Prof. Alan G. Ryder is a Personal Professor of Chemistry in the School of Natural Sciences at the University of Galway. He obtained a B.Sc.(1.1) in Chemistry (1989) and Ph.D. Inorganic chemistry (1994) from University College Galway. After a stint as a postdoctoral researcher in UCC, he rejoined NUI Galway in 1997 to work on developing quantitative Raman spectroscopic methods for measuring illicit narcotic concentrations. In 1998, awarded a Forbairt post-doctoral fellowship, he started to develop time-resolved fluorescence methods for petroleum analysis. During this time, he began building up the concept of a Nanoscale Biophotonics Laboratory (NBL) and in 2003, the NBL was formally established, with a grant from Science Foundation Ireland. The group is focused on the use of optical spectroscopy for life and physical science applications, with a strong focus on pharmaceutical applications. Prof. Ryder has two core research areas: Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) and Advanced Fluorescence spectroscopy for biomedical and environmental applications.In the PAT domain projects include the use of fluorescence and/or Raman spectroscopy with multivariate analysis methods for the qualitative and qualitative analysis of materials with particular focus on materials used in large and small molecule Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) manufacture.

In 2005 he began work on the Centre for Bioanalytical Sciences (CBAS) project with Bristol-Myers Squibb developing novel spectroscopic and chemometric methods for the biopharmaceutical manufacturing sector. This research is developing an integrated analytical platform technology (multi-dimensional fluorescence, chemometrics, and experimental design) for the quantitative, rapid analysis of complex biogenic materials. This ranges from raw materials, to cell culture media, and to protein solutions. We collaborate with several biologics manufacturers on developing novel analytical platforms. Past and present industrial collaborations include biologics manufacturers like Bristol-Myers Squibb, GSK, Janssen-Biologics, Merck, (and several others) and instrument companies like Horiba (USA), Agilent, andKaiser Optical Systems Inc., In 2020, he coordinated the PAT4Nano an EU funded research project developing online nanoparticle characterization tools. In the fluorescence area, specific projects involve the use of advanced fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy for the analysis of protein adsorption on surfaces, petroleum fluids, biomedical polymers, and fluorophore photophysics. We also use fluorescence spectroscopy combined with advanced chemometrics for the study of complex biogenic materials. In 2024 he was awarded a large grant (SFI funded) to investigate the potential of using polarized Excitation Emission Matrix (pEEM) spectroscopy for the analysis of biolgics.  To date, he has secured >13M+ euro in research funding of which ~3.3 M€ has been obtained from industrial sources. He has authored more than 100 publications, generated 3 patents (2 granted, one licensed), and graduated 23 Ph.D. & 5 M.Sc. students.

Note:  The research ouputs/activities on this CRIS platform are inaccurate as they were not imported correctly from the old system.  For true data consult my website: Nanoscale Biophotonics - University of Galway   

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/alan-ryder-31a0639 

My research can be divided into two core areas, Analytical Sciences and Photonics. In the analytical sciences side we aim to develop new analytical methods for a wide variety of problems from biopharmaceutical manufacturing to oil exploration. In the photonics research we focus on more fundamental studies of molecules and materials, and also on the development of optical instrumentation. In the long-term the photonics research feeds into the analytical research in terms of instrumentation and new measurement methodologies. All of the research is a combination of chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

Analytical Sciences:  The underlying goal is to produce novel analytical methods for the rapid, minimally invasive and inexpensive analysis of complex samples. This covers everything from illicit narcotics, to cell culture media, proteins, and even crude petroleum oils. The most important active projects at the moment are:

Biopharmaceutical analysis: Development of novel rapid, quantitative analytical methods for use in the BioPharma sector. The primary methods to be employed are vibrational spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and chemometrics. There are two sub elements to this research, one focused on upstream processes (USP): cell culture media analysis and the second on the downstream process (DSP) sector, focused on protein analytics. The USP research activity was initially part of a collaborative project, the Centre for BioAnalytical Science, with Bristol Myers-Squibb (2005-09) and was followed by projects with Janssen-Biologics (2010-2015), Schering-Plough/Merck (2011-12), GSK, and Eli Lilly. These projects involve the study of all aspects of the biopharma production process from raw staring materials, to cell culture media, to process samples, and the finished biologic product(s). In the DSP realm we are developing polarised Excitation Emission Matrix (pEEM) spectroscopy as a wide ranging analytical technique for protein characterization and analysis.

