Amander Clark grew up on a sheep farm in Australia, so perhaps it was not surprising that she studied biology. But who could have predicted that she would become a pioneer in the new field of stem cell research? Clark came to UCLA in 2006 as an assistant professor. She was one of the first recruits to join the new Broad Stem Cell Research Center. While her lab does basic science — unraveling the mysteries of egg and sperm cell development on the molecular level — Clark’s focus has always been on healthy babies and parents. She explores the causes of human infertility and birth defects, and potential treatments for both. Her work has been cited by other scientists more than 800 times, extending her influence on the field of reproductive biology far beyond the campus.