MIT Postdoctoral Association - MIT PDA

Meet our new(ish) community building co-chair!

Hello! I’m Jacob A Hoffman, PhD , Community Building Co-Chair of the MIT PDA. I’m a postdoc in the Belcher lab at the Koch Institute where I work on AI protein design for biomining applications. I joined the PDA this spring because I wanted to create a community for MIT postdocs to socialize, network and find camaraderie during a career phase often characterized by isolation and loneliness.

In the past semester, I’ve worked to plan events that help build that camaraderie. In January, I helped deliver the January Postdoc Welcome Back Party, complete with a postdoc DJ. I also organize postdoc mixers at on campus establishments. I believe MIT should be a place of welcome, and by creating casual spaces for postdocs to get to know each other I hope to create that welcoming environment.

This semester, I’m focused on finding new spaces for postdocs to socialize. We have sourced a location for a postdoc Karaoke night (coming up in May) and are looking into a postdoc talent show (more details to come, start thinking of your act!).

Have an idea for something fun for the postdoc community? Feel free to DM me (here or on slack) or reach out via email to [email protected].

The monthly Board Game Night stays one of our most popular events! 🎲🍕
Enjoy delicious pizza, meet new people, and challenge your friends (or make some new ones!) over your favorite games. It’s the perfect way to unwind, laugh, and connect with the community 💛

A huge thank you to our incredible organizer ( ) and volunteers who make this night possible every month!

Hi! I’m Abhishek Soni, a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT. My research focuses on developing self-driving laboratories that integrate automation and AI to accelerate clean hydrogen production from rocks.

I joined the Postdoctoral Association because I’m passionate about building a collaborative and welcoming environment for postdocs at MIT, especially for international scholars who are navigating a new academic and social environment. As Outreach and Belonging Chair, I work to strengthen connections across MIT’s diverse postdoctoral community and help create inclusive spaces for networking, mentorship, and collaboration.

One of my priorities is to further strengthen connections between postdocs across the School of Engineering and the School of Science, encouraging more interdisciplinary interactions and opportunities to learn from each other’s research and experiences. As part of this effort, I previously organized a discussion with the School of Engineering Dean and MIT postdocs to talk about topics such as travel grants, scholarships, and ways to strengthen support and community for postdocs. Looking ahead, I’m also interested in launching a few new initiatives, such as a Postdoc Spotlight series to highlight the research and stories of postdocs across MIT, informal events focused on navigating career paths after the postdoc (both academic and non-academic), and community gatherings that help postdocs connect across departments and backgrounds.

I’d love to hear your ideas as well—if there are topics, events, or initiatives that you think would benefit the postdoc community, please feel free to reach out or send me a message at [email protected]. I’m always happy to connect!

Hi everyone! I’m Xinran , a Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Biology and Co-Chair of the PDA Orientation Committee.

My main role? Onboarding new postdocs and sharing the perks of life as a postdoc at MIT and in the Greater Boston area! I joined the PDA in November 2025, after 4 months into my own MIT journey, and it has been incredibly fun and rewarding to explore this chapter alongside my fellow postdocs!

In addition to hosting our monthly new postdoc seminars, I work closely with my amazing co-chair, MIT HR, and the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) to constantly improve our institution-wide onboarding experience. I’m also proud to serve as a postdoc rep for the School of Science, working to build a stronger, more connected community for all of us.

We want to hear from you! How was your onboarding experience? How can we make it better? Drop us a line at [email protected].