Mission
The mission of the Reproductive Clinical Science - Embryology & Andrology (Ph.D.) program and the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine is to provide excellent graduate education in the preparation of individuals who will direct and manage reproductive laboratories and/or conduct independent research.
Goals
The graduates of the Reproductive Clinical Science - Embryology & Andrology (Ph.D.) program will:
- Establish a focused knowledge base and competencies using evidence-based practices in the reproductive clinical sciences: gamete biology, reproductive medicine techniques (insemination, fertilization, and transfer), semen analysis, embryo development, and gamete/embryo cryopreservation.
- Command interdisciplinary scientific knowledge and skills including comparative reproductive anatomy and physiology, developmental biology, toxicology and infertility, molecular biology, advanced statistics, and experimental design.
- Be able to apply scientific methodology to independently investigate complex research problems that meet the ever-changing demands of assisted reproductive medicine.
- Command interdisciplinary scientific knowledge and skills related to comparative reproductive anatomy and physiology, developmental biology, toxicology and infertility, molecular biology, advanced statistics, and experimental design.
- Have gained various competencies for leading an interprofessional clinical team which prepares them for the challenges of directing and managing a laboratory.
Objectives
- Evaluate advances in molecular biology, comparative reproductive anatomy and physiology, developmental biology, and laboratory management as they apply to the clinical reproductive sciences.
- Direct and manage all aspects of clinical reproductive sciences laboratories: in vitro fertilization (IVF), andrology, endocrinology, and gamete cryobanking laboratories.
- Critically evaluate and interpret the current literature as well as federal regulations.
- Develop and implement laboratory processes and procedures to ensure clinical lab best practices, outcomes, and compliance.
- Establish and maintain protocol records and data for practice performance quality control and continuous quality improvement as well as for laboratory inspection and accreditation with state and federal regulatory agencies.
- Design, implement, and evaluate laboratory research and practice improvement projects through the development of a dissertation research project.
- Create educational and training procedures for clinical staff, physicians, and laboratory technicians regarding current methods of assisted reproductive laboratory technologies.
- As a member of an interprofessional clinical team, evaluate ethical and legal aspects of assisted reproductive technology; design procedures and protocols to address clinic- and patient-related concerns - privacy, safety, and proper legal guidelines.
