Amy Ryan

Amy Ryan serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, where she has been a dedicated instructor in the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program since 2019. She teaches both introductory phage discovery courses (BIO101L series) and advanced genomics courses (Bio495), guiding students through hands-on bacteriophage isolation and genomic analysis using Microbacterium foliorum as a host organism.

Her research centers on bacteriophage biology and evolutionary genomics, with specific expertise in phage-host interactions and genomic annotation. Students in her courses progress from environmental phage isolation to computational genome analysis, gaining integrated wet-lab and bioinformatics skills. This approach supports the SEA-PHAGES mission to expand phage genomic databases while providing authentic undergraduate research experiences in microbial evolution.

Dr. Ryan has mentored over 200 undergraduate students across 15+ course sections since 2019, with class sizes ranging from 15-20 students per term. Her cohorts span all undergraduate levels, though introductory sections predominantly enroll freshmen. While no individual scientific awards are documented, her sustained participation in the HHMI-funded SEA-PHAGES initiative—including upcoming Fall 2025 courses and national workshops—highlights her commitment to science education innovation.

As part of the SEA-PHAGES consortium, she collaborates with a national network of 100+ institutions to advance phage genomics research. Her campus-based work involves student teams in phage discovery projects like the annotation of phage 'Hairyman,' utilizing microbiology laboratories for isolation and bioinformatics resources for genomic analysis. This infrastructure enables continuous contributions to international phage databases while training students for careers in biological research.