Tessa Lord

Dr. Tessa Lord is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Environmental and Life Sciences at the University of Newcastle (UON), specializing in reproductive biology with a focus on spermatogenesis and spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) biology. She leads a research program established at UON in 2019, following postdoctoral training at Washington State University (2016-2018) under Prof. Jon Oatley and a PhD under Prof. John Aitken at UON. Her work addresses SSC maintenance, hypoxia signaling in testis function, and applications in fertility restoration and wildlife conservation.

Education:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biotechnology, University of Newcastle (2015)
• Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours), University of Newcastle (2011)
• Bachelor of Biotechnology, University of Newcastle (2011)

Research Interests:

Dr. Lord’s research explores the microenvironment of SSCs, particularly hypoxic niches, and their role in fertility restoration post-chemotherapy. Key areas include:

• SSC in vitro culture and conservation for endangered species (e.g., koala, echidna)
• Hypoxia’s role in spermatogenesis and pathological conditions (e.g., sleep apnea)
• Molecular networks regulating SSC self-renewal and differentiation

Awards & Recognition:

• 2024 SSR Rising Star in Reproductive Biology
• 2020 Women in STEMM ECR PhD Scholarship
• 2013 SRB Oozoa Award for Best Student Presentation

Grants & Funding:

Secured over $4M in funding, including:

• NHMRC Ideas Grant ($666,978, 2025–2028) for male germline regeneration
• ARC DECRA Fellowship ($408,802, 2022–2024) for wildlife SSC banking

Labs & Teams:

Her lab is part of the PRC for Reproductive Sciences, collaborating with experts in stem cell biology, andrology, and wildlife conservation to advance SSC technologies for human and animal health.