UMaine grad featured in Forbes “30 Under 30”

Ryan Tewhey, ’05, recently was included in the “30 Under 30: Science” feature in Forbes magazine. The “30 Under 30” series highlights young professionals who are distinguishing themselves in their chosen fields. Tewhey graduated from UMaine in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology, with an additional major in biochemistry. He is completing a Ph.D. in biology at the University of California, San Diego, exploring the use of DNA sequencing to understand what makes MRSA – methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – so deadly. The microbe is a growing threat in clinical settings such as hospitals and nursing homes, as well as in some nonclinical environments.

A native of Gorham, Tewhey spent two years after completing his studies at UMaine working at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, helping to complete the first genome-wide scan for genetic risk factors for Type II diabetes. For the past four years, in conjunction with his doctoral work, he has been conducting research at the Scripps Translational Science Institute in San Diego.

Contact: Meg Haskell, (207) 581-3766