For Ryan Bowen, RIT’s inaugural Distinguished Doctoral Alumni Award winner, nothing is more exciting and challenging than creating innovative engineering solutions to present-day emergent problems. A three-time alumnus of RIT, receiving his BS & MS in Computer Engineering and his Ph.D. in Microsystems Engineering, Ryan is Chief Technology Officer at NRGXP - a multi-disciplinary technology company with a focus on building and integrating devices in the IoT Ecosystem.

His research and development work includes multiple patents and publications related to biometrics, machine learning, and algorithm development as well as leading R&D for a product called NIGHTWATCH which is a wearable technology for horses that helps detect the onset of distress by monitoring their behavior and biometrics. The product was a finalist at the 2018 SXSW Conference in the Interactive Innovation Awards in Wearable Tech.

As a proud supporter of RIT and a founding member of the Sentinel Society donor community, Ryan finds time to volunteer with the university as a member of the RIT Graduate School Dean’s Advisory Council. He also attends and supports the Graduate Showcase each year as a judge and session chair. In addition to his fulltime job at NRGXP, Ryan is an adjunct professor at RIT, teaching advanced programing in the Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering Department.

In his personal life, Ryan enjoys spending time with his family including his wife and fellow alum, Alexandra, and their two children. When time permits, he enjoys hiking the high peaks in the Adirondacks.