Latest CRBH Retreat Activities & Photos

The first annual CRBH retreat, held this May at the Stone Valley Lodge provided an opportunity for the newly-assembled faculty and graduate students of the Center for Reproductve Biology and Health to learn about their colleague’s goals and projects in a casual environment away from the time and logistical constraints of a workday meeting. Participating lab groups arrived at eight in the morning to muffins and coffee, followed by several sessions in which principal investigators presented themselves and their work in a data-free format focusing on major questions, goals, and investigative techniques. Graduate students were then placed in round table discussions with their fellow students and post-docs, which they then presented to the faculty members as a group. The retreat keynote speaker, Dr. Peter Hansen, a noted Animal Science professor from the University of Florida, then talked to the group about his research on the evolution of the epitheliochorial placenta, and applications of this in terms of early-stage bovine embryonic development.

Following the discussion-oriented morning, participants were given an opportunity to compete in reproduction-themed team building activities; a particular favorite involved the participant wearing a sperm-hat and racing competitors to an oocyte. A subsequent happy hour, barbeque dinner, and campfire provided unstructured time for informal networking, relaxation, and fun. The retreat finished the next morning with the remaining principal investigators presenting themselves and their work, as well as a brief overview of highlights of the retreat and suggestions for next year. Overall the retreat successfully brought together the various members of the CRBH in an informal environment, allowing everyone to become acquainted more casually and hopefully fueling future collaboration and communication between graduate students and investigators within the center.

Photos from the retreat: