Reproductive Science (Cluster)
Reproductive science and medicine encompasses endocrinology, gonad development, gametogenesis and embryogenesis, and reproductive tract biology. Research in these areas informs fertility and infertility, contraception, infectious diseases, pregnancy, fetal origins of adult disease, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, aging, and reproductive pathologies. In addition, reproductive science has broad general health consequences because gonadal hormones regulate downstream organ systems.
The Reproductive Science and Medicine (RSM) Cluster is supported by the Center for Reproductive Science (CRS), a well-revered and long-standing part of Northwestern University that has kept the RSM community visible, viable, and valuable since 1974. CRS is comprised of faculty and trainees across 20 departmental disciplines who bring unique and diverse perspectives to reproductive science and medicine. CRS member research interests include fertility and infertility, diseases of the female reproductive tract, gonadal development, germ cell biology, reproductive aging, fertility preservation, development and metabolism, epigenetics, neuroendocrinology, circadian rhythms, ovarian and testis function, prostate biology, infectious diseases, placental biology, reproduction and society, and bioethics.
Students who join the Reproductive Science and Medicine (RSM) Cluster and CRS benefit from the center’s rich infrastructure and comprehensive series of regularly scheduled programming and events, awards, scholarships, and professional development resources.
Become a Reproductive Science and Medicine Cluster Member now!
Funding Opportunities
This cluster has opportunities to receive training funding in the form of T32 training grant support, research merit awards, and travel funding.
- Predoctoral Training Program in Reproductive Science, Medicine, and Technology
- Pre-doctoral cluster students who are entering their 2nd or 3rd year of graduate studies in one of the following graduate programs (DGP, IBiS, Chemistry, BME, MSTP, NUIN) can receive up to 2 years of support that covers, tuition and stipend, unique collaborative training opportunities, professional development, and travel.
- Center for Reproductive Science Awards
- Research merit awards are presented to trainees with the best oral and poster presentations at CRS sponsored symposia. Additionally, students traveling to present their research at scientific meetings can apply to receive travel funds through CRS which are awarded twice a year.
- Constance Campbell Memorial Research Awards: The Constance Campbell Memorial Fund supports oral and poster research awards are granted at our annual Reproductive Science and Medicine Summit to the top trainee presentations.
- Constance Campbell Memorial Travel Awards: The Constance Campbell Memorial Fund supports travel awards which trainees allows for trainees to travel to professional scientific meetings to present their research to the broader scientific community.
- Research merit awards are presented to trainees with the best oral and poster presentations at CRS sponsored symposia. Additionally, students traveling to present their research at scientific meetings can apply to receive travel funds through CRS which are awarded twice a year.
Training Opportunities
- Reproductive Research Updates: A weekly a forum in which CRS members present their research to Northwestern scientists across the Evanston and Chicago campuses.
- Translational Lectures in Reproductive Science: A seminar series that takes place quarterly with lectures by luminaries in the field of reproductive science and medicine.
- Career Catalysts: A monthly seminar series that provides trainees with a mix of professional development workshops, discussions on career paths, networking, and outreach activities with the goal of preparing students for success.
- The Reproductive Science and Medicine Summit: Our annual CRS symposia that showcases the reproductive research conducted at Northwestern and surrounding Chicago area institutions. This is a trainee led event with distinguished internal and external speakers and trainee oral and poster presentations.
- Upper Midwest Summit for Reproductive Science (UMSRS): An annual regional summit that convenes trainees, junior and senior faculty, and other research staff and scientists from institutions across the Upper Midwest region (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, and Wisconsin) to foster the exchange of scientific information and facilitate training and career development opportunities and networking.
Professional Development
- Teaching Assistantships: CRS offers cluster trainees the opportunity to develop their teaching skills by supporting TAs for our RSM course offerings. These TA-ships can fulfill PhD graduate program requirements or for compensation.
- Sub-committee Engagement: CRS has three leadership subcommittees (Community Engagement, Programming and Events, and Diversity.) to enhance our community's ability to leverage its resources to make a greater impact and ensure that we continue doing good science and science for good.
Who to Contact
Please contact Pamela Monahan, PhD, the CRS Director of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, or the Program Directors, listed below, with questions about the RSM Cluster. For more information on CRS and our programming you can explore the Center for Reproductive Science website, Planit-Purple, or email the CRS Program Coordinator.
- Julie Kim, PhD, Susy Y. Hung Research Professor, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, co-Director, Center for Reproductive Science
- Francesca Duncan, PhD, Thomas J. Watkins Memorial Professor of Reproductive Science, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, co-Director, Center for Reproductive Science
Although this cluster does not require specific coursework, we offer courses focused on human reproductive health that RSM cluster members are encouraged to take. CRS’s graduate courses offer a broad range of study in human reproductive health from didactic foundational courses to advanced topics and professional training. Courses are led by bench and clinical science educators and are designed to provide a broad range of study in human reproductive development and health from foundational courses to advanced topics and professional training.
Foundational Courses
REPR_SCI 405: Reproductive Physiology & Endocrinology Foundations (Fall)
REPR_SCI 407: Reproductive Physiology & Endocrinology in Society (Fall)
REPR_SCI 440: Reproductive Technologies Laboratory (Fall)
Advanced Topic Courses
REPR_SCI 406: Emerging Research in Reproductive Science & Medicine (Winter)
REPR_SCI 415: Medical Management of Fertility (Winter)
REPR_SCI 420: Human Reproductive Health & Disease (Spring)
REPR_SCI 430: Translational Topics in Fertility Preservation & Oncofertility (Spring)
Professional Training Courses
REPR_SCI 425: Responsible Conduct of Research in Reproductive Science (Fall)
REPR_SCI 455: Science Communication in Reproductive Science and Medicine (Winter)
REPR_SCI 497: Assessment & Career Planning (Spring)
Visit the CRS Graduate Coursework website to learn more about these classes.
For more information on class registration contact Pamela Monahan, PhD, CRS Director of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs (pamela-monahan@northwestern.edu).