Ryan Calvert

Ryan Calvert is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Tabor College. He holds a Ph.D. in Nutrition Cancer Immunology from Purdue University, a BA in Biochemistry from Whitman College, and an AS from Walla Walla Community College. His research focuses on immunology and nutrition, particularly Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSC) and the role of vitamin D in immune regulation. He has conducted postdoctoral research at Purdue University and holds an Advanced Graduate Teacher Certificate. Dr. Calvert teaches courses including Anatomy, Immunology, Programming, and Principles of Nutrition at Tabor College.

His research explores vitamin D’s effects on immune suppression mechanisms in cancer and tumor environments. He also innovates in food chemistry education through hands-on kitchen experiments and laboratory redesign. Awards include the 2019 Graduate Teaching Award and 2017 Graduate Student Research Award from the American Society of Nutrition.

• Key Research Contributions: Vitamin D-Immune Axis, MDSC Biology, Food Chemistry Pedagogy
• Teaching Specialties: Integrating programming and problem-solving into biology education

Dr. Calvert collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, including computational biologists and chemists, to advance both basic science and educational practices. His work bridges laboratory research with practical applications in food science and cancer immunology.