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Catalina Reyes Gonzalez

Research

My educational research focuses on addressing the critical thinking deficit in university-level physiology courses, where students face significant challenges transitioning from memorization-based learning to analytical problem-solving. Low success rates in physiology courses, which delay graduation, reduce program acceptance rates, and undermine student confidence, primarily stem from students' difficulty engaging in systems thinking and applying physiological principles to complex problems.

My research examines the gap between traditional educational approaches that emphasize rote memorization and the analytical skills required for success in advanced science courses. Students entering physiology are expected to demonstrate proficiency in five critical areas: reading comprehension, problem-solving, information discernment, effective written communication, and physiological knowledge application. However, their previous academic experiences have rarely required the integration and application of these skills at the level demanded by university-level science.

The central focus of my work is developing pedagogical strategies that facilitate students' transformation from passive consumers of information to active practitioners who can effectively apply knowledge to solve physiological problems. This research addresses a fundamental challenge in science education: bridging the disconnect between content acquisition and practical application, ultimately improving student outcomes in physiology and preparing them for success in medicine, health sciences, and research careers.

Select Publications

Reyes, C., Fong, A.Y., Leite, C.A.C., Abe, A.S. and Milsom, W.K. (2025). Distribution and role of peripheral chemoreceptors in cardio-respiratory control of the South American rattlesnake (Crotalus durissus). The Journal of Experimental Biology 228 (4): https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.250299. (PMID: 39840942, PMCID: PMC11883273)

Reyes, C., Fong, A.Y. and Milsom, W.K. (2015). Distribution and innervation of putative peripheral arterial chemoreceptors in the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans). The Journal of Comparative Neurology 523 (9): 1399-1418. (PMID: 25586499)

Reyes, C., Fong, A.Y., Brink, D.L. and Milsom, W.K. (2014). Distribution and innervation of putative arterial chemoreceptors in the bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana). The Journal of Comparative Neurology 552 (16): 3754-3774. (PMID: 24954002)

Reyes, C. and Milsom, W.K. (2010). Circadian and circannual rhythms in the metabolism and ventilation of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 83 (2): 283-298. (PMID: 19358691)

Reyes, C. and Milsom, W.K. (2009). Daily and seasonal rhythms in the respiratory sensitivity of red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans). Journal of Experimental Biology 212: 3339-3348. (PMID: 19801438)

Biography

Catalina Reyes Gonzalez received her M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Comparative Physiology from the University of British Columbia (UBC), where she studied the mechanisms that regulate cardiorespiratory responses in hypoxic (low oxygen) environments across various vertebrates with arrhythmic breathing patterns (whales, frogs, lizards, snakes, and turtles). She has dedicated herself to teaching undergraduates as adjunct faculty at Palomar College (2014-2015) and as a Lecturer in Biology at UCSD (2016-2025). Dr. Reyes Gonzalez joined the Department of Ecology, Behavior & Evolution as an Assistant Teaching Professor in 2025.

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