Rate My Professor Karen Mate

Associate Professor Karen Mate serves in the School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy (Human Physiology) within the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She holds a PhD and a Bachelor of Science (Honours), both from the University of Newcastle. Her research expertise includes gamete maturation, fertilization, reproductive technologies, contraception, and dementia. Associated keywords are Biological Science, Clinical Science, Contraception, Fertilization, Paediatrics, and Reproductive Medicine. Mate is the Student Academic Conduct Officer and contributes to teaching in human physiology, including courses on reproductive systems and biosciences. She participates in the Indigenous Student Engagement Committee, supporting indigenisation of the curriculum and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in biomedical sciences.

Mate has produced extensive scholarly work, with over 68 journal articles, four book chapters, and numerous conference papers, accumulating more than 1,200 citations. Key publications include the journal article 'Indigenous student engagement in science: a case study addressing the lack of diversity and equity in biomedical science and pharmacy research for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people' (2025, Immunology and Cell Biology); 'Use of tricyclic antidepressants and other anticholinergic medicines by older Aboriginal Australians: association with negative health outcomes' (2022, International Psychogeriatrics); 'Changes in the food and drink consumption patterns of Australian women during the COVID-19 pandemic' (2022, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health); 'Considerations and strategies for effective online assessment with a focus on the biomedical sciences' (2022, FASEB BioAdvances); 'Mobile memory clinic: implementing a nurse practitioner-led, collaborative dementia model of care within general practice' (2021, Australian Journal of Primary Health); 'Stability of anticholinergic load in Australian community-dwelling older people: a longitudinal analysis' (2020, Family Practice); and 'Immunocontraception of Eastern Grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) with recombinant brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) ZP3 protein' (2009, Journal of Reproductive Immunology). Book chapters feature '13 The Reproductive Systems' (2020) and 'Language support for first year human physiology and biology' (2012). She co-supervised a PhD on 'Advances in Assisted Reproductive Techniques for Conservation of Australian Carnivorous Marsupials' (2009). Her contributions span reproductive biology in marsupials, anticholinergic effects in geriatric care, dementia screening in primary practice, and innovations in biomedical education.