Education
University of Southern California - PhD Candidate in Systems Biology & Disease ;Teachers College, Columbia University - Applied Physiology and Nutrition, MS, 2009
Background
Ryan is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Systems Biology and Disease doctoral program at the Keck School of Medicine at USC and a research assistant under the direction of Drs. Hooman Allayee and Michael Goran. Before beginning his doctoral training at USC, Ryan received a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2001. Ryan then spent 7 years as a professional chef in both San Francisco and New York City prior to earning his Master of Science in Applied Physiology and Nutrition from Teachers College, Columbia University in 2008. Ryan has worked as both an Exercise Physiologist and Research Coordinator for the New York Obesity Research Center under Jeanine Albu, M.D. Ryan’s current research focuses on how dietary components and genetic factors may interact to alter liver fat synthesis, storage and accumulation in obese African American and Hispanic youth. Outside of the lab Ryan is an accomplished athlete. He has competed in many triathlons and other swimming events and was a member of Team USA in 2008.