Dr Immler is an Associate Professor at the University of East Anglia, UK. She studies the evolution of gamete production from a genetic and epigenetic standpoint. Her group focuses on the evolution of ploidy and sexually dimorphic traits using comparative studies in zebrafish, Atlantic salmon, worms and yeasts.

Dr. Jovine is a Professor at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden. He studies the extracellular matrix of mammalian oocytes to gain insight into the molecular basis of fertilization. His lab uses structural and molecular biology to understand how egg and sperm cells interact.

Dr. Bachtrog is an Associate Professor at University of California Berkley, USA. Her research focuses on the functional consequences of sex chromosomes evolution. Her group uses a combination of functional genomics and microscopy techniques to characterize the diversification of sex chromosomes during speciation.

Dr. Extavour is a Professor at Harvard University, USA and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. Her research is centered on the evolution of germ cell specification and development. Her group uses a combination of developmental biology and genetics in insects. She is a leading reference in the field of comparative biology of animal germ cells.

Dr. Turner is a senior group leader at the Francis Crick Institute, UK. His research focuses on the impact of mammalian sex chromosomes on fertility. The Turner lab uses comparative molecular genetics, both in vivo and in vitro, to study the epigenetic regulation of germ cells and the consequences of sex chromosome aneuploidy.

Dr. Stukenborg’s research is focused on establishing in vivo and in vitro germ cell differentiation systems. Through the use of complementary approaches in different organisms and cell culture platforms, he his developing new fertility preservation options for children with gonadal dysfunction.

Dr. Wagner is a Professor at Yale University, USA. He studies the evolution of complex traits and cell types, most notably the evolution of endometrial stromal cells in eutherians. The Wagner lab uses comparative approaches in developmental biology and genomics to understand the origin and evolution of pregnancy and how new cell types emerge.

Dr. Lummaa is a Professor at the University of Turku, Finland. She studies the effects of the modern environment on human life history. Her group employs a multidisciplinary approach based on longitudinal demographic datasets to address how changes in lifespan and reproductive strategy have shaped human evolution.

Dr. Otto’s research aims to understand the fundamental aspects of evolution and their effect on reproduction. Her work is grounded on a multidisciplinary approach at the intersection between mathematical theory, statistical inference, and evolutionary experiments.

Dr. Bettencourt-Dias studies centrosome regulation in development and human disease. In her work, key aspects of oocyte and sperm cell differentiation are tackled under an evolutionarily-oriented perspective.

Dr. Molaro studies the evolution of germline chromatin pathways. He focuses on epigenetic evolutionary conflicts that shape reproduction, development and speciation.

Dr. Navarro-Costa studies germ cell development from a cross-species perspective. His work is particularly focused on harnessing such knowledge to improve the genetic diagnosis of human infertility.