ABSTRACT The Training Program at the Interface of Reproductive Sciences and Bioengineering will unite two long-standing areas of research excellence on the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign campus—reproductive biology and engineering - to train predoctoral students to conduct innovative and high-quality research at the forefront of reproductive biology. This unique educational program will blend techniques from biological sciences and engineering to provide training in research areas that align with the mission of NICHD, and includes studies of germ cell development/meiosis, hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian function, spermatogenesis & fertilization, embryo-uterine crosstalk & pregnancy, and placentation & preterm birth. Engineering principles that present exciting opportunities to transform research in reproductive sciences are studies involving novel three- dimensional cell culture in natural or synthetic matrices and assembly of organoids to better understand the function and interaction of cells in reproductive tissues, mechanobiology to better understand the relationships between the microstructure, mechanical properties and function of the reproductive tissues, and innovations in diagnostic methods such as advanced imaging and biosensors to assess placental development and function during pregnancy. Twenty-four faculty members from 14 departments or interdisciplinary research institutes across 4 colleges will serve as preceptors for the Training Program, making this a truly interdisciplinary program. Participating faculty are well-funded and clearly have the necessary research support to provide current and future trainees excellent training opportunities. There are 50 federally funded research grants totaling over 8.6 million dollars/year in direct costs, and 5 grants from other sources totaling over half million dollars/year in direct costs among the 24 preceptors of this proposal. Trainees will be drawn from exceptionally strong graduate programs across