Rate My Professor Rose Upton

Dr Rose Upton is a Lecturer in the School of Science, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, at the University of Newcastle, Australia. She earned her Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours in Biological Sciences, and Doctor of Philosophy in Biological Sciences from the University of Newcastle. Her PhD thesis, completed in 2021, focused on the development of sperm cryopreservation and assisted reproductive technologies for the conservation of threatened Australian tree frogs. Upton's career at the University of Newcastle encompasses roles as Casual Academic, Research Associate, Postdoctoral Researcher, and Casual Research Assistant, all within the School of Science. As a conservation and reproductive biologist, her work centers on applying assisted reproductive technologies, such as sperm cryopreservation and IVF, to wildlife conservation, with a particular emphasis on amphibians facing global declines.

Upton's research examines the effects of environmental stressors, including climate change and disease like chytridiomycosis, on organism health, immunity, microbiome, and reproduction. Following Australia's 2019/20 megafires, she participated in a Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment-funded project monitoring populations and conducting field cryopreservation of sperm from ten fire-affected amphibian species to preserve genetic diversity. She has extended these techniques to reptiles, koalas, and aquatic species such as the Mexican axolotl, African clawed frog, and California sea hare, supporting germplasm repositories for research and wild conservation. Key publications include 'Refrigerated storage and cryopreservation of hormonally induced sperm in the threatened frog, Litoria aurea' (Animal Reproduction Science, 2024), 'Cryopreservation Cooling Rate Impacts Post-Thaw Sperm Motility and Survival in Litoria booroolongensis' (Animals, 2023), 'Generation of a sexually mature individual of the Eastern dwarf tree frog, Litoria fallax, following hormonal induction of sperm and sperm cryopreservation' (Conservation Physiology, 2018), and 'Paradigm shift in frog sperm cryopreservation: reduced role for non-penetrating cryoprotectants and higher storage temperatures' (Reproduction, 2023). Upton has received the Emerging Leader in Biobanking award (Australasian Biospecimen Networking Association, 2023), George and Mary Rabb Fellowship (Amphibian Ark, 2022), National Science Foundation Early Career Training Grant (2023), Faculty Medal (2016), MP Biomedicals Award for Best 3rd Year PhD Presentation (2018), and Animal Care and Ethics Committee Welfare in Research Award (2024). Her contributions enhance genetic management in captive and wild populations, informing conservation strategies for threatened species.