Born and raised in Singapore, Ryan Tan graduated from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) with a B.A. in English and a double major in communication studies. He then continued to earn his master's in communication studies at NTU. Tan just finished his Ph.D. program at Penn State’s Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. Tan’s research is situated within the fields of media effects and human-computer interaction. He’s interested in the relationship between the structural, sensorial, and narrative components of interactive and entertainment media, with a specific focus on the cognitive and emotional effects that videogame components have on players. Alongside his academic endeavors, he continues to hold industrial positions in the videogame field. In his spare time, Tan enjoys dabbling in musical instruments, independent game design, and extreme sports.