Jones Lab Members
Undergraduate Students
Evelyn Cegielski
BS Student - Microbiolgy
Hometown: Mahtomedi, MN
Project: My current project is testing a new heme-dependent enzyme for viability in a modified psilocybin biosynthesis pathway. The goal of this project is to increase the sustainability of our bacterial psilocybin pathway by starting with less substituted substrate, which could also lead to higher titer biosynthesis of psilocybin derivatives.
Interests: My interests focus on the relationship between gastrointestinal bacteria and patient digestion and related diseases. I’m very excited to develop a greater understanding of bioengineering and how bacteria can be manipulated to assist in treatments! In my free time, I love to go on runs, play lacrosse, and try new gluten-free recipes.
Contact: cegieler@miamioh.edu
Lily Sawyer
BS Student - Psychology; Premedical Studies Co-Major
Hometown: Greenwood, IN
Project: My project revolves around the characterization, optimization, and scaled-up selective biosynthesis of baeocystin, which is enabled by a previously identified PsiM mutant. This work will enable further study into the therapeutic potential of baeocystin by offering a more sustainable and cost-effective production approach.
Interests: I am interested in the science behind mental health disorders and learning more about the research involved in creating possible medical treatments. I am excited to develop new skills and knowledge while working in the Jones Lab. Outside of the lab, I love to hang out with friends, travel, and play pickleball.
Contact: sawyerle@miamioh.edu
Sophia Pyritz
BS Student - Microbiology and Public Health
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Project: I am investigating potential genetic causes for the increased performance of a genomically integrated DMT strain that was created by a former lab member. This strain had two off-target pathway insertions, as well as a few other small mutations, so I am systematically studying different combinations of these pathways and mutations in hopes of figuring out which is responsible for increased DMT production in the original strain. While creating these new strains, I have also been working to find ways to make both the integration and curing processes more efficient.
Interests: I am interested in how DNA and cells can be altered with chemical and bioengineering to make a more effective drug for treating mental health patients. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to
learn about applications of mental health research while also gaining hands-on experience in a lab. In my free time, I enjoy reading, working out, baking, and hanging out with my friends.
Contact:pyritzsk@miamioh.edu
Siena Madsen
BS Student - Chemical Engineering; Energy Co-Major; Minor in Environmental Engineering
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Project: I am working to characterize a new enzyme, which will expand the N-alkylation capabilities of our existing tryptophan- and tryptamine-based biosynthetic pathways by directly generating SAM analogs within the cell. This will allow us to widen the breadth of psychedelic-inspired compounds, both natural and nonnatural, that can be produced using our lab’s bioengineered pathways.
Interests: I am interested in environmental justice in underserved communities. I want to work on applying biochemical engineering to the development of biofuels, allowing for clean water, or working on climate-resistant crops. I am also passionate about community service and am involved with the service fraternity on campus, Alpha Phi Omega. Finally, I have gotten the opportunity to experience giving back through engineering with my involvement in Engineers without Borders.
Contact:madsens2@miamioh.edu
Abby Wilhelm
BS Student - Biomedical Engineering; Premedical Studies Co-Major
Hometown: Chantilly, VA
Project: My current projects revolve around fermentation optimization experiments, working to improve performance of different strain constructs and optimizing conditions for producing norbaeocystin, 5-MeO-DMT, as well as derivatives of psilocybin. The goals of these projects are to characterize these strains and processes more completely to inform future scale up studies in benchtop bioreactors.
Interests: I love learning more about the links between mental and physical health, side effects of pharmaceuticals, and gut health. I enjoy being in a lab environment and learning how to use new equipment. Outside of the lab, I love crocheting, staying active, and exploring new places.
