Overview
Background
Dr Taylor Pini is a lecturer in veterinary reproduction within the School of Veterinary Science. Taylor graduated with a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience (Hons) and a PhD in reproductive biology from The University of Sydney. After her PhD, Taylor undertook postdocs at the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine (USA), and with the Gametic Epigenetics Consortium against Obesity (GECKO) at The University of Sydney. Taylor has worked across various aspects of male reproduction using a range of species, including sheep, mice and humans.
Taylor's research focuses on sperm biology and better understanding how both physiological processes and applied interventions impact sperm function, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes of applied reproductive technologies.
Taylor is a co-host and producer of the science communication podcast Repro Radio.
Looking for a research project? Taylor is currently taking on Summer and Winter Scholarship Students (undergraduate) and Science Honours Students. If you are interested in pursuing a Masters or PhD degree with Taylor as a supervisor, please get in touch by email to discuss current opportunities and scholarship options.
Availability
- Dr Taylor Pini is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Reproduction, The University of Sydney
Research interests
-
Reproduction
-
Sperm physiology
-
Seminal plasma biology
-
Sperm cryopreservation
-
Proteomics
-
Oxidative stress
Works
Search Professor Taylor Pini’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2023
Journal Article
Male reproductive traits are differentially affected by dietary macronutrient balance but unrelated to adiposity
Crean, A. J., Afrin, S., Niranjan, H., Pulpitel, T. J., Ahmad, G., Senior, A. M., Freire, T., Mackay, F., Nobrega, M. A., Barrès, R., Simpson, S. J. and Pini, T. (2023). Male reproductive traits are differentially affected by dietary macronutrient balance but unrelated to adiposity. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 2566, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38314-x
2024
Journal Article
Low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets reduce body weight and sperm count but increase sperm motility in mice
Crean, Angela J., Pulpitel, Tamara J., Pini, Taylor, Rickard, Jessica P., de Graaf, Simon P., Senior, Alistair M., Simpson, Stephen J. and Wali, Jibran A. (2024). Low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets reduce body weight and sperm count but increase sperm motility in mice. The Journal of Nutrition, 154 (1), 60-68. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.11.016
2022
Journal Article
Molecular insights to the sperm-cervix interaction and the consequences for cryopreserved sperm
Warr, Sophie, Pini, Taylor, de Graaf, Simon P. and Rickard, Jessica P. (2022). Molecular insights to the sperm-cervix interaction and the consequences for cryopreserved sperm. Biology of Reproduction, 108 (2), 183-196. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioac188
2022
Conference Publication
Nutritional Geometry of Male Fertility: Moving Beyond The ‘High-Fat’ Diet
PINI, Taylor, AHMAD, Gulfam, BARRES, Romain, SIMPSON, Stephen and CREAN, Angela (2022). Nutritional Geometry of Male Fertility: Moving Beyond The ‘High-Fat’ Diet. Fertility Society Of Australia And New Zealand Annual Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 30 July–2 August 2022. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing. doi: 10.1142/s2661318222740905
2022
Journal Article
#ESHREjc report: are sperm selection techniques a panacea? Indications for the use of physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI) in medically assisted reproduction
Liperis, George, Sharma, Kashish, Ammar, Omar Farhan, Fraire-Zamora, Juan J., da Silva, Sarah Martins, Thomson, Andrew, Pini, Taylor and Mincheva, Mina (2022). #ESHREjc report: are sperm selection techniques a panacea? Indications for the use of physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI) in medically assisted reproduction. Human Reproduction, 37 (10), 2492-2496. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deac182
2022
Journal Article
Reproductive biology research down under: highlights from the Australian and New Zealand Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, 2021
