Ryan Shepherd

Ryan Shepherd has been working in the field of plant science since 1999. Ryan began their career as a Graduate Student at the University of Kentucky, where they identified and characterized novel antimicrobial proteins of leaf surfaces called phylloplanins. This work formed the foundation of PhylloTech, Inc., which Shepherd co-founded in 2004 and has served as CEO since then. Theiractivities leading the small company throughout its early commercialization stage include business development, scientific R&D, fundraising, technology licensing, intellectual property, global collaborations, and management of both scientific and business personnel. Ryan also served as Chief Scientific Officer.

In 2005, Shepherd became a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Berkeley, where they studied the enzymatic degradation of intercellular signaling molecules called acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) by AHL acylases produced by the gram-negative plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae.

In 2012, Shepherd began an Adjunct Assistant Professor appointment in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This role allowed him to have diverse collaborations with faculty and to investigate the commercialization potential of early technologies. Ryan also provided valuable research experiences to graduate and undergraduate students through internships at PhylloTech, LLC, where they have hosted twelve interns since 2011.

Ryan Shepherd obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Organismal Biology from Beloit College between 1994 and 1996. Ryan then went on to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Plant Physiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology from the University of Kentucky, which they completed in 2004.