Richard J. Barker
Academic Curriculum Vitae · Updated October 2026

Richard J. Barker, PhD

Plant systems biologist, biophysical instrumentation developer, and computational researcher specializing in photosynthetic boundary-layer transport, primary carbon allocation, organelle stress signaling, and biological digital twins.

  • Current: Senior Scientist & Science Co-Lead, NASA Lunar LEAF (Purdue University, Dept. of Agricultural & Biological Engineering)
  • Consortium Leadership: Chair, NASA GeneLab Plant Analysis Working Group (100+ international researchers)
  • Academic Pedigree: 11 years at UW–Madison (Botany & Genetics); Ph.D. from Rothamsted Research & University of Nottingham

Scholarly Profile & Research Program

Interdisciplinary Systems Biology

I am a plant systems biologist, biophysical instrumentation developer, and computational researcher specializing in photosynthetic boundary-layer transport, primary carbon allocation, organelle stress signaling, and biological digital twins. Trained in hormone biochemistry and genetics at Rothamsted Research and the University of Nottingham (Lawes Trust Agricultural Scholar) under Prof. Peter Hedden, I spent eleven years in research and instructional leadership at the University of Wisconsin–Madison across the Departments of Botany and Genetics.

My program bridges biophysical experimentation with high-throughput computational biology. I serve as Science Co-Lead for the NASA Lunar LEAF Science Definition Team (with Prof. D. Marshall Porterfield at Purdue University), direct the international NASA GeneLab Plant Analysis Working Group (AWG) representing 100+ members, and maintain over 150 open-source repositories of FAIR computational pipelines, IoT phenotyping firmware, and biological modeling suites. I have co-secured ~$2,000,000 in competitive extramural funding and received the 2018 UW–Madison Undergraduate Mentoring Award.

Professional Appointments

Academic, Federal & Industry Leadership
  • 2024 – Present
    Senior Scientist & Science Co-Lead (NASA Lunar LEAF)
    Purdue University · Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (West Lafayette, IN)
    Science Co-Lead for NASA Lunar LEAF Science Definition Team with Prof. D. Marshall Porterfield; investigates biophysical fluid mechanics of plant/fungal growth interfaces, physics-informed neural network boundary layer modeling, and solid-state nutrient delivery systems (Mycoponics).
  • 2018 – Present
    Chair, Plant Analysis Working Group (AWG)
    NASA GeneLab / Open Science Data Repository (OSDR) · NASA Ames Space Biosciences / Blue Marble Space Institute of Science (Moffett Field, CA)
    Lead an international consortium of 100+ plant, microbial, and spaceflight biologists across academia, government, and industry; coordinate monthly governance meetings, standardized open-science consensus pipelines, metadata harmonization, and workshop symposia.
  • 2024 – Present
    Chair, Education and Outreach Committee
    American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR) · Executive Leadership (USA)
    Direct society-wide strategic communications, student research engagement, national conference outreach events, and multi-platform media outreach.
  • 2023 – 2024
    Project Scientist
    NASA GeneLab / Open Science Data Repository (OSDR) · Blue Marble Space Institute of Science (Moffett Field, CA)
    Led cross-kingdom multi-omics data harmonization, automated bioinformatics pipeline integration, and FAIR scientific data tutorials under Branch Chief Dr. Sylvain Costes.
  • 2017 – Present
    Co-Founder & Director of Operations
    Collaborative Science Environment (CoSE) Benefit Corp & AstroBotany.com · Sector67 (Madison, WI)
    Built and deployed open-source phenotyping calibration kits (ABCD card) and citizen-science learning platforms reaching over 3,000 classrooms internationally through partnerships with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (Growing Beyond Earth) and Magnitude.io (ExoLab).
  • 2022 – 2023
    Chief Data Scientist & Consultant
    Yuri Gravity · Flight Biotechnology (Meckenbeuren, Germany)
    Designed computational flight bioreactor telemetry pipelines, hardware interfaces, and stakeholder data delivery protocols for automated microgravity space biology missions.
  • 2014 – 2023
    Scientist (2015–2023) & Postdoctoral Research Associate (2014–2015)
    University of Wisconsin–Madison · Department of Botany (Prof. Simon Gilroy Laboratory), Birge Hall (Madison, WI)
    Conducted live biosensor imaging of ROS and calcium signaling cascades; co-led spaceflight biological payloads on the International Space Station; managed multi-unit lab operations, grant proposal compilation, web administration, and directly mentored 20+ undergraduate researchers (2018 UW–Madison Mentoring Award).
  • 2012 – 2014
    Postdoctoral Research Associate
    University of Wisconsin–Madison · Department of Genetics (Prof. Patrick Masson Laboratory) (Madison, WI)
    Engineered robotic kinematic imaging hardware, automated seed sowing manifolds, and high-throughput phenotyping platforms for root gravitropism studies.
  • 2002 – 2007
    Laboratory & Greenhouse Research Assistant
    John Innes Centre · Cell & Developmental Biology (Prof. Mike Bevan Laboratory) (Norwich, UK)
    Functional genomics, molecular mapping, and controlled greenhouse cultivation of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Sponsored Research Grants & Extramural Funding

