Northern Michigan University 2010 biochemistry alumnus Ryan McAllister of Roselle, N.J., received one of two Outstanding Young Alumni Awards presented by his alma mater during its 125th Anniversary Homecoming. He serves as biosafety program manager, biosafety officer and alternate responsible official at Rutgers University. He leads a team of seven infectious disease professionals, overseeing biohazardous research in diverse laboratory and clinical settings.
“It's a great honor to receive this award among the many successful graduates this university has produced,” said McAllister at the awards luncheon. “At Northern, I was able to build a strong, foundational knowledge base in biochemistry. This prepared me to conquer my graduate degrees and to lead Stanford and Rutgers research programs related to biosafety, biosecurity, recombinant materials, dual-use research of concern in human gene therapy, and clinical trials. I didn't know any of these terms before Northern. In layperson language, this means I protect ill patients, researchers, communities and the environment from infectious disease, biological toxins and genetic editing.
“Northern was a launchpad for my work with hemorrhagic fever viruses in the U.S. and South America, ensuring safety within expedited research projects during the pandemic and reviewing—and at times, challenging—medical doctors' investigational recombinant therapies for subject safety and toxicity, efficacy and risk-benefit analysis. But I learned a lot more than biochemistry at Northern, and I'm forever grateful for my well-rounded education. This included biology courses at Dead River and Hogback Mountain, philosophy courses and, most importantly, Native American studies.”
For his senior project at Northern, McAllister used high-pressure liquid chromatography to analyze the variance of caffeine quantities from the advertised label within different energy drinks. He also volunteered in the former Marquette General Hospital emergency operating unit and served as an organic chemistry tutor while attending NMU.
Prior to his Rutgers appointment, McAllister held positions as assistant biosafety officer at the University of Louisville, where he also earned both a master's and doctorate in pharmacology/toxicology, and at Stanford University. In addition to his institutional roles, McAllister is a respected Biosafety consultant for prominent organizations including Clinical Biosafety Services, Advarra, and PP-L Biosafety.
Beyond his professional achievements, McAllister is deeply engaged in his community. He continues his commitment to mentorship through his biosafety consulting company, BioRisk Reduction, where he oversees a team of 40 members and mentors 10-15 individuals in mutual programs and project development on a one-on-one basis.
NMU Alumni Relations invites nominations for its annual awards program. For more information, visit nmu.edu/alumni/awards, email alumni@nmu.edu or call 906-227-2610.