What We Do

QueersInScience was born out of the Parkville Biomedical Precinct, Melbourne. We have since expanded to greater Melbourne and rural Victoria, laying the foundations for our national network. We are a thriving community of queer people in STEMM, holding regular professional and social events… even when they have to be virtual. Join our mailing list below to stay up to date with all QueersInScience happenings in Victoria.

Our Recent Events

18 Nov

Science Gallery Melbourne , VIC

LGBTQIA+ STEMM Day 2023: Queerness in STEMM – Australia’s Story

View event: LGBTQIA+ STEMM Day 2023: Queerness in STEMM – Australia’s Story
27 Oct

Fortress, Emporium Melbourne, VIC

Board Game Night (Melbourne)

View event: Board Game Night (Melbourne)
31 Aug

Online

2022 Eureka Prize Award Ceremony

View event: 2022 Eureka Prize Award Ceremony

Victorian Committee

Sarah Gordon

Pronouns: she/her

Head of the Presynaptic Physiology Laboratory, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

Sarah is the co-chair of the Victorian chapter of QueersinScience. Her 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.

Chloe Mackallah

Pronouns: she/her

Chloe Mackallah is a climate scientist at CSIRO, transgender/queer advocate, and co-chair of the Victorian chapter of QueersinScience. 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.

Holly Melland

Pronouns: she/her

PhD Candidate, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

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

Elyas Arvell

Pronouns: they/them

PhD Candidate, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health

Elyas is a graduate researcher in neuroscience and serves as an event coordinator for the Victorian Chapter of QueersInScience.

Kim Kwan

Pronouns: she/they

Kim Kwan is an analytical chemist, mental health advocate, and Communications Officer 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.

Sarah Stephenson

Pronouns: she/her

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 of QueersInScience.

Mohammad Taha

Pronouns: they/them

Dr Mohammad Taha is 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.

Manuela Jörg

Pronouns: she/her

Monash and Newcastle University (UK) Fellow

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.

Deanne Fisher

Pronouns: she/her

Associate Professor, Swinburne University

Deanne is an Associate Professor in the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne University, where she characterises the properties of galaxies and determines how they relate to galaxy evolution.

Matthew Coleman

Pronouns: he/him

PhD Candidate, Bruce Lefroy Centre, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

Matt is a PhD student at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. His research focuses on the genetic causes of epilepsy and brain malformations in children. Matt is the secretary of QueersInScience in Victoria. In his spare time, Matt prides himself on being ice cream enthusiast and a trashy Christmas film connoisseur.

Mary Mansilla

Pronouns: she/her

PhD Candidate, Monash University and RMIT University

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 Victorian chapter of QueersinScience.

Haylo Roberts

Pronouns: he/him

Haylo Roberts 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 Traeger

Pronouns: he/him

PhD Candidate, Burnet Institute

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

Pronouns: she/her

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.

Alex Caputo

Pronouns: he/him

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.