Dr. Ryan Peterson
Assistant Professor - Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry
Research Areas:
Biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, chemical, and element characterization.
Background
Dr. Ryan Peterson an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Texas State University. He earned his BS in Chemistry at Sonoma State University and a PhD in Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University. He was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Postdoctoral Fellow at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public. Dr. Peterson also served as a Postdoctoral Researcher Associate at the University of Basel in Switzerland.
About Faculty Fellows Projects
This research initiative seeks to unlock the full potential of biochar by systematically characterizing its physical properties and optimizing its application across agricultural, environmental, and industrial contexts. Recognizing biochar’s ability to enhance soil health, boost crop yields, purify water, and sequester carbon, the project will focus on understanding how variations in biochar’s structure—such as surface area, porosity, and particle size—impact its effectiveness in real-world uses.
By evaluating biochar as a soil amendment, animal feed additive, and construction material, the initiative aims to identify the most beneficial property-application combinations, thereby maximizing environmental sustainability, agricultural productivity, and economic opportunities. Through collaboration with industry and policy stakeholders, the project will also promote education, outreach, and policy development to drive the adoption of biochar-based solutions for climate-smart and equitable resource management.
Research Impact Highlights
This initiative advances biochar research to improve sustainability, strengthen agriculture, and support climate-smart environmental solutions.
Biochar
Optimizes biochar properties like porosity, surface area, and particle size for real-world applications.
Agriculture
Evaluates uses in agriculture, water purification, animal feed, and sustainable construction.
Community Impact
Advances climate-smart solutions that improve soil health, carbon storage, and economic resilience.
Featured Media
Partnering with Communities to Tackle Youth Substance Use | UIMH. In the third session of the Understanding Indicators of Mental Health series, we learned about current adolescent substance use trends, including accidental fentanyl overdoses, and explored strategies for collaborating with community agencies and schools to address these issues.