Illustrative Interactions
Putting things together by taking them apart

About Ryan Ridgely

Research Scientist

I have been a Research Associate in the Witmerlab at Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine for two decades. My professional research has been focused on the head anatomy of dinosaurs, specifically the brain and its surrounding soft tissues, which includes the balance and hearing organs. My output can be seen in the scientific literature, textbooks, and museum exhibits throughout the world.

I began 20 years ago with traditional illustration. Seeing that emerging 3D technologies would be the future of scientific illustration, I was fortunate to get in on the “ground floor” of working with and visualizing CT data as 3D models. The influence of a series of seminal publications is reflected today by researchers around the world still using blue and pink as the colors for brain and ear endocasts, respectively.

Some of the published journal covers I've laid out for our research.
Journal covers
A Visual Communicator

As a graduate student in Ohio University's School of Visual Communication, my goal has been to share my passion for understanding how things work, and how they've changed over time. This interest is the same, whether it's how the smallest cell functions, or how the largest machinery works. I want to show how things go together in a way that people can see for themselves, so thay they can build their own narrative. Understanding is the only cure for complacency.

One of my favorite non-biological stories is the evolution of aircraft. Unfortunately, a great deal of the oral history of these men and machines is quickly beginning to be lost to time. What we might assume would be well documented, is already disappearing. For example, surprisingly little is well known of the Wright Brothers' aircraft and engines beyond the famous 1903 Flyer, yet it was these subsequent flying machines that sowed the seed of aviation in Europe, which is where it truly blossomed. It wasn't until the United States entered the first World War that the US truly developed its own wings.

Working in the exhibits with an original Wright Brothers' 4-40 engine.
Ridgely with Wright Engine
Skills

I have 14 years’ experience running and maintaining microCT scanners. I’ve performed mechanical maintenance and repairs on these systems. On the software side, I’m familiar with scanning parameters to build protocols for university communities, and I’ve performed data reconstruction through a variety of pathways, correcting for both beam hardening and ring artifacts.

From data to finished product, I’m familiar with a number of CT reconstruction packages. To up our game for both research and public outreach, I’ve 3 years of continuing education coursework using Maya for rigging, animation, and rendering. ZBrush, for modelling and cleanup. Adobe CC for photography and media production. In addition, I have several years of coursework in UX design, HTML, CSS, Javascript, Bootstrap, and API integration.

I attrbute much of my success and problem solving skills to years of hard work and a desire to continue learning.


Curriculum Vitae

Education:

  • 2016-present: Graduate Program in Interactive Media and Infographics. Ohio University School of Visual Communication.
  • 2000: BS. Major: Animal Science, Preveterinary. Minor: Geological Sciences. The University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island.

Additional Education:

  • 2013-2015: 3D Modeling and Animation, Ohio University School of Media Arts and Studies.
  • 2008: Human Gross Anatomy, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Relevant Employment:

  • 2006-present: Lead Technician and Technical Advisor. Ohio University Micro CT Facility.
  • 2004-present: Research Associate. WitmerLab at Ohio University (Lawrence M. Witmer, PI)
  • 2002-present: Anatomical Illustrator. WitmerLab at Ohio University (Lawrence M. Witmer, PI)

Paleontology Field Work:

  • 2002: Hell Creek Formation, Montana with Shennandoah Valley and Virginia Museum of Natural History
  • 2001: Bighorn Basin, Wyoming with Virginia Museum of Natural History
  • 2001: Hell Creek Formation, Montana with Shennandoah Valley and Virginia Museum of Natural History
  • 2000: San Juan Basin, New Mexico with State Museum of Pennsylvania

Teaching and Leadership Experience:

  • 2004-present: Training graduate, undergraduate, and medical students in CT data analysis and 3D modeling. WitmerLab, Ohio University.
  • 2001-2005: Teaching Assistant, Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy, Ohio University
  • 1998-1999: Head sailing instructor Tiverton Yacht Club
  • 1992-1999: US Sailing Level 1 Certified sailing instructor

Nationally Competitive Grants:

  • 2015-2019 National Science Foundation: “Collaborative Research: Dinosaur jaw muscle evolution and the origins of avian cranial kinesis” Co-PI, with Witmer senior PI on OU side. Collaborative project with University of Missouri (lead institution) & University of Southern Indiana; total project budget $965,031. 2015–2018. OU budget $265,481.00.
  • 2011-2014 National Science Foundation: “Toward the Visible Dinosaur: Integrating anatomical systems to test inferences of function, physiology, and behavior, with special emphasis on broader impacts and outreach” Co-PI with Witmer senior PI. 2011–2014. $350,500.00.
  • 2009-2011 National Science Foundation: “Extension for Special Creativity: Brain evolution in archosaurs: new implications for scaling, function and the evolution of the modern conditions in birds and crocodilians” Co-PI with Witmer senior PI. $180,000.00.
  • 2005-2008 National Science Foundation: “Brain evolution in archosaurs: new implications for scaling, function and the evolution of the modern conditions in birds and crocodilians” Co-PI, with G. R. Hurlburt and L.M. Witmer senior PI. $171,262.00.

