She is a Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Research Professor and Leader of the Cells & Tissue Domain within the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, and Head of the Cell & Molecular Biosciences Discipline within the QUT Faculty of Science & Technology.

Since the award of her PhD in Biochemistry in 1994 she has developed a significant record of innovative and quality scientific research that has yielded more then $15 million in research funding from both competitive grant schemes and industry; more than 70 peer reviewed scientific publications; the establishment of new, innovative, interdisciplinary, collaborative research projects; 9 patent applications; the receipt of many awards including the 2010 ASBMB Beckman Coulter Discovery Award, the 2009 Women in Technology Biotech Outstanding Achievement Award, and the 2004 Queensland Smart State – Smart Women Award; and the establishment and listing of a biotechnology company, Tissue Therapies Ltd, on the ASX.

Most recently Professor Upton led the successful bid for $28 million of Australian Government funding to establish the Wound Management Innovation Cooperative Research Centre.