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June 6-8, 2024 at the С����Ƶ, Woods Hole, MA USA

The FIR Symposium is an annual two-day program serving as the culminating event of our 6-week training course. Held at the С����Ƶ in Woods Hole, the Symposium features lectures from leading figures in reproductive sciences with presentations on current research topics from course students and FIR alumni representing previous classes. Each Symposium creates a new mix of students, alumni, faculty, and distinguished speakers, enabling world-class networking opportunities with leading figures in the field and among our trainees across class years. The Symposium provides a rich atmosphere combining focused reports on scientific inquiry with the camaraderie of the shared FIR experience. Over the years, numerous collaborations have emerged from these FIR gatherings; the Symposium has become known among FIRbees as “Everybody’s Favorite Meeting.”

This is our 25^th Anniversary year! We will welcome the class of 2024 to their first FIR Symposium while celebrating reunions for FIR2019 (5^th anniversary) and FIR2014 (10^th anniversary). We will also be welcoming the prestigious guests and speakers listed below. The program opens on Thursday evening June 6 with the Mastroianni Memorial Lecture and culminates with our awards banquet on Saturday night, June 8. Travelers should plan to arrive no later than 5pm June 6 and depart on Sunday morning June 9.

FIRbees and FIR teaching assistants will be considered for presentations via abstract submission. Topics relevant to any area of reproduction reflecting current research are encouraged. The Selection Committee will grant priority to abstracts from the 2019 & 2014 FIR classes, although all FIRbees doing outstanding science, presenting new research topics, first-time presenters, and/or those who have not presented at a recent Symposium will be considered.

Due to funding limitations this year and 25^th Anniversary programming, FIR will provide full support (travel funding, lodging, and meals) for a limited number of alumni to attend the Symposium. Regardless, we do encourage everyone hoping to attend to submit abstracts. Please consider other funding sources, as you may be asked to cover all or part of your expenses. We aim to get as many of you as possible back together in Woods Hole for dynamic scientific exchange (and a bunch of FIRbee fun.) If you or your lab can contribute financial support, we ask you to please pursue it. As a reference point, costs to FIR for three nights at the hotel and your meals (not including the boat trip) are about $900.

Instructions for submitting your 1-page abstract are available here: The deadline is MAY 1, 2024

ATTENTION 2019, 2015 and 2016! Due to the coronavirus pandemic, FIR was cancelled in 2020 and 20121. This means the 2015 and 2016 FIRbees never had their fifth reunions. We invite your classes to be the featured FIRbees at the Symposiums in both 2025 and 2026. Because of limited alumni spaces in this year’s 25^th Anniversary program, we will also include 2019 as a priority reunion class in 2025 and 2026.

2024 FIR Symposium Awards

Luigi Mastroianni Memorial Lecturer

Cofounder and Emeritus Research Director 
Laboratory of Cell Biology, Marine Station of Villefranche-sur-mer
Université Pierre et Marie Curie, France

Mike McClure Pioneer Award

Professor Emerita
Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences
Queens University, Canada

Jerry Strauss Beacon Award

Professor Emeritus
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Jerry Strauss Beacon Award

Research Assistant
Institute for Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering
Michigan State University

Rolly Simpson Distinguished Alumni Award

Thomas J. Watkins Memorial Professor of Reproductive Science
Associate Professor of 
Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University