Alumni Spotlight on Tahlia Smith, MS

Tahlia Smith is a graduate of the MS-RSM program, class of 2024. She completed the non-thesis track and conducted research with Dr. Hoi Chang Lee. She is currently a Junior Embryologist at the Institute for Human Reproduction.

Mentor: Hoi Chang Lee, PhD

Project title: "Sperm Safes" 

What is your connection to the CRS community (mentor and position) and what is your current position? 

I was in the MS-RSM program on the non-thesis track and worked with Dr. Lee and the Duncan lab on the Sperm Safe project. 

Could you describe your current research/studies? 

Currently, I am a Junior Embryologist at the Institute for Human Reproduction. I am not doing any research at the time but would like to get back into research at some point! 

What aspect(s) of CRS did you find most valuable?  

I really enjoyed Dr. Monahan's classes (male and female reproductive endocrinology and physiology) because they provided me with a solid background to do my job as closely to what occurs during fertilization/implantation in vivo. They also helped to understand why timing of clinical treatments and lab protocols are so important.

What has been the most valuable aspect to your training as a reproductive scientist in CRS? 

I will forever value learning to handle gametes on the micromanipulator. I use one everyday at work and having a less intimidating place (and not using patient samples) to learn and make mistakes on was helpful. 

What would you recommend to junior scientists in order for them succeed in their scientific careers?​  

Keep learning! Even after graduating, I still think like a student. I am constantly asking questions and looking things up that I’m interested in. Just because you aren’t in a class anymore doesn’t mean you can’t continue studying. It also helps keep you up to date in a field that is constantly growing and changing. 

What do you think will be the next big contribution in the reproductive biology field?  

I recently learned of the Oosight Camera from Hamilton Thorne. It helps detect spindles and chromosomes in the oocyte so embryologists can avoid them when injecting sperm during ICSI. Currently, it just takes a still picture to use as a reference and then you move to the microscope with your sample. But if they can find a way to link it to the microscope and get a live feed during ICSI, it could be extremely beneficial to IVF labs. 

Do you have any notable stories from your time in CRS? 

My first day using the Piezo drill! I thought it was the coolest thing to get to say I drilled a hole in a single cell.