Ryan Petrie

Ryan Petrie is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Drexel University, where he leads the Petrie Lab (The Petrie Dish) since 2015. His research focuses on the physical mechanisms of 3D cell motility, particularly the nuclear-piston model that governs intracellular pressure and migration in physiological processes such as wound healing and cancer metastasis.

• Education: BS in Biochemistry (University of Victoria, 1997), MS in Immunology (University of Calgary, 2002), PhD in Cell Biology (McGill University, 2008)

Research Interests: Petrie’s work explores how the structure of the extracellular matrix influences cell behavior through mechanotransduction and cytoskeletal dynamics. His lab investigates the role of the nucleus as a pressure-generating "piston" and how this mechanism differs in metastatic cells compared to normal cells. Techniques include live-cell imaging, biophysical measurements, and 3D collagen matrices.

Scientific Awards:

• NIH NIGMS Outstanding Investigator Award (R35 grant), 2025

Advising: Petrie mentors four PhD students (Matt Cowan, Bre R. Hewitt, Jacob Duggan, and Ive-Anwuli Ralph-Uyalor) and oversees undergraduate researchers. His lab collaborates on projects involving cancer, fibrosis, and mechanobiology.