Dr. Elizabeth Bromfield (Liz) recently completed an ARC DECRA Fellowship at The University of Melbourne, where she leads the Reproductive Homeostasis Lab within The Bio21 Institute.

Dr Bromfield completed her PhD in Reproductive Science in 2015 at The University of Newcastle, Australia with Professor Brett Nixon and Laureate Professor John Aitken. Her early work focused on understanding how molecular chaperones coordinate human sperm-egg recognition processes and how they are compromised by oxidative cellular damage in cases of male infertility.
Dr Bromfield then completed an NHMRC CJ Martin Fellowship at Utrecht University, The Netherlands (2019-2021) with Associate Professor Bart Gadella where she trained in lipidomics and membrane biochemistry.

After returning to Australia her research team has been working towards:
– Making new connections between reproductive and somatic health to improve early detection of diseases;
– Designing strategies to enhance germ cell defences against environmental stress
– Investigating human sperm ‘capacitation kinases’ as new targets for sperm-based non-hormonal contraceptives

Dr Bromfield’s research group uses lipidomic and proteomic strategies to understand how germ cells become susceptible to oxidative damage during their development, as well as transgenic mouse models and human clinical samples to study lipid and protein dysregulation occurring due to aging and oxidative stress.

Dr Bromfield is passionate about improving the working environment for graduate researchers by creating a dialogue around ‘failure’ in science and addressing systemic issues impacting student mental health such as financial strain and issues with academic workplace culture.