Ryan began his study of biocatalysis during his early years at Michigan State University. Under the guidance of Prof. John Frost and Dr. Karen Draths he was familiarized with the bioloigical tools that would become essential during his graduate career. After graduating from MSU Ryan moved on to Johns Hopkins to work with Craig Townsend, sepcifically studying the biosynthesis of beta-lactam antibiotics. Using a combination of synthetic cheistry and common biochemical techniques he and a team of scientists defined key reactions of the thienamycin biosynthetic pathway. Additional studies focused on the mechanism and evolution of the non-heme iron oxygenase CarC. Ryan next moved across the country to U.C. Berkeley to come back to studies similar to his undergraduate, this time mentored by Prof. Jay Keasling and Dr. Leonard Katz. His efforts in synthetic biology established new tools for engineering in Actinobacteria as well as key insights to polyketide biosynthesis. Ryan is now at AbbVie in North Chicago, IL, where, in the past four years, he has estabilshed and grown a process chemistry focused biocatalysis program. Currently part of the AbbVie Center of Catalysis he continues his efforts to push the boundraies on high-throughput experimentation and broaden the scope of biotransformations available.