Ryan Ramphul, PhD is an Adjunct Professor in the Kinesiology Department at Rice University. Dr. Ramphul joined the Rice faculty in 2024. His work focuses on spatial epidemiology and the use of geospatial methods to better understand health behaviors and outcomes in vulnerable and underserved populations.

Dr. Ramphul earned his Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Urban Studies from The University of Texas at Austin (2008), his Master of Science in Community and Regional Planning from The University of Texas at Austin (2010), and his Doctor of Philosophy from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health (2020). His doctoral training emphasized spatial epidemiology, GIScience, and community-based research methods. He has over a decade of experience conducting geospatial research examining how environmental and neighborhood factors such as poverty, pollution, housing, and access to resources, influence health behaviors and outcomes.

Dr. Ramphul’s research integrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS), spatial statistics, and population health data to study health inequities across diverse communities. He frequently collaborates with multidisciplinary teams and institutions including The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, and Texas Children’s Hospital. In his free time, Dr. Ramphul plays in a softball league, the Playground Heroes. He also competes in story telling competitions facilitated by an organization called The Moth (check out The Moth podcast wherever you get your podcasts!).