhance the postdoctoral experience at UAB.