2025 FIR Schedule

Download Section 1 Schedule

Time

Faculty

Activity

Sunday, April 27

6PM

Dan Bernard, McGill University

Introduction to FIR

Djurdjica Coss, UC Riverside

Introduction to Section 1

Monday, April 28

9AM

Dan Bernard,McGill University

Lecture: Overview of the HPG axis

11AM

Dan Bernard,McGill University

Lab: Transcription

7PM

Djurdjica Coss, UC Riverside

Lecture: Signal transduction in the HPG axis

Tuesday, April 29

9AM

Ursula Kaiser, BWH

Lecture: GnRH and kisspeptin neurons

11AM

Dan Bernard,McGill University

Lab: Transcription

7PM

Dan Bernard,McGill University

Lecture: Activins and Inhibins

Wednesday, April 30

9AM

Richard Piet, Kent State

Lecture: GnRH / Kisspeptin neurons electrophys Circadian rhythms and ovulation

11AM

Dan Bernard,McGill University

Lab: Transcription

7PM

Richard Auchus,University of Michigan

Lecture: Steroidogenesis and mass spectrometry

Thursday, May 1

9AM

Dan Bernard,McGill University

Pituitary / gonadotrope / GnRH action

11AM

Dan Bernard,McGill University
Chris, Zeiss or Louise, Leica

Lab: RNA scope
Microscopy Workshop (during incubation)?

