Ryan Range

Ryan Range is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Auburn University, where he leads the Range Lab focused on evolutionary and developmental biology. His research investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying embryonic axis formation, particularly in deuterostomes such as sea urchins and acorn worms.

• Ph.D., Developmental Biology, Duke University
• Postdoctoral Fellow, National Institutes of Health
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Sorbonne Universities/Université de Pierre and Marie Curie
• B.A., Biology, University of Texas at Austin

Dr. Range’s research centers on gene regulatory networks and signaling pathways—especially Wnt signaling—that control early embryonic patterning. His lab employs molecular manipulations, high-throughput assays, and classical embryology to study how the anterior neuroectoderm is specified and how the anterior-posterior axis is patterned. A major focus is the conserved Wnt signaling network involving canonical and non-canonical pathways that regulate neuroectoderm restriction. His work bridges developmental biology with evolutionary insights, suggesting deep conservation of these mechanisms across deuterostomes, including vertebrates.

The recent publications (2014–2024) reflect a consistent focus on Wnt signaling, gene regulatory networks, and embryonic patterning in sea urchins and hemichordates. Key themes include the role of sFRP proteins, Ror and Ryk receptors, and the integration of multiple Wnt pathways in axis formation. The lab has also expanded into comparative studies of developmental timing using Antarctic sea urchins, revealing evolutionary adaptations in gene regulatory dynamics.

Dr. Range has mentored several graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, including Sujan Gautam, Marina Martínez-Bartolomé, and Jennifer Fenner. His lab collaborates with institutions such as Stanford University (Lowe Lab) and conducts fieldwork at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole. While no formal scientific awards are listed in the provided texts, his sustained publication record in high-impact journals such as Development, PLoS Biology, and Science underscores his scientific contributions.

The Range Lab maintains active research in both temperate and Antarctic echinoderm models, utilizing RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and functional perturbations to dissect gene regulatory networks. Current projects include studying receptor tyrosine kinases (Ror, Ryk), TIKI modulators, and the evolution of developmental timing. The lab fosters an interdisciplinary environment integrating molecular biology, systems biology, and evolutionary perspectives.