Small molecule API analysis: This project was part of the Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre and initially focused on developing novel Raman based methods for low-content analysis and Real-Time-Release (RTR) testing of small molecule APIs. We also collaborated with Kaiser Optical Systems Inc. on this project.

Biomaterials: This encompasses several different yet interlinked projects. First, the development of fluorescence-based methods for measuring surface and bulk polarity of polymers, which is also linked with studies to develop method for measuring drug elution rates from biomedical polymers (in conjunction with Y. Rotchev (NUIG), C. Elvira (Madrid), A Gorelov (UCD), and A. Klymchenko (Strasbourg)). The second core project is the development of ultra-sensitive methods for measuring the deposition and the conformation of proteins on surfaces. This project involves the use of Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM) coupled with steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The third project is looking at measuring the impact of soluble nanoparticles on protein aggregation using single molecule detection techniques..

Spectroscopy and Chemometrics: Development of quantitative methods of analysis for pharmaceutical, forensic, and law enforcement applications. Development of novel chemometric and machine learning methods for the analysis of Raman spectroscopic data. Study of materials and microscopic fluid inclusions by Raman analysis. Petroleum fluid and inclusions analysis: Development of instrumentation and analysis methods for crude oil characterization and quantification. Study of the fundamental processes governing petroleum fluorescence. Study of petroleum bearing fluid inclusions.

Photonics: This aspect of my research is a combination of fundamental research and instrumentation development and use. It is in some ways closer to physics, but helps feed the analytical science research with new techniques and novel instrumentation. Anisotropy Resolved Multidimensional Emission Spectroscopy (ARMES): This is an extensive research activity that is developing a suite of analytical methodologies based on four- and five-dimensional fluorescence measurements. These methods are being applied to the characterization and analysis of proteins in a wide variety of solution environments. Aspects of the research involve instrumentation development, advanced chemometric data analysis, and protein studies. This activity is and was supported in part by research grants from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) and is co-funded under the European Regional Development Fund under Grand number (14IA2282, Advanced Analytics for Biological Therapeutic Manufacture), and IRCSET. 

Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy, Instrumentation, & Techniques: This involves the application of advanced fluorescence measurement and microscopy techniques to understanding dynamic biological and chemical processes in solution and on surfaces. The includes methods such as Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM), Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS), Fluorescence Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy (FCCS), and Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy (TIRFM). One current activity has been the building of an Excitation Emission Fluorescence Lifetime Spectrometer (EEFLS) based on a frequency doubled supercontinuum laser and a multi-anode photon counting detector. This was build to validate the pEEM/ARMES methods being developed in the lab. This aspect of my research programme has also involved a wide range of collaborators in other disciplines (Anatomy, Biochemistry, Earth amp; Ocean Sciences etc.).

Triazine Photophysics: This collaboration with Dr. J. Stephens of NUI Maynooth, looked at the fundamental photophysics of this novel class of fluorophores. These dual band emitters have unique emission properties and are accessible via a facile synthetic route. The research involves steady-state and time-resolved methodologies. In the long-term we hope that this new fluorophore class will have many applications in sensing and protein labelling.

Plasmonics: Developing novel, highly sensitive, spectroscopic methods, for applications in the clinical and life sciences by the utilisation of the Metal Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) and Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) effects. Specific aspects of the project involve the development of novel methods for fabricating nano-structured MEF substrates and the study of the physical and chemical factors influencing the emission behavior of fluorophores on surfaces. More recently we have studied SERS of complex mixtures. In addition, to the core research projects outlined above, there are several concurrent interdisciplinary research projects with a variety of disparate departments in the University of Galway and other Irish third level institutions.

Undergraduate teaching: 1^st year lecture course (PH101): General Physics (Medtech slant). 4^th year lecture courses on (PH425): General spectroscopy including Rotational and Vibrational spectroscopy, selection rules amp; instrumentation. 4^th year PH41024107 Projects: Module co-ordinator.

Postgraduate Supervision: Current researchers (Mar 2025):

H. Wang (2023-present, PhD, Physics): Using polarized emission spectroscopy to analyze protein-liposomer interactions. 

J. Zang (2024-present, PhD, Physics): SFI-DPA-PES project. Using polarized excitationemission matrix (pEEM)spectroscopy for the analysis of downstream processing in biologics.

W. Guo (2025-present, PhD, Physics): SFI-DPA-PES project. Using polarized excitation emission matrix (pEEM) spectroscopy to analyze high concentration protein formulations .