Academics
Research interests:
- Semen preservation
- Artificial insemination and embryo transfer
- Production of pre-sexed offspring by flow cytometric sex-sorting
- Interaction of sperm, seminal plasma and the female reproductive tract
Current research projects:
- Semen preservation, artificial insemination and embryo transfer in sheep
- Sperm-female tract interactions and fertility outcomes
- in vitro prediction of fertility in sheep and cattle
- Machine learning for reproductive diagnostics
Research interests:
- Production of pre-sexed offspring by flow cytometric sex-sorting
- Improving reproductive technologies available to the animal industries
- Physiological role of proteins on the sperm surface
Current research projects:
- Semen preservation, artificial insemination and embryo transfer in sheep
- Sperm-female tract interactions and fertility outcomes
- in vitro prediction of fertility in livestock
- Development of assisted reproductive technologies in rhinoceros
Research interests:
- Semen and embryo preservation
- Artificial insemination and embryo transfer
- In vitro fertilisation and embryo culture
- Reproductive endocrinology
Current research projects:
- Precision monitoring of reproductive state via development of pen side mucus testing and continuous remote monitoring in pigs
Emeritus Professors
Professional Staff
Cameron Sharpe (Farm manager Animal Reproduction Unit, Cobbitty)
Comprehensive experience of domestic animal husbandry and management for natural and artificial breeding programmes.
Current research students
Katherine Seymour
PhD Student
Katherine’s research is investigating how microfluidics and optical trapping can be used to manipulate, assess, and sort ram sperm. Interested in combining technology and agriculture, Katherine’s project aims to simplify and miniaturize complex reproductive technologies to make advanced semen assessment more accessible for producers. As assisted reproductive technologies become more commonplace in Australian agriculture, particularly in sheep production, the availability of advanced semen assessment tools is becoming increasingly critical. Selecting and enriching for high quality sperm would boost the success rate of artificial breeding programs and maximize reproductive efficiency on farm while minimizing the economic loss of unsuccessful inseminations.
Madeleine Van De Hoek
PhD Student
Madeleine’s research aims to identify the factors within seminal plasma that modulate the metabolic pathways and motion characteristics of ram sperm. Her work seeks to improve methods of ram semen storage and prolong maintenance of in vivo fertilising capacity.
Sophie Warr
PhD Student
Sophie’s PhD aims to identify molecular markers which may facilitate successful sperm transit through the cervix of the ewe. Her work includes molecular characterisation of different sperm phenotypes using ‘omic technologies and novel in vitro models to identify sperm-cervix interactions, including immune and biochemical responses. Ultimately, this research seeks to restore the ability of frozen-thawed semen to penetrate the cervix and achieve acceptable pregnancy rates following cervical artificial insemination.
Madison Golledge
PhD Student
Coming soon.
Mehran Dabiri
PhD Student
Coming soon.
Past students
Higher Degree by Research
- Eloise Spanner PhD (graduand 2025)
- Alexandra Walls PhD (graduated 2025)
- Emmah Goldsmith PhD (graduated 2024)
- Danielle Glencorse PhD (graduated 2021)
- Cameron Negus PhD (graduated 2021)
- Kelsey Pool PhD (graduated 2020)
- Alicia Steel PhD (graduated 2020)
- Naomi Bernecic PhD (graduated 2019)
- Samir Al-Bulushi PhD (graduated 2019)
- Taylor Pini PhD (graduated 2018)
- Jessie Maddison PhD (graduated 2017)
Higher Degree by Research
- Cassandra Stuart PhD (graduated 2016)
- Louise Bartolac PhD (graduated 2016)
- Danielle Johinke PhD (graduated 2015)
- Jessica Rickard PhD (graduated 2015)
- Zamira Gibb PhD (graduated 2013)
- Jenna Lowe PhD (graduated 2015)
- Timothy Portas MVSc (graduated 2012)
- Kiri Beilby PhD (graduated 2010)
- Michael Bertoldo PhD (graduated 2010)
- Tamara Leahy PhD (graduated 2010)
- Shelley Underwood PhD (graduated 2009)
Undergraduate honours
2025
- Yana Kuptsova BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Eliza Martin BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Lydia Mikhael BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Yuki Okahara BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Jess Vaughan BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2024
- Akash Gokhale BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Ellie Worthington BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2023
- Maya Robertson BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Megan Walker BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2022
- Theresa-Fina Barker BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Madeleine Van de Hoek BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Sophie Warr BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2021
- Jock Capel BScAgr(Hons)
- Madison Golledge BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Katherine Seymour BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Eloise Spanner BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Trinity White BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2020
- Alexandra Walls BAnVetBioSc(Hons)Undergraduate honours
- Melissa Annetts BScAgr(Hons)
- Taylor Cole BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Charlotte Edwards BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Rachel Ku BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Amy Phillips BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Sumana Singareddy BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2019
- Teigan Farrar BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Bianca Haase BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Alexandra Hunter BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2018
- Madeleine Close BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Kareena Evans BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Christine Green BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Molly Greentree BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Natalie Rizkallah BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2017
- Bethan Arthur BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Philippa Bruce BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Nicola Culey BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Kiri Farmer BAnVetBioSc(Hons and Medal)
- Max Lloyd BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Emily Underwood BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
Undergraduate honours
2016
- Charley-Lea Pollard BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Gabrielle Ryan BAnVetBioSc(Hons and Medal)
2015
- Emmah Tumeth BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Annabel Tym BVSc(Hons)
2014
- Melissa Caruso BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Naomi Bernicic BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2013
- Joanna Aitken BVSc(Hons)
- Dannielle Glencourse BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Aaron Jin BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Emily Knight BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Ethan Mooney BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Cameron Negus BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Taylor Pini BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2012
- Elizabeth Barter BVSc(Hons)
- Jessica Craig BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Michelle De Martin BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Sally Hall BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Jessie Maddison BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Paola Rosales BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Rose Schmidt BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Alicia Steel BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2011
- Natasha Tarapor BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Felicia Li BScVet
- Alyssa Dickinson BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Natalie Hackl BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2010
- Jenna Lowe BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Jessica Rickard BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Rachel Rodney BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Teigan Sellens BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Naomi Williams BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2009
- Mohammad Bahrini BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Tess Harris BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Kellie Masters BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Luke Micallef BScAgr(Hons)
- Cassandra Stuart BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Kristen Yeung BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
- Sheridan Young BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2008
- Tamara Butler BVSc(Hons)
- Nicole Mace BAnVetBioSc(Hons)
2007
- Tamara Butler BScVet
- Kylie Dunn BAnVetBioSc(Hons)