Scott Stuckman

Scott Stuckman serves as a Laboratory Instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, actively engaged in the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program. He functions as Primary Instructor for multiple course sections focused on phage discovery and microbiology, utilizing Gordonia terrae as the host bacterium for isolating and characterizing novel bacteriophages.

His research interests center on microbiology and bacteriophage biology, with emphasis on genomic analysis and evolutionary science. Through the SEA-PHAGES program, he provides undergraduate students with authentic research experiences in environmental phage isolation, DNA extraction, and bioinformatics analysis. This work contributes to understanding viral diversity and host-microbe interactions within microbial ecosystems.

During Fall 2021 and Fall 2022, Stuckman instructed six and four course sections respectively, each enrolling 20 students with 2 weekly meetings totaling 3.0–3.5 hours. His instructional approach emphasizes hands-on laboratory techniques in phage discovery, from soil sampling to genomic characterization, fostering undergraduate research skills within the national SEA-PHAGES network.