Katherine Sanders

Dr. Katherine Sanders is an Assistant Professor and reproductive biologist in the School of Human Sciences within the Faculty of Science at the University of Western Australia. She earned her BSc (Hons) and PhD from the University of Western Australia and joined the School as a lecturer in Anatomy and Human Biology in 2002. Between July 2013 and March 2023, she led the University's Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) program as Academic Coordinator. In 2023, she returned to a teaching-intensive role, now serving as co-chair of Learning and Teaching in the School of Human Sciences. She is an elected member of the UWA Academic Board and an appointed member of the Preimplantation Genetic Testing Committee of the Reproductive Technology Council of Western Australia. Sanders coordinates undergraduate units in human reproductive biology (ANHB2216 and ANHB3316), a research methods unit for honours and masters students (HMSC5004), and contributes to teaching in human biology, physiology, women's health, ethics, and social responsibility.

Her research centers on human reproduction, examining the effects of psychosocial and energetic stress on fertility, lifestyle factors influencing assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes, and psychosocial dimensions of donor conception. She maintains long-term collaborations with Western Australian ART clinics and studies family composition and resources impacting child survival and growth in rural Timor-Leste. Funding sources include the Australian Research Council, Raine Medical Research Foundation, University of Western Australia Small Grants Scheme, and USAID. Notable publications comprise 'Abnormal cleavage up to Day 3 does not compromise live birth and neonatal outcomes of embryos that have achieved full blastulation: a retrospective cohort study' (Human Reproduction, 2024, with T. Lee et al.), 'To discard or not to discard 1PNs? A systematic review and meta-analysis on 291,474 embryos' (Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 2026, with T. Lee et al.), 'Women’s Life Trajectories in Rural Timor-Leste: A Life History and Life Course Perspective on Reproduction and Empowerment' (Social Sciences, 2025, with P. Borquez-Arce et al.), and 'Inclusion of genital, sexual, and gender diversity in human reproductive teaching: impact on student experience and recommendations for tertiary educators' (Advances in Physiology Education, 2024, with N. Fimognari et al.). With 53 research outputs, her Scopus h-index is 14 and citations exceed 1,376. Her work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education.

Professional Email: kathy.sanders@uwa.edu.au