Chapter Text
Ryland Grace, Ph.D.
OrcID: 2944-2109-9431-8573
EDUCATION
2027 - 2032 Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Washington
Dissertation: An analysis of water-based assumptions and recalibrations of expectations for evolutionary models
2025 - 2027 Master of Science in Biology at the University of California San Francisco
Thesis: Comparative cellular viability in water-, ammonia-, and formamide based cytoplasm
2023 - 2025 Bachelor of Science in Biology, Minor in Chemistry at the University of California Riverside
2021 - 2023 Associate of Science at Riverside City College
AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND SCHOLARSHIPS
2030 UW College of Science Best Teaching Assistant
2030 Maersk San Diego Employee of the Month (June)
2029 American Society for Cell Biology Conference Student Travel Grant
2026 UCSF Biology Graduate Scholarship
2026 Cell Bio Conference Student Travel Grant
2025 Laurence J. Mehlman Prize
2024 Atwood Family Scholarship Fund
2022 IVCC Science Fair 2nd Place in Biology Category “Testing for microbial presence in Irvine, California water sources: A scientific assessment informed by historical analysis”
PUBLICATIONS
Grace, R. (2050). Off the electromagnetic grid: Limitations of current satellite remote sensing sensors for surface analysis of planets with dense gas atmospheres. Remote Sensing 103(3), 255-274.
Rocky, R. and Grace, R. (2049). An exploratory review of Eridian norms and practices: Establishing and challenging the standard at the same time. Journal of Eridian Studies 1, 141-176.
Rocky, R. and Grace, R.(2049). “Look at these ♫♬♩♪ guys!”: A survey of a/typical Eridian somatotypes. Journal of Eridian Studies 1, 122-140.
Rocky, R. and Grace, R. (2049). A cross-sectional thrum-survey of Eridian attitudes toward extraterrestrial life following Project Hail Mary. Journal of Eridian Studies 1, 101-121.
Rocky, R. and Grace, R. (2049). Adapting mixed-methods research ethics to pseudo-hive-mind respondents. Journal of Eridian Studies 1, 83- 100.
Grace, R. and Rocky, R. (2049). Alien pedagogies: Methods for cross-cultural scientific education across education levels. Journal of Eridian Studies 1, 64-82.
Rocky, R. and Grace, R. (2049). A primer on Eridian government, society, and class. Journal of Eridian Studies 1, 48-63.
Grace, R. and Rocky, R. (2049). Baseline recalibration adjustments for a standard Earthian microbiology lab on Erid. Journal of Eridian Studies 1, 22-47.
Rocky, R. and Grace, R. (2049). Frontiers of a new interdisciplinary field: Establishing an intergalactic research agenda for Eridian foci. Journal of Eridian Studies 1, 8-21.
Grace, R. and Rocky, R. (2048). Bridging the gap between scientists and engineers: Lessons from a high-stress laboratory environment 11.9 ly away. Laboratories 282(2), 455-464.
Grace, R. and Rocky, R. (2048). A complete inventory of a novel atmospheric microbiome associated with upper-atmosphere gases and aerosols on Tau Ceti E. International Journal of Astrobiology 98(1), 7-27.
Grace, R. and Rocky, R. (2047). Lefty tighty, righty loosey: New axioms for cultural relativism. Human Organization 124(4), 516-534.
Grace, R. and Rocky, R. (2047). Preliminary analysis of the self-regulating astrophage propulsion spin drive. Acta Astronautica 54(1), 100-125.
Rocky, R. and Grace, R. (2047). Suggestions for future deployment of Taumoeba-82.5 into Venus atmosphere to maximize astromicrobial ecosystem health. International Journal of Astrobiology 97(3), 404-431.
Grace, R. and Rocky, R. (2047). Taumoeba-82.5: A novel cell type artificially adapted to nitrogen-rich environments. Cell 224(2), 234-259.
Rocky, R. and Grace, R. (2047). Design and validation of a controlled bioreactor system for large-scale taumoeba cultivation and genetic manipulation. APL Bioengineering 65(1), 9-30.
Grace, R. (2047). Successes, opportunities, and limitations of the centrifugal lab. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis 74(3), 243-256.
Rocky, R. and Grace, R. (2047). Discovery of solid-state xenon: Explanations, implications, and applications. Chemical Engineering Journal 52(1), 5-18.
Grace, R. and Rocky, R. (2047). Applications of text-to-speech software for new language cataloguing: The Eridian case study. Brain & Language 77(2), 314-338.
Grace, R. and Rocky, R. (2047). The missing cell: Discovery of a novel unicellular xenobiological organism. Nature 700(1), 12-33.
