Dr. Smita Jha is Director of Training Grants and Fellowships at Baylor College of Medicine, where she leads institutional training programs supporting predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers across the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, including the longstanding Graduate Training in the Neurosciences T32. Trained as a neuroscientist, her early research at Baylor focused on neuronal development and brain injury, giving her firsthand insight into both basic science and the realities of research training.

She is an active contributor to the National Training Grant Community of Practice and leads SCOARE faculty workshops focused on strengthening mentoring, assessment, and trainee outcomes. Dr. Jha’s work centers on aligning biomedical training with workforce needs. She regularly conducts workshops on changes in the research and career landscape, as well as on navigating federal and private funding opportunities. Her approach is shaped by experience spanning academia, social entrepreneurship, and industry.