The event at Sanford Burnham Prebys gathered San Diego scientists to discuss their latest findings and learn about local organizations
The Queer Scientists and Allies Symposium, or Qs and As on the Mesa, was held at Sanford Burnham Prebys on Friday, April 4, 2025. The event was developed to create community connections and highlight the work of LGBTQIA+ researchers on the Torrey Pines Mesa.
The symposium began with a series of discussions and scientific talks in Building 12’s Victor E. LaFave III Memorial Auditorium. David A. Brenner, MD, president and chief executive officer of Sanford Burnham Prebys, opened the event by welcoming the meeting participants.
Jaycee Baker-Saunders, director of Research Administrative Services at Scripps Research, spoke on behalf of the Pride Alliance at Scripps Research. Baker-Saunders detailed her career path in research administration and shared how she works with the Pride Alliance at Scripps Research to have constructive conversations with executive leaders about the concerns of LGBTQIA+ staff.
Christopher Anderson, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), spoke on behalf of the Queer Science Society and discussed his use of multi-scale engineering approaches to help understand, diagnose and treat heart diseases.
James Walker, PhD, postdoctoral fellow at the Salk Institute, was the symposium’s final speaker. Walker presented on behalf of the Salk Pride Society and described his research on developmentally regulated DNA methylation and its relationship to gene expression in plants.
Following the formal program, attendees enjoyed networking with each other and visiting tables sponsored by local organizations that promote engagement and belonging for queer scientists and allies:
- Grad oSTEM @ UCSD
- OUTbio
- Pride Alliance at Scripps Research
- Queer Science Society
- Salk Pride Society
- San Diego Science Writers Association
The 2025 Queer Scientists and Allies Symposium was hosted by Sanford Burnham Prebys and its Office of Workplace Engagement and Belonging, the Salk Pride Society, Queer Science Society, the Pride Alliance at Scripps Research and the La Jolla Institute for Immunology.
Speaker introductions at Qs and As on the Mesa were provided by: Emma Robinson, graduate student at Scripps Research and co-founder of the Pride Alliance at Scripps Research; Anneliese Gest, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in the department of pharmacology at UCSD; and Todd Maxwell, environmental health and safety specialist at the Salk Institute and co-chair of the Salk Pride Society.