Overview
Background
Dr Taylor Pini is a lecturer in veterinary reproduction within the School of Veterinary Science and leads the Molecular Animal Reproductive Biology Lab (MARBL). Taylor's research focuses on understanding fundamental reproductive biology across species, in order to improve the outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) like artificial insemination for livestock and wildlife. Some recent examples of her research work include:
- Exploring sperm formation and function in kangaroos
- How cooling and freezing sperm impacts cellular 'clean up' machinery
- Why frozen ram semen fails to get ewes pregnant
- How the cellular makeup of sperm differs across the kingdom of life
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, before beginning at UQ in 2021. Taylor has worked across many aspects of reproduction (from pregnancy detection to sperm freezing) in a range of species, including mice, humans, sheep, horses, koalas, kangaroos, parrots and echidnas.
Taylor is a co-host and producer of the science communication podcast Repro Radio.
Looking for a research project? Taylor is currently on parental leave, but will be taking on Summer and Winter Scholarship Students (undergraduate), Science Honours Students, Masters and PhD students in 2027.
Availability
- Dr Taylor Pini is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Reproduction, The University of Sydney
Research interests
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Reproduction
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Sperm physiology
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Seminal plasma biology
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Sperm cryopreservation
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Proteomics
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Oxidative stress
Works
Search Professor Taylor Pini’s works on UQ eSpace
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
Conference Publication
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. 75th Scientific Congress of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Philadelphia, PA United States, 12-16 October 2019. Philadelphia, PA United States: Elsevier. 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 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
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
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
2016
Conference Publication
Changes to sperm surface carbohydrates following exposure to seminal plasma and freezing
Pini, Taylor, Leahy, Tamara and de Graaf, Simon P. (2016). Changes to sperm surface carbohydrates following exposure to seminal plasma and freezing. 10th Biennial Conference of the Association for Applied Animal Andrology, Tours, France, 24 June 2016. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.03.021
2014
Journal Article
Erratum: Seminal plasma aids the survival and cervical transit of epididymal ram spermatozoa (Reproduction (2014) 148 (X1))
Rickard, J. P., Pini, T., Soleilhavoup, C., Cognie, J., Bathgate, R., Lynch, G. W., Evans, G., Maxwell, W. M.C., Druart, X. and De Graaf, S. P. (2014). Erratum: Seminal plasma aids the survival and cervical transit of epididymal ram spermatozoa (Reproduction (2014) 148 (X1)). Reproduction, 148 (6), 469-478. doi: 10.1530/REP-14-0285e
2014
Journal Article
Seminal plasma aids the survival and cervical transit of epididymal ram spermatozoa
Rickard, J. P., Pini, T., Soleilhavoup, C., Cognie, J., Bathgate, R., Lynch, G. W., Evans, G., Maxwell, W. M. C., Druart, X. and de Graaf, S. P. (2014). Seminal plasma aids the survival and cervical transit of epididymal ram spermatozoa. Reproduction, 148 (5), 469-478. doi: 10.1530/rep-14-0285
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Taylor Pini is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The Development and Application of Assisted Breeding Technology for theConservation of Avian wildlife
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Steve Johnston
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Master Philosophy
Novel Techniques for Donkey and Horse Sperm and Somatic Cell Preservation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Albert Sole Guitart, Dr Andres Gambini
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Doctor Philosophy
Comparative Anatomy and Physiology of Monotreme and Marsupial Accessory Glands
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Chiara Palmieri, Associate Professor Steve Johnston
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Doctor Philosophy
Hatching out the secrets of female monotreme reproductive biology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Steve Johnston, Professor Chiara Palmieri
Media
Enquiries
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