Dr Katja Hummitzsch
NHMRC Postdoctoral Research Officer
South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
After receiving her Bachelor of Science (2005) and a PhD in Biochemistry (2009) from the University of Leipzig in Germany, she joined the group of Prof. Ray Rodgers as a post-doctoral scientist, focusing on ovarian function and development to reveal the underlying basis of infertility. More recently, she has joined the Molecular Epigenetics Group of Dr. Luke Isbel as a Senior Research Coordinator, now applying her sophisticated expertise gained after 15 years in medical research.
Her broad capabilities encompass the key areas of science, including generating, analysing, and disseminating research. She brings a singularly excellent attitude towards laboratory management, critical for ensuring the Team’s success by developing the environment needed for scientific cohesion. With her flair for developmental biology and strong molecular skills, she is highly passionate about the training of upcoming researchers in fundamental skills and is a great asset to both the Lab and ACE.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2023 - ongoing Research Coordinator University of Adelaide 2022 - ongoing Member B of Animal Ethics Committee University of Adelaide 2009 - 2023 Senior Research Associate The University of Adelaide 2001 - 2002 Part-time Tutor for First Year Biochemistry Degree Leipzig University of Applied Sciences -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2021 Fellowship Career Development Fellowship Robinson Research Institute Australia $100,000 2021 Award Seed Grant And Project Support CRE WHiRL Australia $13,250 2021 Award Building On Ideas Robinson Research Institute Australia $5,000 2013 Award Cook Medical Travel Award - - $5,000 2006 Award 4th Prize at the Biotechnology Symposium - Germany - -
Language Competencies
Language Competency English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review German Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2005 - 2009 University of Leipzig Germany Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry 2000 - 2005 University of Leipzig Germany German Diploma Biochemistry -
Certifications
Date Title Institution name Country 2000 Medical Technical Laboratory Assistant Medical School, Chemnitz Germany -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Book Chapters
Year Citation 2019 Hummitzsch, K., Irving-Rodgers, H., Schwartz, J., & Rodgers, R. J. (2019). Development of the Mammalian Ovary and Follicles. In P. Leung, & E. Adashi (Eds.), The Ovary (3 ed., pp. 71-82). United Kingdom: Academic press. -
Conference Papers
Year Citation 2011 Irving-Rodgers, H., Hatzirodos, N., Hummitzsch, K., Lee, S., Bonner, W., Sabatier, L., . . . Rodgers, R. J. (2011). Expression of Fibrillins, Latent TGFbeta Binding Proteins and TGFbetas in the Bovine Fetal Ovary. In BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION Vol. 85 (pp. 2 pages). Portland, OR: SOC STUDY REPRODUCTION. 2009 Tsikolia, N., Hummitzsch, K., Sass, K., Spanel-Borowski, K., & Ricken, A. (2009). Fetal Leydig precursor cells are strongly positive for KIT. In REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS Vol. 44 (pp. 37-38). Leipzig, GERMANY: WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC. 2007 Erdmann, S., Ricken, A., Hummitzsch, K., & Spanel-Borowski, K. (2007). Increase in extracellular procathepsin D levels by cytokines: a possible mechanism to gain influence on endothelial cells?. In EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY Vol. 86 (pp. 47). Johann Wolfgang Goethe Univ Frankfurt, Frankfurt, GERMANY: ELSEVIER GMBH, URBAN & FISCHER VERLAG. 2007 Hummitzsch, K., Ricken, A., Kloss, D., Erdmann, S., Rothermel, A., Robitzki, A., & Spanel-Borowski, K. (2007). Granulosa cell spheroids provide a better model for luteinization than monolayers. In EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY Vol. 86 (pp. 27). Johann Wolfgang Goethe Univ Frankfurt, Frankfurt, GERMANY: ELSEVIER GMBH, URBAN & FISCHER VERLAG.
Grants and Funding
2020 |
Robinson Research Institute Career Development Fellowship CRE WHiRL Seed Grant and Project Support Robinson Research Institute Building On Ideas Grant |
$100,000 $13,250 $5,000 |
2013 | Cook Medical Travel Award | $5,000 |
2012 |
Robinson Institute Travel Grant SRB Early Career Researcher Registration Subsidy |
$900 $200 |
2011 | Research Centre for Reproductive Health Travel Grant | $500 |
Teaching
2016 |
3007MSC Histology for Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science [accredited by the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists (AIMS) and the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS)], Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland; Lecture "Female Reproductive Tract" and Laboratory Demonstrating "H&E staining and tissue section evaluation" |
2014 | Research Project in Reproductive Health, The University of Adelaide, Lecture "Presenting research results – figures, tables & text" |
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2020 Co-Supervisor Meiotic Drive and Chromosome Segregation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Feng Tang -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2021 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Steroidogenesis, Reactive Oxygen Species and Female Reproduction Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Feng Tang 2019 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Genetic and Fetal Origins of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Rafiatu Azumah 2017 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Studies of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Candidate Genes and the Developing Fetal Ovary Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Menghe Liu 2014 - 2019 Co-Supervisor The Development of Bovine Fetal Ovary and Its Relationship with Reproductive Disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Monica Dwi Hartanti -
Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2014 - 2014 Co-Supervisor Fibrillin 3 and its regulation during fetal ovarian development The University of Adelaide - Honours - Nicole Anne Bastian
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2019 - 2019 Member Organising Committee for New Frontiers for a Healthy Start to Life Conference Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide Australia -
Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2021 - ongoing Member Healthy Development Adelaide Australia 2020 - ongoing Member Reproductive Health Australia Australia 2018 - ongoing Member Faculty of 1000 United Kingdom 2014 - 2015 Member International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease - 2012 - ongoing Member Society of Reproductive Biology - 2009 - 2010 Member Australian Society for Medical Research - -
Editorial Boards
Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country 2015 - ongoing Editor Frontiers in Endocrinology Frontiers Switzerland -
Offices Held
Date Office Name Institution Country 2021 - 2021 Postgraduate Coordinator (AHMS Precinct) The University of Adelaide Australia -
Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice
Date Title Type Institution Country 2022 - ongoing NHMRC Investigator Grant Reviewer Grant Assessment NHMRC Australia 2019 - ongoing Human Reproduction Peer Review N/A - 2019 - ongoing International Journal of Molecular Sciences Peer Review N/A - 2018 - ongoing Animal Reproductive Science Peer Review N/A - 2017 - 2017 Research Project Reviewer for Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences Thesis Review Griffith University - 2017 - ongoing Theriogenology Peer Review N/A - 2017 - ongoing Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces Peer Review N/A - 2017 - ongoing Reproductive Health Peer Review N/A - 2017 - ongoing Frontiers in Endocrinology, Section Genomic Endocrinology Peer Review N/A - 2016 - ongoing American Journal of Physiology – Cell Physiology Peer Review N/A - 2016 - ongoing Endocrinology Peer Review N/A - 2015 - ongoing Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry Peer Review N/A - 2015 - ongoing Cell & Tissue Research Peer Review N/A - 2014 - ongoing BMC Developmental Biology Peer Review N/A - 2014 - 2014 Review of submitted abstracts for 9th International Ruminant Reproduction Symposium, Japan Conference Review N/A - 2014 - ongoing Honours Thesis Reviewer for Paediatrics and Reproductive Health Thesis Review The University of Adelaide - 2014 - ongoing Molecular Human Reproduction Peer Review N/A - 2012 - ongoing Reproduction, Fertility and Development Peer Review N/A - 2010 - ongoing Reproduction Peer Review N/A - 2010 - ongoing Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Peer Review N/A -
Connect With Me
External Profiles