Dunleavy, Jessica E. M., Dinh, Doan Thao, Filby, Caitlin E., Green, Ella, Hofstee, Pierre, Pini, Taylor, Rivers, Nicola, Skerrett-Byrne, David A., Wijayarathna, Rukmali, Winstanley, Yasmyn E., Zhou, Wei and Richani, Dulama (2022). Reproductive biology research down under: highlights from the Australian and New Zealand Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, 2021. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 34 (13), 855-866. doi: 10.1071/rd22115
2021
Journal Article
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry reveals an active response to DNA damage in human spermatozoa
Pini, Taylor, Haywood, Mary, McCallie, Blair, Lane, Sydney L., Schoolcraft, William B. and Katz-Jaffe, Mandy (2021). Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry reveals an active response to DNA damage in human spermatozoa. F&S Science, 2 (2), 153-163. doi: 10.1016/j.xfss.2021.03.001
2021
Journal Article
Obesity and male reproduction; placing the Western diet in context
Pini, Taylor, Raubenheimer, David, Simpson, Stephen J. and Crean, Angela J. (2021). Obesity and male reproduction; placing the Western diet in context. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 12 622292. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2021.622292
2020
Journal Article
Exogenous melatonin advances the ram breeding season and increases testicular function
Pool, K. R., Rickard, J. P., Pini, T. and de Graaf, S. P. (2020). Exogenous melatonin advances the ram breeding season and increases testicular function. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 9711. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66594-6
2020
Journal Article
Mitigating the effects of oxidative sperm DNA damage
Pini, Taylor, Makloski, Rachel, Maruniak, Karen, Schoolcraft, William B. and Katz-Jaffe, Mandy G. (2020). Mitigating the effects of oxidative sperm DNA damage. Antioxidants, 9 (7) 589, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/antiox9070589
2020
Journal Article
Quantitative proteomic analysis of seminal plasma, sperm membrane proteins, and seminal extracellular vesicles suggests vesicular mechanisms aid in the removal and addition of proteins to the ram sperm membrane
Leahy, Tamara, Rickard, Jessica P., Pini, Taylor, Gadella, Bart M. and de Graaf, Simon P. (2020). Quantitative proteomic analysis of seminal plasma, sperm membrane proteins, and seminal extracellular vesicles suggests vesicular mechanisms aid in the removal and addition of proteins to the ram sperm membrane. Proteomics, 20 (12) 1900289. doi: 10.1002/pmic.201900289
2020
Journal Article
Obesity significantly alters the human sperm proteome, with potential implications for fertility
Pini, T., Parks, J., Russ, J., Dzieciatkowska, M., Hansen, K. C., Schoolcraft, W. B. and Katz-Jaffe, M. (2020). Obesity significantly alters the human sperm proteome, with potential implications for fertility. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 37 (4), 777-787. doi: 10.1007/s10815-020-01707-8
2019
Conference Publication
Minimally invasive uterine aspiration 24 hours ahead of embryo transfer characterizes the compromised RIF uterine microenvironment and is predictive of reproductive outcome
Parks, Jason C., McCallie, Blair R., Haywood, Mary E., Pini, Taylor, Schoolcraft, William B. and Katz-Jaffe, Mandy G. (2019). Minimally invasive uterine aspiration 24 hours ahead of embryo transfer characterizes the compromised RIF uterine microenvironment and is predictive of reproductive outcome. Philadelphia, PA, United States: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.07.309
2019
Journal Article
Obesity causes significant changes to the human sperm proteome
Pini, Taylor, Parks, Jason C., Dzieciatkowska, Monika, Hansen, Kirk C., Schoolcraft, William B. and Katz-Jaffe, Mandy G. (2019). Obesity causes significant changes to the human sperm proteome. Fertility and Sterility, 112 (3 Supplement), e211-e211. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.07.666
2018
Journal Article
Sublethal sperm freezing damage: manifestations and solutions
Pini, Taylor, Leahy, Tamara and de Graaf, Simon P. (2018). Sublethal sperm freezing damage: manifestations and solutions. Theriogenology, 118, 172-181. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.06.006
2018
Journal Article
Cryopreservation and egg yolk medium alter the proteome of ram spermatozoa
Pini, T., Rickard, J. P., Leahy, T., Crossett, B., Druart, X. and de Graaf, S. P. (2018). Cryopreservation and egg yolk medium alter the proteome of ram spermatozoa. Journal of Proteomics, 181, 73-82. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2018.04.001
2018
Journal Article
