Meet Our Volunteers

Volunteer Spotlight and Member Highlights

Exciting news! AABB’s Professional Engagement Program will be showcasing all of the great work our members do for AABB and the world at large.

Our PEP Volunteer Spotlight will consist of a short Q&A with one of our members published each month in AABB News. Our members play an integral role here at AABB and we want to share their accomplishments.

Member Highlights can be any volunteer accomplishment directly involved with AABB and will change as new highlights are added. These highlights may range from publications, committee work, webinars and everything in between!

We are currently soliciting names of individuals to showcase for the coming year in either our Volunteer Spotlight or a Member Highlight capacities. If you or a fellow AABB member are interested, please email us at PEP@aabb.org.

AABB Volunteer Spotlight on Krystalyn Hudson, PhD

Associate Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology and Co-Director of the Laboratory of Transfusion Biology at Columbia University

How long have you been an AABB member?

Since 2012

In which AABB volunteer activities are you currently active? In which have you participated?

I am currently the Chair of the AABB Foundation Grant Review Committee, where I lead the scientific review process for early-career investigator grants and work closely with AABB Foundation leadership to support the next generation of transfusion medicine and biotherapies researchers. I also serve as a mentor in the AABB Mentoring Program, advising junior investigators nationally and internationally as they prepare competitive scientific foundation grant applications, navigate early-stage career decisions, and work toward academic promotion. In addition, I contribute to AABB's educational mission through my role on the eLearning Committee, helping identify emerging scientific topics and develop content that reflects the rapidly evolving landscape of transfusion medicine.

Previously, I served as a grant reviewer for the AABB Foundation and an Annual Meeting Abstract Reviewer; these roles strengthened my connection to the community and deepened my understanding of the breadth of research conducted across our field.

What motivates you to volunteer?

My motivation to volunteer comes from a commitment to community building, mentorship, and scientific collaboration. Supporting junior investigators through reviewing grants, mentoring, or participating in educational initiatives is one of the most rewarding aspects of my career. Volunteering keeps me engaged and continually learning; reviewing scientific content and helping shape educational programs. It also pushes me to stay current with new discoveries, methodologies, and challenges in our field. Most importantly, contributing to a strong and supportive professional community feels essential for sustaining innovation, inclusivity, and excellence in transfusion medicine.

How has your volunteer work impacted your professional work?

Volunteering with AABB has broadened and enriched my professional life in meaningful ways. Through committee service and mentorship programs, I have met outstanding colleagues whose work complements and inspires my own. Serving on the Foundation's Grant Review Committee has introduced me to emerging research directions and rising investigators whose scientific interests intersect with mine, often sparking new collaborations, co-authored manuscripts, and even shared grant applications. These relationships have strengthened my science, expanded my network, and opened doors to opportunities I may not have encountered otherwise. Ultimately, science is far more fun when pursued alongside colleagues who become long-term collaborations and friends.

What have you learned from volunteering with AABB? And what advice would you give to someone interested in volunteering?

Through volunteering with AABB, I have learned how essential community, mentorship, and shared purpose are to advancing transfusion medicine. I’ve gained an appreciation for the diversity of expertise within our field and for how much we all benefit when we contribute our time and perspectives. Volunteering has also reinforced how impactful even small contributions can be: one mentoring session, reviewing one grant, helping shape one educational session.

My advice to someone interested in volunteering is simple: start small, say yes, and be open to where the opportunities lead you. AABB offers roles for every stage of career development, and each one provides a chance to grow, contribute, and connect. Volunteering supports our broader community and accelerates your own professional development in ways that are both unexpected and deeply rewarding.

Who is your favorite musician?

Ben Platt