Dr. Ryland Grace

Former Molecular Biologist, after publishing a study and theory, "An Analysis of Water Based Assumptions and Recalibrations of Expectations for Evolutionary Models", was effectively ridiculed and chased out of professional academia. 

Became an educator, specifically Middle-School Science and have been tenured in the position. 

His previous background and research resulted in his recruitment by Eva Stratt in the research and  analysis of the recent celestial biologial phenomenon of "Astrophage", his advancement and research led him to become the global leading expert and a vital part of Project Hail Mary. Upon a sudden loss of chosen science officers for the interstellar project put Grace onto a path of circumstance he never could have imagined and certainly hadn't volunteered for...