7PM

Dan Bernard,McGill University and Djurdjica Coss, UC Riverside
Trainees

Chalk talk examples
4 Practice talks

Friday, May 2

9AM

Dan Dumesic,UCLA

Lecture: PCOS

11AM

Dan Bernard,McGill University

Lab (may continue after 9 PM): RNA scope

7PM

FIRbees

Lab wrap-up: Preparation

Saturday, May 3

9AM

FIRbees

Lab wrap-up: Presentations for week 1 labs

Sunday, May 4

Free day

Monday, May 5

9AM

Ravi Balasubramanian,Mass General

Lecture: Genetics of human puberty

11AM

Djurdjica Coss,UC Riverside

Lab (may continue after 9 PM): Pituitary primary cell cultures and ELISA

7PM

Stephanie Pangas,Baylor

Lecture: Follicle Development

Tuesday, May 6

9AM

Djurdjica Coss,UC Riverside

Lecture: Metabolic control of reproduction

11AM

Djurdjica Coss,UC Riverside

Lab (may continue after 9 PM): Pituitary primary cell cultures and ELISA

7PM

Carolyn Cummins,University of Toronto

Nuclear receptor signaling and epigenetics

Wednesday, May 7

9AM

Steve Hammes,U Rochester

Lecture: Androgen action in the ovary

11AM

Djurdjica Coss,UC Riverside

Lab: Pituitary primary cell cultures and ELISA

3PM

Stephanie Pangas,Baylor

Lab: (may continue after 9 PM) Granulosa cells cultures and Western Blot

7PM

Steve Hammes,U Rochester

Lecture: Reproduction case conference

Thursday, May 8

9AM

Stephanie Page,U of Washington

Lecture: FSH, Sertoli, and male contraception

11AM

Stephanie Pangas,Baylor

Lab: (may continue after 9 PM) Granulosa cells cultures and Western Blot

7PM

Raj Kumar,University of Colorado

Lecture: LH action and mouse models

Friday, May 9

9AM

Trainees

Chalk research talks

11AM

Stephanie Pangas,Baylor

Lab: (may continue after 9 PM) Granulosa cells cultures and Western Blot

7PM

FIRbees

Lab wrap-up preparation

Saturday, May 10

9AM

FIRbees

Lab wrap-up: Presentations for week 2 Labs

Download Section 2 Schedule

Time

Faculty

Activity

Sunday, May 11

7PM

Karen Schindler,Rutgers University

Intro to Section 2 and FIRbee chalk talks

Monday, May 12

9AM

Yosi Aizen,Ruppin Acad. Center,Northwestern University

Lecture: Gonadotropins in fish, reptiles and crustaceans

11AM

Brian Hermann,University of Texas, San Antonio

GROUP 1: Testes- Single cell RNA sequencing

11AM

Mariano Buffone,IBYME, CONICET

GROUP 2: Sperm capacitation & cryopreservation

7PM

Brian Hermann,University of Texas, San Antonio

Lecture: Stem cells, spermatogenesis and male fertility

Tuesday, May 13

9AM

Elizabeth Snyder,Rutgers University

Lecture: Spermiogenesis

11AM

Brian Hermann,University of Texas, San Antonio

GROUP 2: Testes- Single cell RNA sequencing

11AM

Mariano Buffone,IBYME, CONICET

GROUP 1: Sperm capacitation & cryopreservation

7PM

Brian Hermann,University of Texas, San Antonio

Dry Lab: Seurat Analysis of single cell RNA sequencing

Wednesday, May 14

9AM

Yosi Aizen,Ruppin Acad. Center

GROUP 1: Zebrafish IVF

9AM

Karen Schindler,Rutgers University

GROUP 2: Mouth pipetting clinic/Writing workshop part 1

1PM

Mariano Buffone,IBYME, CONICET

Lecture: Sperm Capacitation: Signaling pathways that lead to fusion of sperm and egg

7PM

Elizabeth Snyder,Rutgers University

Dry Lab: Testes histology

Thursday, May 15

9AM

Yosi Aizen,Ruppin Acad. Center

GROUP 2: Zebrafish IVF

9AM

Karen Schindler,Rutgers University

GROUP 1: Mouth pipetting clinic

11AM

Laurinda Jaffe,UConn Health Center

GROUP1: Marine animal fertilization

11AM

Shuo Xiao,Rutgers University
Lisa Mehlmann,UConn Health Center

GORUP 2: Follicular culture and follicle injection

7PM

Shuo Xiao,Rutgers University

Lecture: Folliculogenesis and ovarian toxicology

Friday, May 16

9AM

Laurinda Jaffe,UConn Health Center

Lecture: Regulation of meiotic arrest and meiosis resumption by the ovarian follicle

11AM

Laurinda Jaffe,UConn Health Center

GROUP 2: Marine animal fertilization

11AM

Shuo Xiao,Rutgers University
Lisa Mehlmann,UConn Health Center

GROUP 1: Follicular culture and follicle injection

7PM

Karen Schindler,Rutgers University
Linda Rice,UConn Health Center

Writing workshop part 2

Saturday, May 17

Free Day

Sunday, May 18

7PM

Francesca Cole,University of TX, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Lecture: Prophase I and meiotic recombination

Monday, May 19

9AM

Karen Schindler,Rutgers University

Lecture: Oocyte maturation and aneuploidy

11AM

Francesca Cole,University of TX, MD Anderson Cancer Center

GROUP 1: Vertebrate meiotic prophase

11AM

Karen Schindler,Rutgers University

GROUP 2: Vertebrate oocyte maturation

7PM

Rafael Fissore,UMass Amherst

Lecture: Ca2+ homeostasis and its role in fertilization and egg activation

Tuesday, May 20

9AM

Amber Krachunas,University of Delaware

Lecture: Fertilization in C. elegans

11AM

Francesca Cole,University of TX, MD Anderson Cancer Center

GROUP 2: Vertebrate meiotic prophase

11AM

Karen Schindler,Rutgers University

GROUP 1: Vertebrate oocyte maturation

7PM

Paula Stein,NIEHS

Lecture: Mammalian EGA/cleavage stage embryo development

Wednesday, May 21

9AM

Greg FitzHarris,University of Montreal

Lecture: Imaging and preimplantation embryogenesis

11AM

Amber Krachunas,University of Delaware
Aimee Jaramillo-Lambert,University of Delaware

GROUPS 1 and 2: Lab Intro and picking 101

1:30PM

Amber Krachunas,University of Delaware
Aimee Jaramillo-Lambert,University of Delaware

GROUP 1: Worm sperm activation GROUP 2: Worm meiosis

7PM

Free time

Thursday, May 22

9AM

Amy Ralston,Michigan State University

Lecture: Preimplantation embryo development and CRISPR

11AM

Paula Stein,NIEHS

GROUP 1:ICSI

11AM

Carmen Williams,NIEHS

GROUP 2: Mouse IVF

7PM

Carmen Williams,NIEHS

Lecture: Environmental impacts on the female reproductive tract and embryos

Friday, May 23

9AM

Paulo Rinaudo,UCSF

Lecture: Female infertility/Assisted reproductive technologies

11AM

Paula Stein,NIEHS

Group 2: ICSI

11AM

Carmen Williams,NIEHS

GROUP 1: Mouse IVF

7PM

Karen Schindler,Rutgers University
Paulo Rinaudo,UCSF

Bioethics

Saturday, May 24

Free Day

Download Section 3 Schedule

Time

Faculty

Activity

Sunday, May 25

7PM

Margaret Petroff,Michigan State University

Introduction to Section 3

Monday, May 26

9AM

Miranda Bernhardt,Washington State University

Lecture: Genetic Engineering Approaches in Reproductive Biology

1PM

Miranda Bernhardt,Washington State University

Lab: Embryo Transfer and Gene Editing

7PM

Indrani Bagchi,University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign

