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Biography

Dr. Ryan attained a B.Sc., (Hons) Degree in Applied Biology with Quality Management and a Ph.D., in Biochemistry from Waterford Institute of Technology.   As an IRCSET scholar, the focus of Dr. Ryan’s Ph.D., research centred on the biochemical effects of heavy metal exposure on seaweeds.   The major areas of method development included size exclusion chromatography, HPLC and SDS (PAGE) methods for the separation and identification of seaweed protein extracts.

In 2010 Dr. Ryan lectured in WIT, delivering laboratory practical classes to Pharmaceutical/Biopharmaceutical Science students in areas including DNA sequencing, gram staining, agarose gel electrophoresis, aseptic technique, antibiotic testing, acid-base titrations (refer to teaching section for further details).

Dr. Ryan has several years of pharmaceutical experience, employed as a QC Microbiologist with Genzyme Ireland (a Sanofi Company).  Her main areas of expertise included microbial limit testing (MLT), growth promotions, Vitek bacterial Identification, validation studies, performing laboratory investigations, completing periodic product reviews (PPR) and implementing 5S and lean manufacturing projects.  Dr. Ryan was a member of the Great Place To Work Team when Genzyme were voted Best Large Workplace Winners in 2015.

Since 2015, Dr. Ryan has been employed as a Contract Research Coordinator with the Pharmaceutical & Molecular Biotechnology Research Centre (PMBRC) at WIT.   Her work focuses on method development for contract analysis projects, performing contract analysis for industry clients and summarising data in technical reports. 

Year

Course Title

    Subject

Description

2017

BSc in Agricultural Science (Year 1 - Semester 2)

BSc in Science (Year 1 - Semester 2)

 

    Cell Biology and Biochemistry
Qualitative & Quantitative Determination of Carbohydrates
Quantitative Determination of Protein
Standard Curves
Plant DNA Extraction & Testing
Chromatography
Factors Affecting Enzyme Activity

2016

BSc in Food Science with Business (Year 1 - Semester 1)
BSc in Pharmaceutical Science (Year 1 - Semester 1)
BSc in Agricultural Science (Year 1 - Semester 1)
BSc in Science (Year 1 - Semester 1)

    Good Laboratory Practice
Introduction to Good Laboratory Practice
Volumetric Glassware - Precise Measurement of Volume
Acid/BaseTitrations
Filtration Techniques
pH Indicators
Calibration and Correct use of the pH Meter
How to Correctly Use the following instruments
  •    Chemical Balance
  •    Micropipette
  •    pH Meter
  •    Centrifuge
  •    Spectrophotometer

2010

BSc in Applied Chemistry (Year 1 - Semester 1) 

    Pharmaceutical Science
Introduction to Volumetric Glassware
Acid/BaseTitrations
Filtration Techniques
pH Indicators
Calibration and Correct use of the pH Meter
How to correctly use various laboratory instruments

2010

BSc in Applied Biology (Year 2 - Semester 2)

    Biopharmaceutical Science
DNA amplification using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
DNA gel electrophoresis
Restriction of Lambda DNA
Gram Staining
Antibiotic Testing
Determination of Cleanroom Technology through the use of a broth trail
Quantitative ELISA for the presence of bovine serum in a sample
Hygiene testing and microbiological identification

Guest Lecturer

Year Lecture Title Audience
2015 Working in the Pharmaceutical Industry 3rd & 4th Year Biopharmaceutical Science students (WIT)
2015 Chromatographic Method Development: Gel Filtration Chromatography 3rd Year Biopharmaceutical Science students (WIT)

Research Interests

  • Method development
  • Applied Biology
  • Food Science
  • Nutraceutical Science
  • Molecular biology
  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Analytical chemistry
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Inductively coupled plasma - optical emission spectrometry
  • Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy
  • Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy
  • Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography
Year Description
2016 Intellectual Property Training, Waterford Institute of Technology.
2016 Practical Pedagogy 1 (Module - Masters in Teaching and Learning in Further and Higher Education), Waterford Institute of Technology.
2015 Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Quality Methodologies, Waterford Institute of Technology.
2007 Undertook a three month research study at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada. 
2006 IRCSET Scholar - Recipient of Postgraduate Scholarship from the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology.  The Ph.D., research study was entitled ‘An investigation into the biochemical effects of heavy metal exposure on seaweeds’.
2005 Recipient of the Health Research Board (HRB) Student Scholarship. The undergraduate project was entitled ‘Retinal Visual Acuity in Patients with Age-Related Maculopathy’. Research was undertaken at Waterford Regional Hospital.
2004 Represented Waterford Institute of Technology at the annual, national level EURACHEM competition, hosted by Institute of Technology, Carlow.

Journal Articles

S.Ryan, P.McLoughlin, O.O'Donovan (2012) A comprehensive study of metal distribution in three main classes of seaweed, Environmental Pollution, 167, 171-177.

GK. Bielmyer, TA. Jarvis, BT. Harper, B. Butler, L. Rice, S. Ryan, P. McLoughlin (2012) Metal accumulation from dietary exposure in the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. Archives of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology, 63(1), 86-94.

S.Ryan, P.McLoughlin, O.O'Donovan . A comprehensive study of metal distribution in seaweed sampled along the West coast of Newfoundland. (In progress - submitted to publisher)

 

Conferences

19th Annual Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium, Waterford Institute of Technology (2009) Conference Speaker: “An investigation into the biochemical effects of heavy metal exposure in seaweeds”.

14th International Conference of Heavy Metals in the Environment, National Taiwan University of Taipei, Taiwan (2008) Conference Speaker: “An investigation into the biochemical effects of heavy metal exposure in seaweeds”.

Journal Articles

S.Ryan, P.McLoughlin, O.O'Donovan (2012) A comprehensive study of metal distribution in three main classes of seaweed, Environmental Pollution, 167, 171-177.

GK. Bielmyer, TA. Jarvis, BT. Harper, B. Butler, L. Rice, S. Ryan, P. McLoughlin (2012) Metal accumulation from dietary exposure in the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. Archives of Environmental Contamination & Toxicology, 63(1), 86-94.

S.Ryan, P.McLoughlin, O.O'Donovan . A comprehensive study of metal distribution in seaweed sampled along the West coast of Newfoundland. (In progress - submitted to publisher)

 

Conferences

19th Annual Irish Environmental Researchers Colloquium, Waterford Institute of Technology (2009) Conference Speaker: “An investigation into the biochemical effects of heavy metal exposure in seaweeds”.

14th International Conference of Heavy Metals in the Environment, National Taiwan University of Taipei, Taiwan (2008) Conference Speaker: “An investigation into the biochemical effects of heavy metal exposure in seaweeds”.