Dr. Ryan Summers

Education

• Ph.D., Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa, 2011
• M.S., Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa, 2011
• M.S., Biological Engineering, Utah State University, 2008
• B.S., Biological Engineering, Utah State University, 2008

Biography

The Summers lab is working to metabolically engineer bacteria and yeast cells to produce chemicals, fuels, and pharmaceuticals. Specifically, the group focuses on engineering enzymes, gene networks, and genetic regulatory elements in microbial cells.

Research projects in the Summers lab include

• Production of high-value chemicals from caffeine and caffeine derivatives,
• Construction of novel riboswitches to control gene expression in microbes,
• Isolation and characterization of novel aptamers for biosensing, and
• Enzymatic processing of lignocellulosic biomass residues.

As society moves away from use of petroleum resources for production of fuels and chemicals, their replacements must come from natural, renewable resources. To meet this need, the Summers lab seeks to engineer bacteria and yeast cells to produce bulk and fine chemicals from biomass. In addition to these chemicals, the group is looking at production of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals in metabolically engineered microbial cells.

Honors and Awards

• Outstanding Alumni of the Year, Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, 2016

• Outstanding Alumni of the Year, Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, 2016
• Omega Chi Epsilon Outstanding Faculty Member, Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Alabama, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023
• C. Spriestersbach Dissertation Prize Nominee, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa, 2012
• Kammermeyer Research Award, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa, 2011
• Vetter Service Award, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Iowa, 2009