Contact:wilhela6@miamioh.edu
Clare FitzGibbon
BS Student - Biomedical Engineering
Hometown: Newbury Park, CA
Project: My main project focuses on developing chromosomally integrated strains for the production of norbaeocystin and baeocystin using CRISPR Associated Transposases and the recently published ePathIntegrate approach. To do this, we will be varying a series of genetic elements controlling pathway expression and screening for top performing constructs. I am also working on another project which focuses on improving the biosynthesis of 5-MeO-DMT, leveraging recent improvements in the biosynthesis of DMT. In both cases, we aim to scale up our best performing strains in 2L bioreactors to measure their full production potential.
Interests: I am interested in genetics, medicine, and bioengineering of pharmaceutical drugs. One thing that excites me about research is the development of new skills and knowledge! In my free time I enjoy skating on the Varsity Synchronized Skating team here at Miami as well as fashion and listening to music.
Contact:fitzgict@miamioh.edu
Rogue Carruthers
BS Student - Microbiology
Hometown: Hamilton, OH
Project: Starting Spring 2026!
Interests: Outside of academics, I am interested in mycology, TTRPGs, hiking, binging TV shows, and learning random hobbies from YouTube.
Contact: carrutrr@miamioh.edu
Bonny Kirkmeyer
BS Student - Chemical Engineering
Hometown: Liberty Township, OH
Project: Starting Summer 2026!
Interests: I love learning about how to manipulate biological pathways to create improved medicine and pharmaceutical products. I am also super passionate about mental health and advocating for the development of filament for these conditions and struggles. Outside of academics, I love staying active while playing soccer or working out, performing and playing clarinet and saxophone, baking, cooking, and traveling!
Contact:kirkmebk@miamioh.edu
Alumni
Niya Fried - Undergraduate Researcher (2024-2026) Current:
Sean Spezzano - Undergraduate Researcher (2025-2026) Current: Undergraduate Student at Miami University (Oxford, OH)
Chloe Morton - Undergraduate Researcher (2025) Current: Undergraduate Student at Miami University (Oxford, OH)
Abhishek Sen - Research Associate (2020 - 2021, 2025), PhD Student (2021 - 2025) Current:
Audrey Topazian- Undergraduate Researcher (2025) Current: Undergraduate Student at Miami University (Oxford, OH)
Nolan Brown - Undergraduate Researcher (2023 - 2025) Current: Undergraduate Student at Miami University (Oxford, OH)
Zachary Abrahms- Undergraduate Researcher (2022 - 2025) Current: MD-PhD student at Washington University (St. Louis, MO)
Lindsay Pulling - Undergraduate Researcher (2025) Current: Undergraduate Student at Miami University (Oxford, OH)
Felicia Guagliardo - Undergraduate Researcher (2023 - 2024) MS (2024 - 2025) Current: Current: Chemical Engineering PhD Student at University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
Grace Kemmerly- Undergrad. Researcher (2022 - 2024) MS (2024 - 2025) Current: Veterinary Medicine Student at University of Wisconsin (Madison, WI)
Alexa Wiwi - Undergraduate Researcher (2022 - 2025) Current: Chemical Engineering PhD Student at North Carolina State University (Raleigh, NC)
Erin Connors - Undergraduate Researcher (2024 - 2025) Current: Crisis Consultant at Community Health Alliance (Cincinnati, OH)
Charles Ellis - Undergraduate Researcher (2023 - 2025) Current: Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (Spain)
Andy Pennix - Undergraduate Researcher (2023 - 2024) Current: PET Technician at PharmaLogic (Cincinnati, OH)
Anna Wirsch - Undergraduate Researcher (2022 - 2024) Current: Undergraduate Student at Miami University (Oxford, OH)
Bill Gibbons -Research Associate (2020 - 2024) Current: Visiting Assistant Instructor at Miami University (Oxford, OH)
Jens Bartel - Visiting Undergraduate Researcher (2024) Current: Undergraduate Student at Carleton College (Northfield, MN)