Redell, R., Komorov, D., Yang, L., Medvedeva, O., Grace, R., and Stepanovich, V. (2038). The kinematic viscosity of astrophagic fuels as a key parameter to the performance of spin-drive engines for astronautics. Acta Astronautica 45(1), 30-42.
Komorov, D., Medvedeva, O., Stepanovich, V., and Grace, R. (2038). A novel high-efficiency astrophage-powered rocket propulsion model deep-space missions. Acta Astronautica 45(1), 15-29.
Redell, R., Yang, L. and Grace, R. (2038). Astrophagic fuel performance: An alternative biofuel assessment. Cleaner Engineering and Technology 76(1), 46-70.
Grace, R. (2038). Systematic review of advancements in astrophage cell biology over a publishing year. Cell 209(3), 659-680.
Redell, R., Yang, L., Grace, R., Komorov, D., Gurriel, L., and Medvedeva, O. (2037). Development of an astrophage-sourced bio-fuel with adaptive performance optimization. Monatshefte für Chemie 87(2), 193-207
Grace, R. and Overbey, C. (2037). Venusian atmosphere re-creation for astrophage reproduction. Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences 99(1), 23-41.
Grace, R. and Overbey, C. (2037). Discovery of astrophage mitotic reproduction in PTLSF-Aph-34. Nature 685(1), 46-55.
Grace, R. (2037). Toward an understanding of astrophage architecture: Astrophagic cell anatomy. Cell 208(1), 12-30.
Grace, R., Kwan, P. (2033). Iron-dependent biochemistry under anoxic planetary conditions. International Journal of Astrobiology, 83(3), 497-511.
Boyd, S. J., Falduto, M., Rutter, E. M., Abbott, C., Levandosky, K., Grace, R., Smith, D., Torain, J. R., and Radulovich, W. E. (2033). Community dynamics of microbial consortia in isolated tidal ecosystems. Ecosystem 103(5), 1823-1850.
Grace. R., Kwan, P., Kelly, M., and Mendizabal, I. (2033). Computational modeling of water-independent cellular systems. Journal of Mathematical Biology, 58(4), 1832-1854.
Auman, A. S., Pinchuk, F., Sutherland, P. G., Brelles-Mariño, J., Alhadeff-Feldman, M., Flowers, R., Grace, R., Paul, A., and Lauermann, N. (2032). Microbial succession following industrial environmental chemical disturbance in coastal sediments. Marine Microbiology 32(3), 783-801.
Grace, R., Kelly, M. (2032). Membrane stability across alternative solvent regimes: A water-free approach. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 43(3), 224-240.
Jensen, R., Bledsoe, K. J., Grace, R., Blunt, A., Schwanen, T., Jing, Y. (2027). Sulfuric acid microenvironments as potential solvents for extremophile-like cells. PLOS ONE, 32(2), 287-210.
Hu, Y., Feinberg, G., Konecny, J., Song, C., Rott, H. W., Nassau, K., Brown, J., Milman, A. S., Grace, R., Weir, A. (2025). Assessing liquid carbon dioxide as a medium for biochemical information transfer. PLOS ONE 30(3), 494-522.
TEACHING AND WORK EXPERIENCE
2050 Consultant at the Eridian Ministry of Science
- Worked in a number of different EMS labs focusing on space travel, astrophage, and biology in various capacities ranging from lab technician to primary investigator. I have also been called to testify before the Ministry as a local expert on topics such as: astrophage, Earth, space travel, radiation, relativity, and light and optics. I also work as an ambassador to Eridian youth via guest lectures, field trips, and junior science programs.
2042 - 2048 Captain, Pilot, Chief Science Officer, and Engineer’s Mate on Hail Mary
- Served in various capacities aboard the deep space ship, Hail Mary. I piloted the ship, served as mission commander, and designed and conducted experiments. I also assisted the ship’s Engineer in his tasks.
2036 - 2038 Director of Astrophage Research, Petrova Taskforce
- I designed astrophage experiments, managed astrophage labs, collaborated with other project departments (engineering, astronautics and aerospace, atmospheric & earth science, etc.), and participated in science symposia around the world.
2033 - 2036 Science teacher, Grover Cleveland Middle School, San Francisco Unified School District
- I taught 6th-8th grade sciences, including biology, chemistry, physics, and health. I served as assistant science fair coordinator both for Grover Cleveland Middle School, and the San Francisco Unified School District overall. I also regularly ran detention and in-school suspension periods, and was the faculty advisor for a number of students clubs, including: Bio Club, Anime Club, and the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).
2032 - 2033 Lecturer, Department of Biology, Central Seattle College
- I taught lower-division biology classes, including BIOL100 (General Biology I), BIOL105 (General Biology II), BIOL157 (Histology for Anatomy and Physiology, BIOL205 (Microbiology), and BIOL296 (Special Projects in Biology).
