Ryan Saylor

Ryan Saylor is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Berry College, specializing in stress physiology and thermal ecology. He holds a B.S. in Marine Biology and B.A. in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (2005), an M.S. in Biology from the University of West Florida (2013), and a Ph.D. in Energy Science & Engineering from the Bredesen Center at the University of Tennessee (2021). His research focuses on fish susceptibility to anthropogenic impacts, particularly hydropower turbine blade strikes and thermal stress. He teaches courses such as Principles of Cell Biology, Zoology, and Comparative Animal Physiology.

Dr. Saylor’s research integrates bioengineering, mathematical modeling, and field observations to address global climate change effects on fish populations. He develops biomimetic models to simulate turbine impacts and evaluates thermal tolerances in invasive species like the Asian swamp eel. His work contributes to hydropower infrastructure design and aquatic conservation strategies.

Teaching Responsibilities Include:

• BIO 111: Principles of Cell Biology
• BIO 202: Principles of Zoology
• BIO 303: Comparative Animal Physiology
• BIO 332: Vertebrate Zoology

Research Highlights:

• Development of ballistic gel fish models for turbine impact studies
• Assessment of fish mortality from simulated hydraulic shear stress
• Thermal tolerance analyses for invasive species

No scientific awards or grants are listed in the provided materials. His work emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to aquatic ecology and engineering challenges.