Invited Symposia Platform Presentations

  • Ridgely, R. C., and L. M. Witmer. 2008. Gross Anatomical Brain Region Approximation (GABRA): a new technique for assessing brain structure in dinosaurs and other fossil archosaurs. 68th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Cleveland, OH. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28(Supplement to 3):131A.
  • Ridgely, R. C. and L. M. Witmer. 2006. Dead on arrival: optimizing CT data acquisition of fossils using modern hospital CT scanners. 66th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Ottawa, ON. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26(Suppl. to 3).

Peer Reviewed Publications:

  1. Ksepka, D. T., A. M. Balanoff, N. A. Smith, G. S. Bever, B. S. Bhullar, E. Bourdon, E. L. Braun, J. G. Burleigh, J. A. Clarke, M. W. Colbert, J. R. Corfield, F. J. Degrange, V. L. De Pietri, C. M. Early, D. J. Field, P. M. Gignac, M. Gold, R. T. Kimball, S. Kawabe, L. Lefebvre, J. Marugán-Lobón, C.S. Mongle, A. Morhardt, M. A. Norell, R C. Ridgely, R S. Rothman, R. P Scofield, C. P. Tambussi, C. R. Torres, M. van Tuinen, S. A. Walsh, A. Watanabe, L. M. Witmer, A. K. Wright, L. E. Zanno, E. D. Jarvis, J. B. Smaers. 2020. Tempo and Pattern of Avian Brain Size Evolution. Current Biology. Published: April 23, 2020 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.03.060
  2. Early, C. E., R. C. Ridgely, and L. M. Witmer. 2020. Beyond Endocasts: Using Predicted Brain-Structure Volumes of Extinct Birds to Assess Neuroanatomical and Behavioral Inferences. Diversity. 12(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/d12010034.
  3. Stocker, M. R., S. J. Nesbitt, K. E. Criswell, W. G. Parker, L. M. Witmer, T. B. Rowe, R. C. Ridgely, and M. A. Brown. 2016. A dome-headed stem-archosaur exemplifies convergence among dinosaurs and their distant relatives. Current Biology 26:2676–2680. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.07.066.
  4. Martínez, R. D. F., M. C. Lamanna, F. E. Novas, R. C. Ridgely, G. A. Casal, J. Martínez, J. R. Vita, and L. M. Witmer. 2016. A basal lithostrotian titanosaur (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) with a complete skull: Implications for the evolution and paleobiology of Titanosauria. PLoS ONE 11(4): e0151661. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0151661.
  5. Sues, H.-D., A. O. Averianov, R. C. Ridgely, and L. M. Witmer. 2015. Titanosauria (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous Bissekty Formation of Uzbekistan. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 35(1):e889145-1–e889145-14.
  6. Knoll, F., L. M. Witmer, R. C. Ridgely, F. Ortega, and J. L. Sanz. 2015. A new titanosaurian braincase from the Cretaceous “Lo Hueco” locality in Spain sheds light on neuroanatomical evolution within Titanosauria. PLOS ONE. 10(10): e0138233. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0138233
  7. Bourke, J. M., Wm. R. Porter, R. C. Ridgely, T. R. Lyson, E. R. Schachner, P. R. Bell, and L. M. Witmer. 2014. Breathing life into dinosaurs: tackling challenges of soft-tissue restoration and nasal airflow in extinct species. Anatomical Record 297:2148–2186.
  8. Eastman, J. T., L. M. Witmer, R. C. Ridgely, and K. L. Kuhn. 2014. Divergence in skeletal mass and bone morphology in Antarctic notothenioid fishes. Journal of Morphology 275:841–861. DOI 10.1002/jmor.20258.
  9. Wroe, S., C. Uphar, W. C. H. Parr, P. Clausen, R. C. Ridgely, and L. M. Witmer. 2013. Comparative biomechanical modeling of metatherian and placental saber-tooths: A different kind of bite for an extreme pouched predator. PLOS ONE 8(6): e66888. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0066888.
  10. Hurlburt, G. R., R. C. Ridgely, and L. M. Witmer. 2013. Relative size of brain and cerebrum in tyrannosaurid dinosaurs: an analysis using brain-endocast quantitative relationships in extant alligators. Pp. 134–154 In J. M. Parrish, R. E. Molnar, P. J. Currie, and E. B. Koppelhus (eds.) Tyrannosaurid Paleobiology. Indiana University Press, Bloomington.
