Biography
Research
My research interests include systems biology of microbial communities and roles of nutrient exchange in microbial interactions and symbioses. I lead a DOE-OBER funded Scientific Focus Area (the µBiospheres SFA, link below) focused on understanding host-microbe interactions in bioenergy relevant systems. The project seeks to uncover context-dependent regulation of these microscale interactions and their systems-level consequences. I am interested in integrating data using stable isotope probing, high-resolution imaging mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS), and ‘omics techniques (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics), and working with computational modelers to gain a predictive understanding of complex environmental communities.
Education
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, Marine Biology, Ph.D., 2012
- University of California San Diego, Ecology, Behavior, Evolution, B.Sc., 2003
Publications
2023 1 publication
- Brisson, V., C. Swink, J. Kimbrel, X. Mayali, T. Samo, S.M. Kosina, M. Thelen, T.R. Northen, and R.K. Stuart, Dynamic Phaeodactylum tricornutum exometabolites shape surrounding bacterial communities. New Phytologist, 2023. 239(4): p. 1420-1433 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19051.
2020 1 publication
- Stuart R. K., E. R. A Pederson., P. D. Weyman, P. K. Weber, U. Rassmussen, C. L. Dupont (2020). Bidirectional C and N transfer and a potential role for sulfur in an epiphytic diazotrophic mutualism. ISME J 14: 3068–3078.
2015 1 publication
- Stuart, R.K., X. Mayali, J.Z. Lee, R.C. Everroad, B. Bebout, P.K. Weber, J. Pett-Ridge, M.P. Thelen, 2015. Cyanobacterial reuse of extracellular organic carbon in microbial mats. ISME J 10:1240-1251.(link)
2013 1 publication
- Stuart, R.K., B. Brahamsha, K. Busby and B. Palenik. 2013. Genomic island genes in a coastal marine Synechococcus strain confer enhanced tolerance to copper and oxidative stress. ISME J 7: 1139-1149 (link)
2009 1 publication
- Stuart, R. K., C. L. Dupont, D. A. Johnson, I. T. Paulsen, and B. Palenik. 2009. Coastal Strains of Marine Synechococcus Species Exhibit Increased Tolerance to Copper Shock and a Distinctive Transcriptional Response Relative to Those of
2007 1 publication
- Birney, E. …R. K. Stuart…and others. 2007. Identification and analysis of functional elements in 1% of the human genome by the ENCODE pilot project. Nature 447:799-816 (link)
Other 2 publications
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=ROWumhkAAAAJ&hl=en
Selected publications


