Benjamin J Ridenhour

Benjamin J Ridenhour is an Associate Professor in Mathematics and Statistical Science at the University of Idaho's College of Science. His research bridges computational biology, evolutionary theory, and public health, with affiliations to the Initiative for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, Institute for Interdisciplinary Data Sciences, and the Institute for Modeling Collaboration and Innovation. He applies mathematical models to microbiome studies, epidemiology, and bacterial evolution.

• Education: BA in Environmental Biology (1998) from Utah State University, PhD in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior (2004) from Indiana University Bloomington

His work focuses on microbial community dynamics, including Lotka-Volterra models for microbiome resilience, phenotypic heterogeneity in bacterial adaptation, and plasmid-driven evolution. Recent studies analyze SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance, sociodemographic risk factors for diseases, and geroscience applications in primate models.

He employs advanced statistical methods like elastic net regression and Hi-C technology for rare plasmid detection. His affiliations highlight interdisciplinary collaboration between data sciences, bioinformatics, and modeling institutions. Research trends emphasize translational approaches to aging, microbial network analysis, and public health policy implications.