Grace Runge - Undergraduate Researcher (2023 - 2024) Current: Neuromonitorist at Evokes (Mason, OH)
Madeleine Keller - Undergraduate Researcher (2021 - 2024) Current: Chemical Engineering PhD Student at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
Asia Flores - Undergrad. Researcher (2021 - 2023) MS(2023-2024) Current:
Mohammad Majdi - Postdoctoral Research Associate (2023-2024) Current: Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Tennessee (Knoxville, TN)
Claire Cashdollar - Undergraduate Researcher (2021 - 2023) Current: Process Engineer at Georgia Pacific
Ainsley Westbrook - Visiting Undergraduate Researcher (2023) Current: Undergraduate Student at Mercer University (Macon, GA)
Teagan Carpenter - Undergraduate Researcher (2021-2023) Current: Medical Student at The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
Zoe Platow - Undergraduate Researcher (2022-2023) Current: Neuroscience PhD Student at University of California - San Francisco (San Francisco, CA)
Maddy McKinney- Undergraduate Researcher (2019-2022) Masters Student (2022-2023) Current: Technical Solutions Engineer at Epic (Madison, WI)
Jessica Flower - Undergraduate Researcher (2020 - 2023) Masters Student (2023-2024) Current: Senior Associate in Process Development at Amgen (Boston, MA)
Brooke Bollinger - Undergraduate Researcher (2020-2023) Current: Strategy Analyst at Deloitte (Cincinnati, OH)
Fiona Kanis - Undergraduate Researcher (2019-2023) Current: Research Technition at University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma City, OK)
Elle Hellwarth - Research Associate (2022-2023) Current: Chemical Engineering PhD Student at the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Phil O’Dell - Undergraduate Researcher (2018-2021) Masters Student (2021-2022) Current: Chemical Engineering PhD Student at the University of Delaware (Newark, DE)
Nicholas Kaplan - Undergraduate Researcher (2017-2021) Masters Student (2021-2022) Current: Chemical Engineering PhD Student at the University of Washington (Seattle, WA)
Ben Powell - Undergraduate Researcher (2020 - 2022) Current: EDP Engineer at Georgia-Pacific (Palatka, FL)
Gabriel Tonucci - Undergraduate Researcher (2020-2022) Current: Research Technition at University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)
Quinn Nguyen - Research Assistant (2022) Current: Chemistry PhD Student at the University of California - Irvine (Irvine, CA)
Lucas Friedberg - Masters Student (2020-2022) Current: Technical Sales Development Program at Ciena (Atlanta, GA)
Lexie Adams - Undergraduate Researcher (2017-2021) Current: Chemical Engineering PhD Student at Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA)
Caroline Broude - Visiting Undergraduate Researcher (2021) Current: Chemistry PhD Student at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Jack Verderber - Undergraduate Researcher (2020 - 2022) Current: Systems Engineer at RoviSys (Aurora, OH)
Alexis Enacopol - Undergraduate Researcher (2017-2020) Current: Senior Validation Engineer at Medline, Inc. (Chicago, IL)
Chantal Monnier - Undergraduate Researcher (2017-2019) Current: Registered Dietitian at Metrocare Services (Dallas, TX)
John Brinton - Masters Student (2017-2019) Current: Supervisor Manufacturing Services at Inventprise LLC
Zhangyue ‘Tom’ Wei - Undergraduate Researcher (2017-2019) Current: Biomedical Engineering PhD Student at TU Eindhoven (Eindhoven, Netherlands)
Jones Lab
Dr. Jones working on the bioreactor
Jones Lab Mentor and Mentee reviewing conclusions
Jones Lab Spring 2021
Jones Lab Spring 2021
AIChE Conference 2021
AIChE Conference 2021
AIChE Conference 2021
AIChE Conference 2021
Undergraduate Poster Competition Awardees
AIChE Conference 2021
Jones Lab Dinner in Boston!
Lexie Adams, Jones Lab alum, presents our psilocybin research at the 2021 AIChe Conference
AIChE Conference 2021
Jones Lab participates in the AIChE Beer Brewing Competition
