Annual FIR Symposium

June 5-7, 2025 at the MBL, 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 MBL 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.”

Calling all 2015 & 2016 FIRbees: This year, as we welcome the class of 2025 to their first FIR Symposium, we will also celebrate belated reunions for FIR2015 and FIR2016, whose 5th year symposiums were cancelled due to COVID-19 (we’ll repeat this arrangement again at the 2026 Symposium for these 2 classes). We are happy to host FIRbees from other years if we have space, so if you have new data and a great presentation, let us know! The 2025 Symposium will also feature prestigious guests and speakers listed below. The program opens on Thursday evening, June 5, with the Mastroianni Memorial Lecture and culminates with our awards banquet on Saturday night, June 7. Travelers should plan to arrive no later than 5pm June 5, and depart on Sunday morning, June 8.

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. As mentioned, the Selection Committee will grant priority to abstracts from the 2015 & 2016 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.

Our funding has changed, so FIR will provide full support (travel funding, lodging, and meals) to a limited number of alumni to attend the Symposium. Regardless, we encourage everyone hoping to attend to submit abstracts. Please consider looking for other funding sources, as we request those of you who are able to cover all or part of your expenses. We work hard to stretch our funding with the 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 $1,000.

Instructions for FIRbees who wish to submit a 1-page abstract are available here: The deadline is April 1, 2024

2025 FIR Symposium Awards

Learn more about the Annual FIR Awards here.

Luigi Mastroianni Memorial Lecturer

Founder of the Oncofertility Consortium, MSU Research Foundation Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology and Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University

Mike McClure Pioneer Award

Emeritus Professor of Developmental Biology within Biological Sciences at the University of Southampton, UK

Jerry Strauss Beacon Award

Professor, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst