Our Community
About
At Sanford Burnham Prebys, community is at the heart of who we are. While our impact reaches across the globe, our relatively small size enables us to maintain the close-knit feel of a collaborative campus where colleagues connect across disciplines, roles, and career stages. Researchers, administrative professionals, and trainees work side by side in an environment defined by mutual respect, shared purpose, and a research culture that is as supportive as it is scientifically rigorous.
We are committed to creating opportunities that foster collaboration, learning, and engagement for everyone who calls our campus home. From undergraduate interns taking their first steps in the lab to PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and professional staff, our community is built on meaningful connections that encourage the exchange of ideas and professional growth.
Community in Action
Workforce Engagement & Belonging
Ensuring all individuals feel welcomed, respected, and supported in their work, studies, and research.
The Office of Workforce Engagement & Belonging (WEB) hosts educational workshops, community-building activities, and strategic initiatives designed to transform Sanford Burnham Prebys into a leading research institute that empowers all members of its community to thrive and contribute their unique talents and perspectives.
Supporting the Next Generation
Graduate Student Association
Supporting student voices and connection.
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) organizes a variety of initiatives designed to foster connection, collaboration, and a sense of community among students while strengthening communication with the deans and administrators of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS). GSA promotes meaningful engagement across cohorts through initiatives such as the Cross-Cohort Buddy System, Data Club happy hours, student bonding activities, school-branded gifts for graduating students, and LinkedIn posts highlighting student achievements. GSA also hosts an annual Town Hall to address student concerns, while members of the executive board meet monthly with GSBS deans and administrators to support timely, transparent communication.
Science Network
Enriching the trainee experience through professional development and community-building.
The Sanford Burnham Prebys Science Network (SBP-SN) goes beyond the parameters of a typical postdoctoral association by aiming to enrich the training experience of postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and staff scientists. The group offers our community educational programs, social events, and networking opportunities that foster a supportive environment for career development and personal growth.
Entrepreneurship Club
Empowering trainees to explore career opportunities at the intersection of science and business.
The Sanford Burnham Prebys Entrepreneurship Club (SBP-EC) is a community organization founded by three early-stage graduate students in 2025. SBP-EC aims to provide trainees with a clear, practical pathway from biomedical research to venture creation while fostering connections across institutions on the Torrey Pines Mesa and with the broader San Diego biotech community.
Fostering Connections
Women in Science Lecture Series
Inspiring the next generation of leaders in biomedical research.
This quarterly lecture series showcases leadership and scientific excellence at the highest levels of biomedical research. Highlighting leaders who are shaping the field, the series builds connections and strengthens the leadership pipeline across the Torrey Pines Mesa. Many of the speakers and panelists are Sanford Burnham Prebys scientists, alongside distinguished leaders from the broader scientific community. Recent speakers include Erica Ollmann Saphire, PhD, president and CEO of La Jolla Institute for Immunology, and Robin Toft, CEO of Curebound.
Women in Science is free and open to the public, and we encourage participation from all genders and career stages!
Brains, Beats, and Brawn “Work-in-Progress” Series
Providing a supportive platform for trainees to practice presentational skills, share their work, and receive constructive feedback.
This monthly series brings together trainees from the Center for Neurological Diseases (CND) and the Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases (CCMD) to share their latest research in an interactive, supportive setting. Each session highlights the work of two trainees, who give 20-minute presentations followed by 10 minutes of Q&A. presenters are encouraged to keep it casual and interactive, using just a few slides or a whiteboard. Happy hour immediately follows each session to continue conversations, spark cross-disciplinary dialogue, and build community across research centers.
SBP Seminar Series
Providing a shared platform for trainees and faculty to present cutting-edge discoveries as equal contributors to scientific advancement.
Each seminar in this monthly series highlights the latest findings or recently published work of one faculty member and one postdoctoral researcher or staff scientist. Launched in early-2024, the SBP Seminar Series combines the former Faculty Seminar Series and Trainee Seminar Series into a single, Institute-wide platform for scientific exchange. The series keeps our scientific community connected to the innovative research happening across the Institute, sparks new collaborations, and builds a training environment where trainees can sharpen their presentation skills while receiving valuable feedback on their research from faculty and other colleagues.
Science Connect
Fostering understanding and connection between research and administrative professionals.
This series provides a forum for principal investigators to share their research with administrative personnel so that all members of our community feel connected to the science, even those who aren’t involved in day-to-day research activities. Researchers gain experience in communicating their science to a lay audience, and administrators gain a better understanding of the research so they can become better advocates and ambassadors of the Institute’s mission to translate science into health.
Happy Town Halls
Keeping our community informed and connected.
While most organizations hold Town Hall meetings on an annual basis, or quarterly at best, our President and CEO, David A. Brenner convenes monthly “Happy” Town Halls to share brief institutional updates and provide regular opportunities to gather and mingle with colleagues. These meetings are open to anyone connected to the Institute and are often attended by one or two members of our Board of Trustees. They demonstrate our shared sense of purpose, as employees, faculty, and trainees come together to celebrate our successes and learn about opportunities for continued growth toward our mission of translating science into health.
Our Community
About
Sanford Burnham Prebys is much more than a research facility and hub for innovation; it’s a vibrant global community of talented scientists and researchers from over 30 countries. This worldwide representation enriches our perspectives and enhances our creative approach to solving complex scientific challenges.
We strive to be leaders not only in biomedical research but also in creating an environment where excellence thrives through collaboration across cultures and backgrounds. Our mission is to advance the biomedical sciences by cultivating the next generation of scientific leaders, providing meaningful opportunities for researchers of all backgrounds to learn, innovate, and make breakthrough discoveries that improve human health.
Strategic Vision
Our vision for Sanford Burnham Prebys is that we are a model for how a research institute empowers all members of its community to thrive and contribute their unique perspectives and talents.
Strategic Objectives for Realizing Our Vision
- By leveraging our unique capacities, we lead the Torrey Pines Mesa in cultivating an environment that nurtures the success of individuals from all backgrounds.
- We contribute to expanding the biomedical workforce and leadership.
- Our institutional norms and standards promote an environment in which everyone feels welcomed, respected, and supported in their work, studies, and research.
Recent News
Workforce Engagement and Belonging
