Victoria

Dr Sarah Stephenson is molecular neurobiologist using advanced genomic technologies including targeted deep sequencing and high throughput single cell sequencing to understand malformations of brain development that cause epilepsy, and novel recombinant mouse strains to understand the genetics of Parkinson’s disease. Dr Stephenson is also the co-founder and Director of QueersInScience.

Dr Mohammad Taha is the co-chair of the Victorian chapter of Queers in Science, a researcher at the Melbourne School of Engineering and a non-binary queer person of colour. In 2019, Dr Taha was recognised as one of the top innovative engineers in Australia for their work in novel phase-changing materials and their role in smart-surfaces and the future of climate control. Dr Taha is an enthusiastic reader, writer, soon to be film maker and an advocate for the queer rights generally and people of colour specifically.

Chloe Mackallah is a climate scientist at CSIRO, transgender/queer advocate, and treasurer for QueersInScience-VIC. With a PhD in astrophysics, Chloe now works to develop climate models and simulate the Earth system. Chloe is passionate about creating an environmentally sustainable future, and enjoys science fiction, and playing heavy metal.

Sarah’s team is trying to unravel the mysteries of how brain cells communicate, and what happens when these processes fail. Her lab study a range of neurological disorders, including Baker-Gordon Syndrome (which her group helped characterise), Autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s and Huntington’s Disease.

Holly is the Secretary of the Victorian QueersInScience Committee. She is a neurobiologist researching the mechanisms of neurotransmission and their role in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders.

Kim Kwan is an analytical chemist, mental health advocate, and communications lead for QueersInScience. At Metabolomics Australia, Kim uses mass spectrometry to analyse metabolites and small molecules in biological samples as a service for life science researchers. She is passionate about promoting mental health in both academia and day-to-day life, and is always up for grabbing a coffee or kicking a soccer ball around.

Mary’s a passionate placental biologist! Her research investigates human placental development and examines how impairments in placental growth may impact pregnancy outcomes. Mary is also one of the two Victorian state representatives for the QueersInScience National Network and a Communications Officer for the QueersInScience Victoria committee.

I am a medicinal chemist at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and my current research interest focuses on the development of small molecular drugs and pharmacological tools for studying neurological disorders, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, I am passionate about increasing the visibility minorities in STEM as well as providing enhanced opportunities to Early- and Mid-Career researchers.

Te (Hello) I am Jessie and I am a proud Trans, Bisexual, Yorta Yorta gothling. I am the current Indigenous Committee member on council. I study Ecology and do research around Indigenous (particularly Koorie) scientific knowledge and how it can be used to care for country, and help to decolonize science.

Haylo Roberts is one of two Victorian state representatives for QiS, and is currently completing his PhD at La Trobe university. His research is centered on neglected tropical illnesses, and his career aspirations are to contribute to research areas that have been neglected, and to advocate for diversity in STEM.

Michael’s research focuses on the epidemiology and prevention of HIV, viral hepatitis and other sexually transmitted infections among vulnerable populations, and involves using national surveillance data to examine epidemiological trends and evaluate large-scale public health interventions.

Michelle McNamara is an out and proud transgender woman. She is an Enterprise Fellow at the University of Melbourne where she teaches in postgraduate biotechnology courses. In addition to her work with the University Pride in Action Network Michelle is Chair School of Biosciences Culture, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Dr Alex Caputo is a CSIRO Early Research Career Fellow. He is a structural biologist with a keen interest in viruses, how to stop them, with a focus on tackling neglected diseases. His current work bridges an academic and an industrial research environment and how to translate basic research into tangible solutions.