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
Senior Research Scientist,
Lab Manager
Erika's research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive retina regeneration in the chick and Spanish newt models. Her work investigates the mechanisms underlying RPE reprogramming through gene expression changes, genetic and epigenetic switches, and signaling pathways that regulate the regeneration process. Using single cell multiome profiling, she combines in vivo approaches to perturb transcription factor effectors involved in RPE reprogramming, with the goal of uncovering the key regulatory mechanisms that control RPE specifications and its regenerative potential.
Raúl Perez-Estrada, PhD
Research Scientist
Raúl studies the role of the YAP/TAZ pathway in regulating RPE neurocompetence in the chicken embryo. He is also interested in understanding how the BMP's and Ephrin-Eph signaling pathways control lens regeneration in the Spanish newt. Lately, his research also focuses on understanding how metabolism regulates, or serves as a permissive factor in the development and regeneration of the eye.
Awards:
-
Travel award to attend the Inaugural meeting of the International Society for Regenerative Biology, Vienna, Austria
-
KTEF 2025 Career Starter Grant
Graduate student researchers
Karla Garcia
Karla is a 2nd year PhD student studying Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology. Karla is studying dorsal-ventral specific transcription factors, TBX5 and VAX2 to alter the D-V axis in lens regeneration using the Spanish newt.
Awards, Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships: • Created official Society of Developmental Biology merch line inspired by award winning painting from the 2025, 84th annual meeting in PR, Nov 2025 • Won Best Graduate Question at the Mid-West SDB Regional Meeting in Cincinnati, Sept 2025 • 1st Place in the Scientific Art show at the 84th Annual Meeting for the Society of Developmental Biology, Puerto Rico, July 2025 • Cum Laude Graduate and Dean’s List Aug 2025 • 3rd place in a poster presentation at the 83rd Annual Meeting for the Society of Developmental Biology, July 2024 • 1st and 3rd place (presented twice on different projects) in a poster presentation at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Works Conference (URCWC) at Nevada State University, April 2024 • 1st place in a poster presentation at the Southwest Regional Meeting for the Society of Developmental Biology at University of Anschutz, Colorado, March 2024 • Choose Development! Fellowship, Society of Developmental Biology, July 2023 • McNair Scholarship, Jan 2024 • MARCOS Scholarship, May 2022 • Dean’s List Dec 2021-Aug 2024 • Mount Scorpion Scholarship, Aug 2021 • Honors Graduate, Aug 2021 • President’s List, Aug 2021 • Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Aug 2018 • Federal Pell Grant, Aug 2018 • Ronald McDonald House Charities Grater (RMCH) Scholarship, Aug 2018 • College of Southern Nevada Access Award, Aug 2018 • Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship (GGMS), Aug 2018
Aidan Goodwin
Aidan is a 2nd-year PhD student who is currently investigating how epigenetic modifications affect RPE reprogramming in the chick embryo.
Awards: • OMV-Sfn Neuroscience Day Best Graduate Student Poster Award Amount: $100 • CMSB Symposium Best Poster Presentation Award Amount: $100 • GSA Travel Fund Award Amount: $200.00 Submitted: Summer 2026 Active: Summer 2026 • Debonte Travel Fund Award Amount: $1000 Submitted: Spring 2026 Active: Summer 2026 • Dean’s Travel Fund Scholarship Amount: $700 Submitted: Spring 2026 Active: Summer 2026 • SDB Trainee Travel Assistance Award Amount: $300 Submitted: Summer 2026 Active: Summer 2026
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
Jade is working on how FGF signaling pathways influence cellular reprogramming in the regeneration of the embryonic chick eye.
Major: Biology, Pre-Medical Studies
Minor: Neuroscience
Awards:
-
Dean's Scholar (2025)
-
Undergraduate Research Award (2026)
Katie Cameron
Katie is working under Karla Garcia studying lens regeneration in the Spanish newt.
Major: Microbiology
Awards:
-
Hughes Scholars Summer Research (2026)
Jack
Jack is currently working under Aidan Goodwin to investigate how epigenetic modifications affect RPE reprogramming in the chick embryo.
Major: Biology, Pre-Medical Studies
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)
_JPG.jpg)
Bridgett Kelly
Bridgett is working on characterizing retina regeneration in the Spanish newt using immunofluorescence and HCR-FISH, including HCR probe design and protocol optimization.
Major: Biology, Psychology, Pre-Medical Studies, and Neuroscience
Awards:
-
Undergraduate Research Award (2025)
Sophia Arbona
Sophia is currently working on lens regeneration in the Iberian Ribbed Newt and retina regeneration in the chick.
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
Carlos obtained a masters in Cell, Molecular, and Structural Biology from Miami. His research focused on retina regeneration in the chick embryo. Carlos is continuing to explore his options after graduation.
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.
