Mary Straughan BS is a junior embryologist in the Baton Rouge IVF lab

Mary Straughan BS graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in December 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Integrative Biology. She joined Ovation Fertility, lab partner of Fertility Answers, in early 2023 as an IVF lab assistant and was promoted to Junior Embryologist in 2024. Ms. Straughan currently works primarily in the Baton Rouge IVF lab.

As a junior embryologist, Mary Straughan BS is responsible for oocyte retrievals, denuding oocytes, intracytoplasmic sperm injection fertilization (ICSI), embryo biopsy, vitrification/thawing of embryos and frozen embryo transfers. Along with weekly, monthly and daily quality control and preparing sperm when needed, Mary Straughan BS is currently training for oocyte vitrification (freezing) and thawing.

Mary Straughan BS knew she wanted to take the path of embryology as her career career choice when she was shadowing an embryologist as a college student. “I was deeply fascinated with the process of human development at a microscopic level and the rewarding experience of witnessing the beginning of life.” 

When Ms. Straughan is not in the IVF lab, she can often be found running, riding horses and going on long bike rides.