In Training

SRI provides an ideal forum for young investigators to present the results of their research endeavors, in both oral and poster format, to a wide audience of peers and established colleagues, it generates an environment where critical but informal feedback is fostered, where collaborative partnerships are made, and where networking and interaction flourishes.

In Training Members are a crucial part of the Society, and during the 2013 Strategic Planning Retreat, it was determined that a stronger emphasis be put on In Training Members. There are many benefits and opportunities for trainees to gain during their time with SRI. We are continuously looking for more ways to involve trainees in Annual Meeting programming, career development opportunities and much more!

In Training Membership Benefits

• Discounted Annual Meeting registration
• Learn from and chat with accomplished senior members about their research interests and contributions to the field during Connection Corners
• Free subscription to SRI's very own research journal, Reproductive Sciences
• Participate in career development opportunities, small group workshops, and virtual educational webinars
• Access to job openings on SRI's internal job board
• Participate in SRI's mentorship program, Mentor-in-a-Cloud, and benefit from a long-term mentor-menteee relationship throughout your education and career
• Apply for SRI grants

Are you a current in-training member with a training end date between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023? If so, you may qualify for a 50% discount when you apply to become a Regular SRI Member! To apply to become a Regular member, please visit our website here to login and fill out the application. Membership dues fees will be reflected in your checkout page at the end of the application. While this will be available each year, for those who have completed training the previous year, the offer is renewable one-time only and will only be in effect until December 1 of any given year. For additional information or questions, please contact the SRI office at info@sri-online.org.

Meet Your In Training Member Committee!

Chair
Michael Strug, DO, PhD
Michigan State University/Spectrum Health

I am currently completing medical residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Spectrum Health/Michigan State University in Grand Rapids, MI. My clinical and research interests lie in understanding endometrial receptivity and uterine repair mechanisms. Particularly, I am interested in studying diseases associated with altered endometrial function, including endometriosis and recurrent pregnancy loss. In conjunction with the goals of the SRI, I aspire to further bridge interactions between the scientific and clinical communities. As a member of the SRI ITMC, I hope to guide in-training members during their pursuit of establishing themselves as investigators in the field of Reproductive Science.

Members:

Past Chair
Jessica Hebert, PhD
Portland State University/Oregon Health & Science University

I am a Postdoctoral Fellow at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR. I received a PhD in Biology and a Certificate of Innovation in College Teaching from Portland State University in 2018. My current research explores the impact of obesity, gestational diabetes, and fetal sex on placental trophoblast respiration, and subsequent novel treatments. I am excited to be co-chairing the ITMC because it is at the crux of my career goals: encouraging scientific careers, networking, and collaborations for our newest investigators! Outside of research, my scientific interests also include science communication to the public and making science-based music, sometimes with the internationally-touring SRI Band The Featles.

Serena Gumusoglu, PhD
University of Iowa

I am currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in Obstetrics and Gynecology, mentored by Dr. Mark Santillan at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in beautiful Iowa City, Iowa. I also completed my PhD training at U Iowa, in neuroscience and embryonic neurodevelopment, in 2020. My current research explores how adverse maternal health in pregnancy, as in preeclampsia or gestational anxiety/depression, alters offspring brain development and increases risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in children. I am thrilled to join the SRI In-Training Committee, and am committed to promoting DEIB, trainee programming and support, and scientific collaboration in this role.

Begum Aydogan Mathyk, MD
University of South Florida

I am currently completing my ObGyn residency training at USF Morsani College of Medicine GME, Brandon Regional Hospital, FL. I have been actively involved in a multitude of projects, including endometrial receptivity, ovarian reserve, PCOS, metabolism, and aerospace medicine, while working with mentors at the University of North Carolina and Tufts Medical Center. As a member of GeneLab’s Multi-Omics Analysis Working Group, my current research focus is on insulin and estrogen signaling during spaceflight in females. I am also an active member of SRI, ASRM, and Women in Aerospace Medicine. I am excited to be a part of ITMC and am looking forward to both national and international collaborations while sharing my passion for interdisciplinary research and innovations.

Brenda F. Narice, MSc, PhD
Sheffield NHS Teaching Hospitals, United Kingdom

I am a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Academic Clinical Lecturer and registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology currently working at the University of Sheffield, UK. After completing a MSc in Clinical Research in 2017, I was awarded a PhD in Obstetrics in 2020 for exploring non-invasive spectroscopic techniques for prediction of preterm birth. My research interests lie on the elucidation of cost-effective cervical remodelling and chorioamnionitis biomarkers which can be used in low-resource settings. I am very excited to join the SRI In Training Member Committee to support fellow members all around the world in pushing the boundaries of our current scientific understanding and improving the care we provide to our communities well in alignment with the SRI mission. In my spare time, I am an active medical translator at the Chartered Institute of Linguists researching language barriers to healthcare and science in diverse and less favoured communities.

Virginia Chu Cheung, PhD
University of California, San Diego

I am currently a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Pathology at the University of California, San Diego. I received my PhD from Northwestern University with Dr. John A. Kessler as my thesis advisor. For my thesis, I used pluripotent stem cells  and 3-dimensional organoid models to student stromal-epithelial signaling in the human endometrium. Currently, I am working with Dr. Mana M. Parast to understand the role of decidual natural killer (dNK) cells in pregnancy complications such as preterm birth using induced pluripotent stem cells. As an in-training member, I really value the opportunities for basic and clinical science to interface and career development provided by SRI so I am delighted to be able to support these programs as a part of the SRI In-Training Committee.

Victoria Jiang, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital

Jessica Garcia de Paredes, MD
Spectrum Health/Michigan State University

Andrea Joseph
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States