Meet Dr. Eric Rhon-Calderon
Written by Dr. Camilo Pena-Bello (SSR Community and Engagement Committee) in honor of the National Hispanic Heritage Month
The National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15 in the United States to recognize the contributions and influence of Latinx to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Dr. Camilo Pena-Bello, a member of the Community and Engagement Committee, conducted an interview with Dr. Eric Rhon-Calderon. He is a Research Associate in the laboratory of Marisa Bartolomei, within the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, USA.
- What is your current position, and what does it entail?
Currently, I am a Research Associate in the laboratory of Marisa Bartolomei within the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Pennsylvania. I am currently in the academic job market seeking a tenure track assistant professor position where I can establish an independent research program focused on reproductive and molecular biology, placental physiology, epigenetics, and developmental origins of health and disease.
My current position involves both experimental and scholarly responsibilities, including the design and execution of research projects, manuscript preparation, grant writing, and mentoring. In addition to my research activities, I play an active mentoring role within the laboratory, regularly training and supervising undergraduate students, graduate students, and incoming postdoctoral fellows.
- Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you from? What first attracted you to reproductive biology research? And how did you get to be in your current position?
I am originally from Quito, Ecuador, where I was born and raised until the age of 18. I then moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to pursue my undergraduate and graduate education. At the University of Buenos Aires School of Medicine, I earned a degree in Biology followed by a PhD in Reproductive Toxicology.
My interest in environmental exposures and reproductive health is deeply personal. Growing up, my mother developed ovarian cancer associated with chronic arsenic exposure through contaminated drinking water. This experience motivated me to better understand how environmental factors impact reproductive health and disease. During graduate school, I joined a laboratory focused on reproductive endocrinology and toxicology, where I developed a strong passion for reproductive biology and gained extensive training in both female and male reproductive systems.
During the final year of my PhD, I was accepted into the prestigious Marine Biological Laboratory Frontiers in Reproduction course. There, I had the opportunity to learn from internationally recognized leaders in reproductive biology and receive hands-on training in cutting-edge reproductive technologies, including in vitro fertilization (IVF). It was during this course that I met my current mentor, Marisa Bartolomei; I later reached out to her regarding postdoctoral opportunities and was accepted into her laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania.
Over the past six years in the Bartolomei laboratory, I have focused on understanding how IVF and environmental exposures affect fetal and placental development through epigenetic and molecular mechanisms. This work has greatly expanded my expertise in placental physiology, developmental epigenetics, and developmental origins of health and disease. During this time, I have published three first-author papers and contributed to multiple collaborative studies with colleagues within and outside the laboratory.
- What is the focus of your research?
Currently, my research program encompasses multiple interconnected areas focused on understanding how early-life environmental and clinical exposures disrupt reproductive and metabolic health across lifespan. First and foremost, I am interested in defining the mechanisms by which early environmental exposures induce adverse outcomes in the reproductive system, particularly those that accelerate aging processes. Using a mouse model of in vitro fertilization (IVF), I have demonstrated that IVF-conceived females develop features consistent with premature ovarian failure and accelerated reproductive aging. My goal is to identify the molecular, epigenetic, and cellular pathways disrupted during early development that predispose individuals to premature reproductive dysfunction later in life.
Second, I am interested in understanding how alterations in the maternal environment impact reproductive health, placental function, and systemic aging, particularly when maternal physiology is compromised by environmental exposures or assisted reproductive technologies. In this area, my work focuses on how maternal and placental dysregulation shape fetal development and long-term offspring outcomes. I am especially interested in the communication between maternal, placental, and fetal systems, including how disruptions in placental signaling, vascular remodeling, immune responses, and epigenetic programming contribute to adverse developmental trajectories. Ultimately, I hope this work will lead to the identification of mitigation strategies and improved interventions that can reduce the long-term health risks associated with adverse prenatal environments.
Third, I am interested in understanding how dysregulation of the mTOR signaling pathway contributes to placental dysfunction, reproductive abnormalities, and metabolic disease across generations. Because mTOR is a central regulator of cellular growth, nutrient sensing, metabolism, and aging, I believe alterations in this pathway may represent a key mechanistic link between early developmental perturbations and adult disease susceptibility. My current work aims to determine how disrupted mTOR signaling alters placental development and reproductive tissues, and whether these changes can be transmitted to subsequent generations through epigenetic and developmental reprogramming. Together, these research directions seek to uncover how early-life insults shape reproductive and systemic health, with the long-term goal of developing strategies to improve fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and healthy aging.