  11. Knoll, F., R. C. Ridgely, F. Ortega, J. L. Sanz, and L. M. Witmer. 2013. Neurocranial osteology and neuroanatomy of a Late Cretaceous titanosaurian sauropod from Spain (Ampelosaurus sp.). PLOS ONE 8(1): e54991. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0054991.
  12. Knoll, F., L. M. Witmer, F. Ortega, R. C. Ridgely, and D. Schwarz-Wings. 2012. The braincase of the basal sauropod dinosaur Spinophorosaurus and 3D reconstructions of the cranial endocast and inner ear. PLoS ONE 7(1): e30060. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0030060.
  13. Tsuihiji, T., M. Watabe, K. Togtbaatar, T. Tsubamoto, R. Barsbold, S. Suzuki, A. H. Lee, R. C. Ridgely, Y. Kawahara, and L. M. Witmer. 2011. Cranial osteology of a juvenile specimen of Tarbosaurus bataar from the Nemegt Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of Bugin Tsav, Mongolia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31:497–517.
  14. Zelenitsky, D. K., F. Therrien, R. C. Ridgely, A. R. McGee, and L. M. Witmer. 2011. Evolution of olfaction in non-avian theropod dinosaurs and birds. Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
  15. Witmer, L. M. and R. C. Ridgely. 2010. The Cleveland tyrannosaur skull (Nanotyrannus or Tyrannosaurus): new findings based on CT scanning, with special reference to the braincase. Kirtlandia 57:61–81.
  16. O’Connor, P.M., Sertich J.W., Stevens, N.J., Roberts E.M., Gottfried M.D., Hieronymus T.L., Jinnah Z.A., Ridgely, R.C., Ngasala, S.E. and J. Temba. 2010. The evolution of mammal-like crocodyliforms in the Cretaceous Period of Gondwana. Nature 466:748-751
  17. Holliday, C. M., R. C. Ridgely, J. C. Sedlmayr, and L. M. Witmer. 2010. Cartilaginous epiphyses in extant archosaurs and their implications for reconstructing limb function in dinosaurs. PLoS ONE 5(9): e13120.
  18. Witmer, L. M. and R. C. Ridgely. 2009. New insights into the brain, braincase, and ear region of tyrannosaurs, with implications for sensory organization and behavior. Anatomical Record 292:1266–1296.
  19. Evans, D., L. M. Witmer, and R. C. Ridgely. 2009. Endocranial anatomy of lambeosaurine dinosaurs: a sensorineural perspective on cranial crest function. Anatomical Record 292:1315–1337.
  20. Witmer, L. M., R. C. Ridgely, D. L. Dufeau, and M. C. Semones. 2008. Using CT to peer into the past: 3D visualization of the brain and ear regions of birds, crocodiles, and nonavian dinosaurs. Pp. 67–88 in H. Endo and R. Frey (eds.), Anatomical Imaging: Towards a New Morphology. Springer-Verlag, Tokyo.
  21. Witmer, L. M., and R. C. Ridgely. 2008. The paranasal air sinuses of predatory and armored dinosaurs (Archosauria: Theropoda and Ankylosauria) and their contribution to cephalic architecture. Anatomical Record 291:1362–1388.
  22. Witmer, L. M., and R. C. Ridgely. 2008. Structure of the brain cavity and inner ear of the centrosaurine ceratopsid Pachyrhinosaurus based on CT scanning and 3D visualization. Pp. 117–144 in P. J. Currie (ed.), A New Horned Dinosaur From an Upper Cretaceous Bone Bed in Alberta. National Research Council Research Press, Ottawa.
  23. Holliday, C. M., R. C. Ridgely, A. M. Balanoff, and L. M. Witmer*. 2006. Cephalic vascular anatomy in flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) based on novel vascular injection and computed tomographic imaging analyses. Anatomical Record 288A(10)1031–41.
  24. Hieronymus, T. L., R. C. Ridgely, and L. M. Witmer. 2006. Structure of white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) horn investigated by x-ray computed tomography and histology with implications for growth and external form. Journal of Morphology 267:1172–1176.
  25. Witmer, L. M., R. C. Ridgely, H. Mayle, D. Adams. 2004. The best of both worlds: integrating CT and MR in a study of pig knees. RT Image 17(32):16–19.