Dr. Sofia Ortega, Assistant Professor of Reproductive Physiology in the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, has been named the recipient of the 2026 International Embryo Technology Society (IETS) Foundation Early Career Achievement Award (Scientist). The award recognizes early-career scientists for independent and impactful contributions to the advancement of embryo transfer and associated reproductive technologies. The award was presented during the IETS Annual Conference, held January 16–21, 2026, in Panama City, Panama.
Dr. Ortega’s research program focuses on the physiological, genetic, and molecular mechanisms that regulate early embryonic development and pregnancy establishment in cattle. By integrating multi-omics approaches with in vitro and in vivo embryo models, her work has advanced understanding of both maternal and paternal determinants of embryo competence, placental development, and pregnancy success. Her long-term goal is to improve reproductive efficiency and fertility prediction in cattle while generating translational insights relevant to human assisted reproduction.
Originally from Honduras, Dr. Ortega earned her B.S. in Agricultural Sciences from Zamorano University, an M.S. in Animal Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and a Ph.D. in Animal Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Florida. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Missouri before joining UW–Madison in 2022. The IETS is an international professional society of approximately 800 members from more than 80 countries, bringing together scientists, researchers, and practitioners working in embryo transfer, in vitro fertilization, and emerging reproductive technologies.