2032 - 2033 Lecturer II, Department of Biology University of Washington
- I taught lower- and upper-division courses and labs, including MICROM101 (Microbes and Society), MICROM301 (General Microbiology), BIOL100 (Introductory Biology), BIOL220 (Introductory Biology), and BIOL355 (Foundations in Molecular Cell Biology)
2027 - 2032 Teaching Assistant for Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
- I assisted in teaching several lower- and upper-division courses and labs. This work included administering, planning and grading labs, proctoring and grading exams, and meeting with students during office hours. I TA’d the following classes: MICROM402 (Fundamentals of General Microbiology), BIOL355 (Foundations in Molecular Cell Biology), MICROM411 (Bacteria and Phage Genetics), and MICROM435 (Microbial Ecology)
2025 - 2030 Environmental Compliance Technician at Maersk
- In this role, I worked for five summer seasons on Maersk cargo, tanker, and grain ships along the Pacific coast to ensure compliance with EPA laws and internal Maersk environmental policy. This involved measuring emissions during ro/ro operations, checking fuel and waste lines, and helping route plan with navigators to account for ocean wildlife activity.
2025 - 2027 Biology tutor at the University of California San Francisco
- Provided drop-in help at the tutoring center for undergraduate students who needed help with biology homework and labs.
2023 - 2025 Lab assistant at University of California Riverside Molecular Engineering & Science Center
- Worked on projects regarding molecular assemblies for renewable manufacturing processes. I sterilized and maintained lab equipment, logged data, measured and catalogued samples, and restocked lab consumables. I also performed tasks as needed for graduate student research in the lab. Once perfectly measured out 6 grams of water freehand.
2020 - 2025 Line cook at In-n-Out Burger
- Prepared ingredients before and during shifts, cooked and packaged menu items.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Grace, R., (2037, November 8-11). Survey of advancements in astrophage microbiology. [Conference presentation]. International Astrophage Association 2037, Hong Kong, China.
Komorov, D. Stepanovich, V., Medvedeva, O., and Grace, R., (2037, September 20-24). A new rocket engine and propulsion system for intergalactic astronautics [Conference presentation]. AIAA AVIATION Forum 2037, Miami, Florida, United States of America.
Grace, R. and Overbey, C. (2037, May 6-10). Modeling mitotic astrophage reproduction across the atomic light spectrum: a focus on ionized gases in stellar atmospheres via laser-induced plasmas.[Conference presentation]. BSCB, Mile End, London, United Kingdom.
Komorov, D., Grace, R., and Medvedeva, O. Ground testing of an experimental adaptive-cycle rocket thruster for long-distance space travel [Conference presentation]. European Space Conference 2037, Torino, Italy.
Grace, R., Overbey, C., and Bair, S. (2037, March 15-17). Demonstration of planetary atmosphere re-creation for astrophage experimentation using basic laboratory materials. [Conference presentation]. American Geophysical Union 2037, Washington, D. C., United States of America.
Redell, R., Yang, L., Grace, R., Komorov, D., and Medvedeva, O. (2036, October 24-26). Can an astrophage bio-fuel be utilized for aerospace applications?: Development of a new high-energy-density rocket propellant [Conference presentation]. AIAA AVIATION Forum 2036, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
Grace, R. and Overbey, C. (2036, January 22-25). Expanding the cellular atlas: Evidence for a new class of astrophagic organelles [Conference presentation]. International Astrophage Association 2036, Hong Kong, China.
Grace, R. and Kwan, P. (2031, October 16-18). Iron-dependent biochemistry under anoxic planetary conditions. [Conference presentation]. Annual Bay Area Microbial Innovations Symposium, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
Grace, R., (2030, November 8-12). Modeling self-organizing complex cellular systems beyond water and carbon [Conference poster]. ASCB/EMBO 2030, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Grace, R., Kelly, M., and Kwan, P. (2029, June 8-12) Computational modeling of water-independent cellular systems [Conference presentation]. European Society for Mathematical and Theoretical Biology, 2029. Heidelberg, Germany.
Grace, R. (2027, May 3). Visualizations of cellular viability of cytoplasm based in water, ammonia, and formamide. [Conference poster]. Graduate Research Symposium Competition 2027, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Grace, R. (2026, December 10-12). Digging deeper into cellular viability in formamide-based cytoplasm. [Conference poster]. Graduate Research Forum Winter 2026, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Grace, R. (2022, May 15). Testing for microbial presence in Riverside, California water sources: A scientific assessment informed by historical analysis. [Conference presentation]. Southern California Science Symposium 2022, Santa Barbara, California, United States of America.