Ryan Otter, Ph.D., serves as the Interim Vice Provost for Research and Innovation. He earned his B.S. and M.S degrees in Zoology from Michigan State University, and his Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology from Clemson University.

Dr. Otter is a professor at GVSU’s Annis Water Resources Institute, where his research focuses on understanding the fate and effects of water pollution (e.g., mercury, PCBs). He has been a faculty member for 19 years with a focus on student-centered learning, high quality research, and impactful outreach in his community. Over his academic career, he has published over 40 peer-reviewed publications and has been the principal investigator of more than eight million dollars in funding.

Prior to joining GVSU in 2023, Dr. Otter was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Miami University (Ohio). He also served as a faculty member and administrator at Middle Tennessee State University.