Long before Erik Strait helped labs across the country ensure embryo safety, he answered a Craigslist ad. After moving back to Colorado from Seattle in 2008, he sought a new opportunity and applied for a temporary role at Vitrolife, where he assisted with mouse colony collections. "I didn't even know this field existed," he said. But the experience stuck. After a few years at CCRM, Erik returned to Vitrolife and has been there ever since.
His current role? "Essentially, I oversee the mouse embryo assay (MEA) lab, direct research projects, publish as much as we can, and support clinics when they need troubleshooting, whether it's pH concerns, media issues, or quality control," he said.
A Personal Twist
Erik's connection to fertility science isn't just professional. A few years ago, he got a message on 23andMe from someone claiming to be his half-sister. That message unraveled the biggest surprise of his life: he was conceived via assisted reproduction.
His parents had never told him. "They always knew they should have, but IVF and IUI were considered taboo back then. It wasn't something people discussed." Erik learned that his father had an inverted chromosome, which had made natural conception difficult. With that understanding, he discovered not only how he came to be, but also that he had four half-siblings through the same process.
"That makes me appreciate this work even more. None of us would be here without it."
"Without this field, I wouldn't be here. And now that I know my parents' full story, I understand their choices."
Bottled Brilliance for Life’s Most Delicate Journey
An unbroken chain of quality, crafted to nurture every stage of embryo development.
In the IVF lab, there is no room for compromise. That’s why Vitrolife media is built on a foundation of scientific precision, safety, and consistency:
MEA-tested media — every batch tested to exceed industry standards to ensure embryo viability
OVOIL & OVOIL HEAVY — engineered for consistency and stability you can rely on
G-MOPS™ buffer — trusted for proven performance during critical handling steps
Gx Media & EmbryoGlue™ — clinically proven solutions that strengthen embryo development and support successful implantation
With Vitrolife media, you gain more than products — you gain a partner committed to protecting embryos and supporting your lab with peace of mind, every step of the way.
Embryologists “Can’t Crumble Under Stress”
Vitrolife consistently strives to exceed industry standards. According to Erik, that's intentional. "The required testing is a 96-hour blastocyst rate, but we do 78-hour testing and perform cell counts on every embryo. That gives us data that no one else is gathering, especially not at our scale."
His lab plays a critical role in ensuring safety, and Erik is clear about his priorities. "If something is wrong, I'd rather delay a product than risk any issue. We don't rush. We make sure everything is safe."
The philosophy extends to his leadership style. "I try to stay active in the lab and never ask someone to do something I wouldn't. We've also worked hard to improve work-life balance, which is tough in this field."
When asked what it takes to do his job well, Erik is honest. "You have to balance a lot. Your team, your workload, expectations, and you can't crumble under stress."
Today’s Most Important Lab Innovation
Asked about the most important lab innovation today, Erik points to time-lapse imaging. "We can observe morphokinetics without removing a dish from the incubator. That matters in research, but it also matters clinically."
He doesn't see it as a competitor to genetic testing, but rather a complement. "Let's say you have two genetically normal embryos. Time-lapse can help determine which one is dividing in the ideal pattern. It helps the decision-making process."
Vitrolife's role in developing the EmbryoScope Plus was a highlight for him. "We tested early versions in-house before it became what it is today. Seeing that come together after so much collaboration was amazing."
Giving Back to the Environment
Even in his downtime, Erik is biology-minded. He runs a reptile breeding business, working with genetic traits to develop new color variations. He also has a popular YouTube channel dedicated to electric vehicles and sustainable living.
"We have solar, Powerwalls, and three electric cars. No electric bill, no gas. It's my way of giving back to the environment."
His passion for learning extends into the evenings. "I have a custom RSS feed that pulls IVF-related articles by keyword. That's my nightly reading."
Unsung, But Essential
Erik is also involved in mentoring students at Colorado State University's Master's in ART program, and frequently hires from ART-focused training schools.
"There's more opportunity to enter this field now. I started from the bottom, but some programs provide a great foundation for people. If someone's serious about becoming an embryologist, that's where I'd send them."
"If we say something's bad, it's bad. We don't compromise safety — not ever."
Erik’s team may not get patient thank-you cards or appear in baby photo galleries, but their work is foundational to every embryo transfer.
"I try to stay humble. Without my team, nothing happens. We have to operate as one unit. We don't always get the direct feedback that others in this field do, but we're part of every success. I think of it as ‘quiet impact.’"
Whether it's through time-lapse tech, cell-counting assays, or ethical safety standards, Erik Strait is committed to the idea that behind every embryo, there's a layer of quality the patient never sees, but always benefits from.
Bottled Brilliance for Life’s Most Delicate Journey
An unbroken chain of quality, crafted to nurture every stage of embryo development.
In the IVF lab, there is no room for compromise. That’s why Vitrolife media is built on a foundation of scientific precision, safety, and consistency:
MEA-tested media — every batch tested to exceed industry standards to ensure embryo viability
OVOIL & OVOIL HEAVY — engineered for consistency and stability you can rely on
G-MOPS™ buffer — trusted for proven performance during critical handling steps
Gx Media & EmbryoGlue™ — clinically proven solutions that strengthen embryo development and support successful implantation
With Vitrolife media, you gain more than products — you gain a partner committed to protecting embryos and supporting your lab with peace of mind, every step of the way.
The advertiser does not have full editorial control over the content of this article. As a brought-to-you-by sponsor of IRH In Scope, the advertiser only has editorial control over what is mentioned about their company. Inside Reproductive Health maintains full editorial independence over the remainder of the article. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