- How important has your involvement in scientific societies been to the development of your career?
Since my undergraduate years, I have been actively involved in scientific societies and professional organizations. During my graduate training, I was fortunate to receive several travel awards that allowed me to attend international scientific meetings. These opportunities gave me the chance to interact directly with outstanding scientists in the fields of reproductive biology, toxicology, and developmental biology, learn firsthand about their research programs, and, most importantly, hear about their personal career journeys and experiences in academia. Through scientific societies, I found not only mentors and collaborators, but also a supportive community that helped me navigate both professional and personal challenges associated with a career in science.
- What are you most excited about doing this year?
During these years of uncertainty which have affected many scientists across all career stages, I have remained motivated by optimism and by the opportunity to ensure a tenure track assistant professor position this year. Achieving this goal would represent the culmination of years of sacrifice, perseverance, and hard work since leaving Ecuador to pursue my scientific training abroad.
As I advance in my career, I believe it is important to expand into new scientific communities, attend conferences outside of my immediate field, and broaden my professional network. These opportunities will not only increase my scientific visibility, but also expose me to new ideas, technologies, and collaborations that will ultimately help me become a stronger and more innovative scientist.
- Are there ways in which you think your heritage has affected your perspective or career trajectory?
Yes, I believe my heritage has significantly shaped both my perspective and my career trajectory, in both positive and challenging ways. Moving from Ecuador to Argentina at a young age immediately placed me in the position of being perceived as “different” and, in many situations, as an outsider. As an Ecuadorian, I often felt the need to work harder and prove myself more than others in order to demonstrate my abilities and commitment. While these experiences were sometimes difficult, they also made me more resilient, determined, and adaptable. Importantly, throughout my journey I was fortunate to connect with mentors, colleagues, and friends who saw beyond stereotypes and recognized my dedication to science and my passion for research.
Growing up in Ecuador also strongly influenced the scientific questions that drive my work today. In many regions of South America, environmental exposures and their long-term health consequences are frequently overlooked or underrecognized. Witnessing how environmental factors impacted people close to me motivated me to pursue research aimed at understanding how these exposures affect reproductive health, aging, and disease susceptibility. I believe science has an important responsibility in informing communities and policymakers about the risks associated with environmental contaminants.
My transition to the United States for postdoctoral training introduced another major cultural and professional adjustment. As a scientist in a non-Spanish-speaking country, I again found myself feeling different and needing to adapt to a new language and environment. I had to relearn how to communicate scientifically and professionally in English while also adapting socially and culturally. Despite these challenges, I have been fortunate to work in an exceptionally supportive and welcoming laboratory environment. My colleagues and mentors invested time and patience in helping me adapt and grow, regardless of my background or nationality. They respected my culture, showed genuine interest in learning about Ecuador, and helped me feel included and valued within the scientific community.
Through my research accomplishments, mentorship experiences, publications, and leadership within collaborative projects, I have demonstrated to myself and others that scientific leadership is not defined by nationality or background, but by dedication, creativity, resilience, and the ability to inspire and support others. These experiences have ultimately strengthened my commitment to becoming an independent investigator and mentor who can help create a more inclusive and supportive environment for future generations of scientists from diverse backgrounds.
- What words of inspiration would you like to share with the future generation of scientists, especially those coming from diverse backgrounds?
Many of us come from countries where doing science is significantly more challenging due to limited resources, lack of funding, or restricted access to equipment and materials compared to places like the United States. Yet, despite those limitations, we continue to produce meaningful, impactful, and high-quality science. That resilience and creativity are strengths that should never be underestimated.
Scientists from different cultures and backgrounds bring unique perspectives, experiences, and problem-solving approaches that enrich every laboratory and research environment. We bring knowledge shaped by different realities, languages, and life experiences that can inspire innovation and collaboration in unexpected ways. Never stop believing in your potential, never stop dreaming, and never give up on science.