Lecture: Implantation/Decidualization

Tuesday, May 27

9AM

Margaret Petroff, Michigan State University
Lisa Vrooman, Oregon Health & Science University

Lab: Placenta staining

10:30AM

Myriam Hemberger,University of Calgary

Lecture: Mouse Placenta via Zoom

1:30PM

Margaret Petroff,Michigan State University
Lisa Vrooman,Oregon Health & Science University

Lab: Placenta Dissection; and Ectoplacental Cone Dissection and Culture
Finish placenta staining

4:30PM

Miranda Bernhardt,Washington State University

Lab Wrap-up: Embryo Transfer and ES cell injection

7PM

Lynda Harris,University of Nebraska

Lecture: Human Placenta and Pregnancy Complications

Wednesday, May 28

9AM

Tom Spencer,University of Missouri

Lecture: Implantation and placentation of domestic animals

1PM

Tom Spencer,University of Missouri

Lab:Placentation in domestic animals

3:30PM

Students

Practice Presentations
Data Collection: stained placentas & EPC cultures

7PM

Margaret Petroff,Michigan State University

Lecture: Reproductive Immunology

Thursday, May 29

9AM

Carolyn Coyne,Duke University

Lecture: Placenta/Infection/organoids

1PM

Margaret Petroff,Michigan State University

Lab: Flow Cytometry

4:30PM

Margaret Petroff,Michigan State University
LisaVrooman,Oregon Health and Science University

Placenta Lab Wrap-up
Data Collection: EPC cultures

7PM

Lisa Vrooman,Oregon Health & Science University

Lecture: Fetal Programming of Long-Term Health Outcomes

Friday, May 30

9AM

Joan Jorgensen,University of Wisconsin

Lecture: Sex Determination and the Battle of the Sexes: Gonadal Cells “Duke it Out”

1PM

Joan Jorgensen,University of Wisconsin

Lab:Isolation and Identification of Germ Cells from Embryonic Mouse Gonads – 1

7PM

Soo Hyun Ahn,Michigan State University

Workshop: Flow Cytometry Analysis
Students analyze flow data

Saturday, May 31

9AM

Joan Jorgensen,University of Wisconsin

Lab: Isolation and Identification of Germ Cells from Embryonic Mouse Gonads – 2

1PM

Hanne Hoffmann,Michigan State University

Lab: Setup for Circadian Rhythms

Free Evening

Sunday, June 1

Free Day

Monday, June 2

9AM

Clémence Belleannée,Laval University

Lecture:Intercellular cross-talks in the epididymis

1PM

Clémence Belleannée,Laval University

Lab: Wolffian & Müllerian duct development

7PM

Richard Behringer,University of Texas, MD, Anderson Cancer Center

Reproductive Tract Development

Tuesday, June 3

9AM

Mariana Wolfner,Cornell University

Lecture: Gametogenesis in Drosophila

11AM

Mariana Wolfner,Cornell University

Lab Demo: Fly Reproduction

1PM

Mariana Wolfner,Cornell University

Lab: Fly Reproduction

5PM

Clémence Belleannée,Laval University

Lab Wrap-up

7PM

Erika Matunis,Johns Hopkins University

Lecture:Stem Cells in Drosophila Testis

Wednesday, June 4

9AM

Hanne Hoffmann,Michigan State University

Lecture: Circadian Rhythms

1PM

Hanne Hoffmann,Michigan State University

Lab: Circadian Rhythms

7PM

Sam Mesiano,Case Western Reserve University

Lecture: Parturition

Thursday, June 5

9AM

Students

Preparation time for lab wrap-up

1PM

Margaret Petroff, Michigan State University

Section 3 wrap-up

6PM

Luigi Mastroianna Memorial Lecture

Friday, June 6

FIR Symposium

Saturday, June 7

FIR Symposium