Bio
Dr. Matthew R. Ryder is an R&D Staff Scientist in the Material Sciences and Technology Division within the Physical Sciences Directorate. His research focuses on using neutron scattering and neutron imaging, along with vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and FTIR) and x-ray diffraction in conjunction with computational chemistry to investigate the molecular-level behavior of materials. His work spans fundamental studies of thermal, mechanical, and high-pressure response properties of porous materials and supramolecular systems to more applied work in plastics upcycling and new approaches to graphite, silicon, and low-carbon cement production.
Currently, Dr. Ryder is advancing applications in clean energy and industrial decarbonization, with ongoing projects including carbon management, hydrogen storage, solid waste conversion, and the development of new approaches to economically viable graphite, silicon, and low-carbon cement.
Originally from the Shetland Islands in the north of Scotland, Dr. Ryder obtained his M.Chem. degree (First Class Honors) in Chemistry with Computational Chemistry from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and his D.Phil. in Engineering Science from the University of Oxford. Following his D.Phil., he was a Physics Lecturer and awarded the prestigious EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship at the University of Oxford to begin his independent research career before joining ORNL in June 2018 as the youngest ever Clifford G. Shull Fellow.
Professional Experience
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
R&D Staff Scientist (2021–Present)
Clifford G. Shull Distinguished Staff Fellow (2018–2021)
University of Oxford
EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow (2017–2018)
Physics Lecturer (2016–2017)
Awards
Materials Science and Technology Division (MSTD) Early Career Award (2023)
American Chemical Society (ACS) Emerging Investigator in Crystal Growth & Design (2021)
Foresight Fellowship in Molecular-Scale Engineering (2020)
Neutron Scattering Division (NSD) Best Experiment Group Award (2020)
British Zeolite Association (BZA) Founders’ Award (2017) • EPSRC Doctoral Prize (2017)
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Theoretical Chemistry Coulson Prize (2017)
Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Chemistry Prize (2013)
Dr. Ryder's work on controlled metal oxide and porous carbon temptation using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) was featured on the front cover of the American Chemical Society (ACS) journal Crystal Growth & Design. Link to article
Dr. Ryder's review of hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) as a rising class of porous molecular materials was featured on the front cover of the American Chemical Society (ACS) journal Accounts of Materials Research. Link to article