FIR - Frontiers in Reproduction at MBL



OVERVIEW


	Introduction
	A Typical FIR Day
	Admissions
	Tuition & Financial Assistance
	Outcomes
	Awards
	Sponsors

RESOURCES


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Frontiers in Reproduction (FIR) is a laboratory and lecture course designed for scientists in training who are interested in improving their basic conceptual knowledge and methodological skills to pursue a research career in Reproductive Sciences.

The FIR course was started in 1998 under the direction of Joan Hunt (The University of Kansas Medical Center), Kelly Mayo (Northwestern University) and Jerry Schatten (The University of Pittsburgh). The founding directors were succeeded by Asgi Fazleabas (The University of Illinois at Chicago), Pat Hunt (Washington State University) and Teresa Woodruff (Northwestern University). David Albertini (The University of Kansa Medica Center), Mario Ascoli (The University of Iowa), and Franco De Mayo (Baylor College of Medicine) served as the third generation of course directors.

FIR is divided into three major sections of 2 weeks duration. Each section consists of lectures from resident faculty and other invited speakers, discussions and informal seminars, laboratory exercises, demonstrations and one-on-one tutorials. The first section is currently directed by Leslie Heckert (The University of Kansas Medical Center) and covers signal transduction and gene expression in Reproductive Endocrinology. The second section is directed by Ann Sutherland (The University of Virginia) and it covers transgenic technology, cell-cell interactions in reproductive tissues during development as well as Embryology and Implantation Biology. The third section, directed by Harvey Florman (University of Massachusetts Medical School), is focused on gametogenesis, fertilization, cloning and stem cells.

If you wish to see more details about these sections, follow the Sections link on the left to see the course schedule. Past course schedules and attendee lists can be found by following the Archives link to the left.

FIR is held during the summer in the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) in Woods Hole, MA. The MBL has a rich tradition and history of training experimental biologists. FIR is limited to 20 participants/year, but the lectures and labs are taught by 30-40 leading investigators in the different areas of Reproductive Biology. Visiting faculty stay for only one day or two to give lectures whereas resident faculty stay for up to two weeks. The resident faculty also give lectures and, with the aid of teaching assistants, lead laboratory exercises that last all day and often into the evening hours. Altogether the ratio of faculty and teaching assistants to participants is about 4 to 1. These unique characteristics of FIR and the MBL provide an informal and relaxed setting to complement an intense lecture and laboratory schedule.

The current directors, faculty, and teaching assistants of FIR are committed to the continued success of the course. Bookmark this web site and visit us frequently because this site will change during the next weeks and months. As plans become final this web site will contain links to protocols and other information for FIR09 (May 3-June 13, 2009) and for the FIR09 symposium (June 12 and 13, 2009).

Questions that you may have about FIR09 can be sent directly to the current course directors or the course coordinator at fircoordinator@gmail.com. For application information, please click here. Applications are due January 9, 2009.

FIR is supported by major grants from the NICHD and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Substantial financial aid is available to admitted applicants regardless of nationality. Scholarships are awarded based on need, and may cover the majority of course and travel costs.

Lead Director: Mario Ascoli, The University of Iowa, mario-ascoli@uiowa.edu
Section 1 Director: Leslie Heckert, University of Kansas Medical Center, lheckert@kumc.edu
Section 2 Director: Ann Sutherland, The University of Virginia, as9n@virginia.edu
Section 3 Director: Harvey Florman, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Harvey.Florman@umassmed.edu