Dr Katja Hummitzsch
Research Coordinator
School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science
College of Health
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.
| 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 |
| 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 | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| German | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| 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 |
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Medical Technical Laboratory Assistant | Medical School, Chemnitz | Germany |
| 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. |
| 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" |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 | - |
| Date | Role | Editorial Board Name | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 - ongoing | Editor | Frontiers in Endocrinology | Frontiers | Switzerland |
| Date | Office Name | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2021 | Postgraduate Coordinator (AHMS Precinct) | The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 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 | - |
