Our people

Professor Simon de Graaf

Professor of Animal Reproduction

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
• Sensing technologies to reduce reproductive wastage of sheep

Associate Professor Roslyn Bathgate

Associate Professor of Animal Reproduction

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

Dr Jessica Rickard

McCaughey Senior Research Fellow

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:
Jessica is part of the team working on semen preservation, artificial insemination and embryo transfer in sheep. The aim of her project is to tailor commercial methods of sperm sorting by flow cytometry to produce ‘sexed ram semen’ and make this technology available to the Australian sheep industry.

Emeritus Professor Gareth Evans

Emeritus Professor of Animal Reproduction

Emeritus Professor Chris Maxwell

Emeritus Professor of Reproductive Biology

Alexandra Walls
PhD Student

Alexandra’s research aims to improve our definition of ‘normal’ in pig farrowing. She aims to use the knowledge she acquires to develop tools that can aid in identifying abnormal parturition, flagging sows in need of assistance, and improving farm economics and both sow and piglet welfare. This research has required a bringing together of endocrinology, physiology, behaviour and engineering knowledge to develop a range of novel solutions with real world applications and a re-think of the current industry practice in the farrowing space.

Eloise Spanner
PhD Student

Eloise’s PhD is an industry project working alongside the Australian Merino Sire Evaluation Project (AMSEA) to investigate the effect of male, female, and environmental factors on the variability of successful artificial insemination (AI) programs within the Australian merino industry. The lack of industry standards to determine the fertility of a given ram and ewe has driven her interest in the advancements and utilisation of fertility prediction procedures and methodology. Her work includes using advanced semen assessments, flow cytometry, DNA staining, western blots, proteomics, and transcriptomics of frozen-thawed ram semen. If successful, the project will recommend strategies to improve the likelihood of AI programs. Therefore, this project aims to increase the number of lambs born to elite flocks and accelerate genetic progress for the Australian sheep industry.

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.