Great science requires a great team.
Blair W. Benham-Pyle, PhD
Principal Investigator
Blair completed her PhD at Stanford University with W. James Nelson and Beth Pruitt, studying how cell-cell adhesions translate mechanical force into cell behavior. She then moved to the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, where she complete her postdoctoral work with Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado studying mechanisms by which post-mitotic cells regulate regeneration, scaling, and behavior. She joined Baylor College of Medicine as an Assistant Professor in 2022.
Science Joys: Beautiful data communication, fluorescent cells through microscopes, story-telling
Non-Science Joys: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Volleyball, Meditation, Dinner Parties with Friends
Amit Dubey, PhD
Postdoctoral Associate
Amit is passionate and curious about stem cell research and is always ready to accept new challenges. As a master's student, he worked on Embryonic and Mesenchymal Stem Cells. After his master’s he developed skills in Human placenta-derived stem cells, their development in a hypoxic environment, and the function of Rab11, an Intracellular protein in drosophila intestinal stem cell differentiation. For his Ph.D. at the University of Sherbrooke, he worked with mouse Intestinal stem cells and used intestinal organoid models to decipher early aging and stem cell differentiation upon deletion of p53.
During his Postdoc Amit will explore the molecular mechanisms of aging and regenerative capacity in Planarian stem cells.
In his spare time, Amit enjoys writing poetry, reading, and cooking. He also loves to travel, get close to nature, and go on adventures when he gets a chance.
Jake Chamblee
Graduate Student, Genetics & Genomics
NSF Graduate Research Fellow 2024 - 2027
Jake completed his B.S. in Genetics at Texas A&M University while studying bacteriophage and their lysis systems in the Ry Young lab. After graduation, he helped develop phage-based antimicrobials at a biotech company in Baltimore, Maryland. He eventually returned to Ry Young’s lab and the Center for Phage Technology, where he identified and characterized the proteins used by transposable bacteriophage Mu to explosively lyse its host cells. He then enrolled in BCM’s Genetics & Genomics graduate program and joined the Benham-Pyle lab in Spring 2023. He loves learning fundamental biology from unusual and bizarre organisms, which made planarian flatworms and the Benham-Pyle lab a natural fit. His non-scientific interests include indoor and outdoor rock climbing, programming, heavy metal, and trying new foods.
Osvaldo Kevin Moreno
Graduate Student, Genetics & Genomics
Hello! My name is Osvaldo Kevin Moreno, but I like to go by Kevin. I am originally from Santa Maria, CA. I went to the University of California, Santa Barbara, for my undergraduate degree and San Francisco State University for my master’s degree. My master’s thesis involved elucidating the molecular mechanism by which Kaposi’s associated herpesvirus regulates metabolic and apoptotic pathways. Specifically, I focused on the role of a viral GPCR (vGPCR) in modulating cell survival. My main interests revolve around aging and stem cell biology. In the Benham-Pyle lab, my project involves determining if and how Transient Regeneration Activated Cell States (TRACS) reprogram planarian stem cells to promote potency and anti-aging. Outside the lab, I enjoy pickleball, video games, anime, and the gun range.
Andrea Rauschmayer
Graduate Student, Genetics & Genomics
Andrea completed her B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Washington. During this time she studied the role of the polarity protein Crumbs in tube formation and elongation using Drosophila melanogaster dorsal appendage formation as a model. Following graduation, Andrea enrolled in the Genetics & Genomics program at BCM and joined the Benham-Pyle Lab in 2024. Her project explores the neural circuits underlying planarians' ability to detect and process internal and external cues and couple them to fissioning behavior. Outside of the lab, Andrea enjoys reading and writing (especially sci-fi and fantasy), cooking, and exploring Houston.
Asia Drenon
Research Technician
Asia completed her B.S in Biology at Grambling State University and is currently in the process of pursuing an MSc. in Medical Laboratory Science. Asia enjoys exploring and learning complex laboratory techniques and contributing to the advancement of stem cell research. She is excited to work with planarian flatworms, with a special interest in how they can produce regenerative effects in the human body. During her leisure time, Asia enjoys hand lettering and calligraphy, swimming, and playing beach volleyball with family and friends.
Hannah Ashraf
Undergraduate Researcher
Hannah is a sophomore at Rice University majoring in Integrative Biology with a minor in Spanish. She first started research by working under Dr. Kayla Goliwas at the University of Alabama at Birmingham on the effect of checkpoint inhibition on modulating the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. She is excited to explore planarian flatworms and learn about their stem cells. Some of her non-scientific interests include reading, cooking with friends, walking, and watching movies.
Jasmine Xiong
Undergraduate Researcher
Jasmine is in the class of 2024 at Rice University. She is in the process of getting B.S. degree in Physics and Biosciences. She worked in Jacob T. Robinson’s lab at Biosciences Research Collaborative at Rice and investigated the host-microbe interaction of cnidarian hydra. Jasmine is especially interested in interdisciplinary research that combines physics, ecology, neurosciences, and cellular biology. In her free time, Jasmine enjoys birding, playing pool, reading sci-fi and collecting souvenir spoons.
We are hiring!
We have open positions for graduate students and postdocs to explore a wide range of projects. Projects will use methods from genomics, fluorescence microscopy, and molecular biology to explore mechanisms that regulate stem cell biology, regeneration, and cancer prevention in planaria.
If you are interested, check out the ‘Joining the Lab’ page or reach out to Blair via e-mail/Twitter.
Benham-Pyle Lab Alumni
Patricia Ngantcha, Research Technician, Next Step: Year 1 DDS Student at Dalhousie University
Valentina Morakis, Research Technician, Next Step: Year 1 MD Student at UT Southwestern
Juan Davila, Research Technician, Next Step: More clinical and/or patient-facing technical role
Jayden Robinson, HGSC/GREAT Summer Scholar, B.S. Sam Houston State