Binder of Sperm Proteins protect ram spermatozoa from freeze-thaw damage
Pini, Taylor, Farmer, Kiri, Druart, Xavier, Teixeira-Gomes, Ana Paula, Tsikis, Guillaume, Labas, Valerie, Leahy, Tamara and de Graaf, Simon P. (2018). Binder of Sperm Proteins protect ram spermatozoa from freeze-thaw damage. Cryobiology, 82, 78-87. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2018.04.005
2018
Journal Article
Binder of Sperm Proteins 1 and 5 have contrasting effects on the capacitation of ram spermatozoa
Pini, Taylor, De Graaf, Simon P., Druart, Xavier, Tsikis, Guillaume, Labas, Valerie, Teixeira-Gomes, Ana Paula, Gadella, Barend M. and Leahy, Tamara (2018). Binder of Sperm Proteins 1 and 5 have contrasting effects on the capacitation of ram spermatozoa. Biology of Reproduction, 98 (6), 765-775. doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioy032
2018
Journal Article
Seminal plasma and cryopreservation alter ram sperm surface carbohydrates and interactions with neutrophils
Pini, Taylor, Leahy, Tamara and Paul De Graaf, Simon (2018). Seminal plasma and cryopreservation alter ram sperm surface carbohydrates and interactions with neutrophils. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 30 (5), 689-702. doi: 10.1071/RD17251
2016
Journal Article
Proteomic investigation of ram spermatozoa and the proteins conferred by seminal plasma
Pini, Taylor, Leahy, Tamara, Soleilhavoup, Clement, Tsikis, Guillaume, Labas, Valerie, Combes-Soia, Lucie, Harichaux, Gregoire, Rickard, Jessica P., Druart, Xavier and De Graaf, Simon P. (2016). Proteomic investigation of ram spermatozoa and the proteins conferred by seminal plasma. Journal of Proteome Research, 15 (10), 3700-3711. doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00530
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Taylor Pini is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Hot and hormonal; The combined impacts of heat stress and endocrine disruption on fertility and sperm small RNAs in Drosophila
The modern world creates a hostile environment for reproduction, particularly due to two paramount concerns: climate change and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The effects of both pose significant issues for reproduction across all species. Both have been studied in isolation, but the effects of heat stress x EDC interaction on reproduction have not been explored. As individuals are likely to be exposed to both heat stress and EDCs concomitantly, there is a clear need to study their combined impacts. The two major reproductive concerns stemming from heat stress and EDCs are resultant infertility in the exposed generation of parents and inherited epigenetic effects in offspring. Focusing on male reproduction, this project will explore these facets by analysing the combined impacts of heat stress and EDC (equol) exposure on the small RNA profile of spermatozoa in a Drosophila model.
This project would be suitable for an honours or coursework masters student with interest in molecular biology and reproduction.
-
Exploring epididymal maturation in a macropod model
Australia faces an extinction crisis, and macropods are no exception, with 60% under threat. Captive breeding using assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) can be a crucial tool but requires in depth knowledge of the species’ reproductive biology. There has been little research or success in this area in macropods. Given this, we aim to characterise important molecular changes in macropod sperm during epididymal maturation. In doing this, we expect to generate new knowledge of macropod reproductive biology. This is an important first step towards developing effective ARTs for the conservation of threatened and endangered macropods.
This project would be suitable for an honours or coursework masters student with an interest in molecular biology, proteomics and wildlife conservation.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Hatching out the secrets of female monotreme reproductive biology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Steve Johnston, Professor Chiara Palmieri
-
Doctor Philosophy
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of Monotreme and Marsupial Accessory Glands
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chiara Palmieri, Associate Professor Steve Johnston
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Taylor Pini directly for media enquiries about:
- conception
- fertility
- ivf
- reproduction
- sperm
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: