Rika Anderson

Rika Anderson is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Carleton College, specializing in microbial evolution and deep-sea ecosystems. She graduated from Carleton in 2006 and now teaches courses like Genomics, emphasizing interdisciplinary connections between science, society, and policy. Her research focuses on the co-evolution of Earth's environments and microbial life, particularly in hydrothermal vent systems and early Earth conditions.

Research Interests

Dr. Anderson investigates microbial adaptation to extreme environments, including phosphorus and sulfur cycling in deep-sea hydrothermal vents. She employs genomics and phylogenomic approaches to trace metabolic evolution and understand how ancient microbial innovations shaped Earth's biogeochemical cycles. Her work bridges astrobiology and geobiology, exploring the potential for life in extraterrestrial subsurface environments.

Recent Work Trends

Her recent articles highlight studies on microbial metabolism under nutrient limitation, transposase abundance in ocean depths, and the role of mobile genetic elements in microbial adaptation. She also explores the ecological roles of microeukaryotes in vent ecosystems and the genomic basis of microbial survival in subsurface habitats.

Grants & Collaborations

• CAREER: Temporal dynamics of microbial and viral function and adaptation in hydrothermal vents (2022)
• Collaborative Research: RUI: Microbes need frenemies: unveiling microbial relationships with protist and viruses (2022)

Labs & Tools

Dr. Anderson utilizes the anvi’o platform for multi-omics analysis and collaborates on projects involving subseafloor biosphere studies. Her work often integrates field data from deep-sea expeditions with genomic and transcriptomic datasets.