Lauren (she/her)

My name is Lauren and in 2025, I am entering my second year of a Neuroscience PhD at the University of Melbourne and The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. My research focuses on sex and gender differences in alcohol use disorder (AUD) and how this impacts treatment efficacy for women and gender-diverse individuals.  

Before commencing my PhD, I studied a Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Hons) at the University of Western Australia and worked as a research assistant in brain cancer research at The Kids Research Institute Australia (formerly Telethon Kids Institute). Beyond my research, I’ve been privileged to contribute to the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) Sex and Gender Deliberative Panel. This experience allowed me to help shape guidelines for the inclusion of sex and gender diversity in health research across Australia—a role that inspired me to emerge as a leader in addiction research, committed to advocating for equitable treatment outcomes for underrepresented groups.  

I applied for a Pinnacle Foundation scholarship because, for me, seeing my queer identity represented in my field and entering an environment that celebrates LGBTQIA+ identities allowed me to thrive as a researcher, leader, and individual. This scholarship is an opportunity to help build those affirming spaces for others in academia.  

Thank you to Vitaly Osipov and The Pinnacle Foundation for making this possible.