Faculty Location
Education
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, BA - Biochemistry
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, MS - Physiology
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, PhD - Integrative Biology
Georgetown University, Washington, DC, MA - Learning, Design, and Technology
Research Interests
STEM and Biomedical Education
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Regulation of physiology and neuroscience during exercise
Training
NIH IRACDA Fellow, Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching (FIRST) Program, Emory University School of Medicine
Achievements
Teaching of Physiology Research Recognition Award, American Physiological Society, 2019, 2022
Dale J. Benos Early Career Service Award, American Physiological Society, 2021
Faculty Advisor
AUC Club for Watersport Activities (ACWA)
Breadcrumb
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- Ryan Downey, PHD, MA
Ryan Downey, PHD, MA
Ryan Downey, PhD, MA, is an associate professor of physiology.
He earned his BA in biochemistry at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, and completed an MS in physiology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas. His research in the role of the sympathetic nervous system in cardiovascular control during exercise led to him earning his PhD in Integrative Biology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Downey continued his research at Emory University where he was also a teaching postdoctoral fellow in the Fellowships in Research and Science Training (FIRST) Program as an NIH IRACDA Fellow. As part of the FIRST Program, he was trained in pedagogy and learning theory for science teaching. Following his postdoc, Dr. Downey joined the faculty at Georgetown University where he was co-director of the graduate physiology program, teaching faculty, and a member of the Georgetown University Medical Center Teaching Academy for the Health Sciences. While there, he completed an MA in Learning, Design, and Technology from Georgetown University with a special focus on teaching biomedical sciences and facilitating inclusive student learning with educational technologies.
In addition to his scholarship of teaching and learning, Dr. Downey is an associate editor for the American Physiological Society journal, Advances in Physiology Education, has co-chair of the Society’s Institute on Teaching and Learning, a biennial educator’s meeting for physiology and biomedical science teaching, and is a contributing content expert and editor for Understand Your Physiology, an interactive, online study resource for physiology learning. He is also a PADI scuba instructor and enthusiastic advocate for ocean conservancy and marine life stewardship.
Publications
- Downey RM, Stokes JA, Beason-Abmayr B. (2023). 2022 American Physiological Society Institute on Teaching and Learning: diversity, equity, and inclusion matters in higher education and STEM teaching. Advances in Physiology Education. 47(2):265-269. DOI: 10.1152/advan.00009.2023
- Downey RM, Downey KB, Jacobs J, Korthas H, Melchor GS, Speidell A, Waguespack H, Mulroney SE, Myers AK. (2022). Learning design in science education: perspectives from designing a graduate-level course in evidence-based teaching of science. Advances in Physiology Education. 46(4):651-657. PMCID: PMC9639774; DOI: 10.1152/advan.00069.2022
- Macknight ADC. 2020. Understand Your Physiology. Silverthorn DU, Carrol RG, Downey RM, editors. Dunedin, NZ: ADInstruments. Online. https://www.adinstruments.com/lt/your-physiology