Dr John Schjenken is a Reproductive Biologist with primary research interests focused on expanding our understanding of male factors that contribute to infertility and the development of disorders of pregnancy. Dr Schjenken's research has utilized multiomic approaches, combining transcriptomics, proteomics and bioinformatics to expand knowledge on male and female reproductive physiology. They have led key projects which have identified and characterized paternal and maternal factors that exert influence on the conception environment and facilitate reproductive success. Evolving from productive collaborations with his mentors, Prof Brett Nixon (University of Newcastle, Australia) and Prof Sarah Robertson (University of Adelaide, Australia), they now leads their own independent research program based at the Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, where they collaborate extensively with their mentorship team. This program is focused on defining key events at conception, with particular emphasis on investigating the composition and function of the male ejaculate (seminal fluid) which has substantial influence on reproductive success.