Del Rio-tsonis
Laboratory
Katia Del Rio-Tsonis, Ph.D.
Professor in the Department of Biology at Miami University
EDUCATION
BS: Cell Biology and Biochemistry, University
of California San Diego
​
PhD: Developmental Biology, Tissue Regeneration, National University of Mexico
-
BIO 361W: Patterns in Development
-
BIO 449-549W: Biology of Cancer
-
BIO 491: Senior Seminar
-
BIO 710: Graduate Seminar in Development and Regeneration
teaching
Senior and post-doctoral scientists
Erika Esquivel
Research Associate,
Lab Manager
Investigates the role of complement proteins during retina regeneration.
Modeling epigenetic modifications during
RPE reprograming
Raúl Perez-Estrada
Research Scientist
Investigates the role of complement proteins during retina regeneration.
Modeling epigenetic modifications during
RPE reprograming
Graduate student researchers
Karla Garcia
Aidan Goodwin
Stacy Bendezu
Stacy is an international scholar from Perú, she received her BSc. in Genetics and Biotechnology from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Perú), and her current focus in data science is Transcriptomics.
In addition to regenerative biology, outside of the lab, she enjoys travel and taking wildlife photography. She plans on pursuing further graduate studies in regeneration and wants to meet an axolotl in person!​
unGRADUATE RESEARCHERS
Lehua Hoops
Lehua is currently focusing on lens regeneration in the newt, specifically the Ephrins pathway that is one of the key contributors to lens regeneration.
Major: Biology, Pre-Medical Studies
Awards:
-
Hughes Scholars Summer Research (2025)
-
Undergraduate Research Award (2026)
Jade Ghanayem
Katie Cameron
Jack
Peyton Morrow
​Peyton focuses on the lens and retina regeneration in the newt, the developmental timeline of embryonic newt eye structures, and the role of metabolism in newt eye regeneration.
Major: Biology, Pre-Medical Studies
Awards:
-
Provost's Student Academic Achievement Award (2026)
Anela Hoops
Anela is focusing on the E4 chicken embryo development and the timely effects of FGF growth in chickens. She plans to switch to lens growth in the newts this summer.
Major: Zoology, Pre-health studies
Awards:
-
Hughes Scholars Summer Research (2026)
Bridgett Kelly
Sophia Arbona
Sophia focuses on retina regeneration in the chicken.
Major: Biology
Alumni Researchers
Katie Shuckmann
Major: Biology, Psychology, Pre-Medical Studies
Awards:
-
Deans Scholars Award (2023)
-
Undergraduate Research Award (2023)
-
MIAMI Women Giving Circle Grant (2022)
Sofia Rebull
Major: Biology, Pre-Medical Studies, Chinese and Medical Sociology Minor
Awards:
-
Doctoral Undergraduate Scholarship Opportunity (DUOS) (2022)
-
Society for Developmental Biology "Choose Development" Fellow (2023)
-
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Grant (2023)
-
Miami University Career Center Internship Grant (2023)
-
Miami Family Fund Grant (2023)
-
Miami University Biology Department “William A. Browne IV Research Award” (2023)
-
Poster Presentation Award- ABRCMS Conference (2023)
Joey Trapp
Major: Biology, Pre-Medical Studies
Awards:
-
Doctoral Undergraduate Opportunity Study (DUOS), (2023)
Tracy Haynes
Research Associate,
Teaching Professor
Courses Taught
Principles of Human Physiology (BIO 161)
Human Physiology (BIO 305)
Cell Biology (BIO 203)
Biotechnology in the 21st Century (BIO 101)
Carlos Mario Charris Dominguez
Lake Ernst
​Major: Biology, Pre-Medical Studies
Awards:
-
Provost's Student Academic Achievement Award (2023)
-
Deans Scholars Award (2023)
-
Undergraduate Research Award (2023)
-
Beckman Scholars Program (2022)
Abby Green
Major: Chemistry, Biology, Pre-Medical Studies
Awards:
-
C.O.L.O.R. Retreat Travel Scholarship (2023)
-
Deans Scholars Award (2023)
-
Undergraduate Research Award (2023)
-
Sharon Janosik Mitchell Undergraduate Research Scholarship (2022)
Caroline Kennelly
Awards:
-
Hughes Scholars Summer Research (2024)
-
Deans Scholars Award (2024)
-
Undergraduate Research Award (2025)
Jared Tangeman
Jared recently received in Ph.D studying ocular development & disease. Using the embryonic chicken, newt, and axolotl, he studies the epigenetic landscape governing the formation of ocular tissues, and how this landscape behaves in response to injury. Jared serves as the president of SACNAS at Miami University. Jared looks forward to pursuing his career at Johns Hopkins University this upcoming year.
Jared Tangeman
Jared recently received in Ph.D studying ocular development & disease. Using the embryonic chicken, newt, and axolotl, he studies the epigenetic landscape governing the formation of ocular tissues, and how this landscape behaves in response to injury. Jared serves as the president of SACNAS at Miami University. Jared looks forward to pursuing his career at Johns Hopkins University this upcoming year.
Sophie Ratvasky
Sophie is now employed at Kelly Services as a Research assistant at Johnson & Johnson MedTech Surgery.
