Stephanie Nichols-Burns, PhD, MS, HCLD

Stephanie M. Nichols-Burns, PhD, joined Yale Fertility Center in 2017. She is an Associate Research Scientist and the IVF Laboratory Director of Research. She obtained her BS in Biology from The College of William and Mary, an MS in Marine Science from Moss Landing Marine Laboratories studying shark reproduction and early development, and her PhD at the University of New Orleans under one of the pioneers of human IVF. Her doctoral studies investigated aging effects on oocyte quality and reproductive senescence in a non-human primate model (macaques). After spending several years at the Caribbean Primate Research Center Reproductive Biology Program in Puerto Rico, she relocated overseas and investigated ovarian tissue cryopreservation in Erlangen, Germany with the first group in Germany to produce a live birth following reimplantation of cryopreserved ovarian tissue into a cancer survivor. Following these research experiences, she made a natural transition into clinical IVF where she has been able to apply her gained knowledge to helping patients achieve their dreams of parenthood.

Dr. Nichols-Burns is an active member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), Society of Reproductive Biologists and Technologists (SRBT), and New York Metropolitan Embryologist Society (NYMES). She is a member of the SART Executive Council as Chair of the Validation Committee. She is also a member of the SART Education Committee and Chair of the SRBT Education Committee. In addition, she participates in collaborative research, serves as a reviewer for multiple journals, and has published several original, peer-reviewed research articles.