Total Co-Secured: ~$2,000,000
Project Title Sponsoring Agency & Program Role & Leadership Period Award Amount
Lunar LEAF: Lunar Ecosystem and Agricultural Feasibility
Science definition, boundary-layer biophysical modeling, and payload instrumentation for lunar plant/fungal growth systems.
NASA Biological & Physical Sciences (BPS) Science Co-Lead
PI: Prof. D. Marshall Porterfield (Purdue University)
2024 – 2027 $600,000
NASA TASTIE: Plant-Microbe Spaceflight Interactions & Transcriptomic Adaptation
Investigation of plant root-microbiome molecular adaptations under microgravity and spaceflight stress conditions.
NASA Biological & Physical Sciences (BPS) Co-Investigator
PI: Prof. Simon Gilroy (UW–Madison)
2021 – 2024 $750,000
GeneLab: Extending the Reach of the Data System Across Kingdoms
Consensus RNA-seq pipeline standardisation, metadata ontology harmonization, and cross-kingdom spaceflight datasets.
NASA Space Biology (NNH16ZTT001N-GL) Co-Investigator
PI: NASA GeneLab Consortium
2018 – 2021 $300,000
TOAST Cross-Kingdom Discovery Portal
Test of Arabidopsis Space Transcriptome: unified relational query and visualization environment for space flight experiments.
NASA GeneLab Innovation Award Co-Investigator
PI: Barker / Gilroy
2016 – 2019 $250,000
MANGO Multi-Attribute Omics Engine
Interactive multidimensional analytics engine for microbiome, radiation, and transcriptomic space biological data.
NASA JPL / Space Biosciences Co-Investigator
PI: NASA Space Biosciences
2018 – 2021 $110,000
AstroBotany Educational Gaming & Phenotyping Collaboration
Community co-design of educational space biology games and IoT automated phenotyping chambers with Gear Learning and Boys & Girls Club.
Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium (WSGC) Principal Investigator
PI: Richard Barker (UW–Madison / CoSE)
2018 – 2019 $40,000

Contributed Proposal Sections & Preliminary Data

Project Title Agency Role Period Value
Mechanical & Pathogen Response Pathways in Arabidopsis National Science Foundation (NSF) Data & Proposal Contributor (PI: Prof. Simon Gilroy) 2018 – 2021 $400,000
APEX-06: Brachypodium Spaceflight Adaptation NASA Space Biology (NNH14ZTT001N) Data & Proposal Contributor (PI: Prof. Patrick Masson) 2017 – 2019 $300,000

Peer-Reviewed Publications & Technical Standards

35 verified works · Synced with ORCID
Theme:
35 / 35
2026
  • Bauer, L., Barker, R., Cauthorn, G., Jenkins, B., Gilroy, S. (2026).
    Gravitational and Space Research, 14(1): 106-118.
    Simple Online Automated Plant Phenomics (SOAPP): web-based quantitative image processing for spaceflight flight hardware images.
    GSR Journal DOI: 10.2478/gsr-2026-0008 Code: astroroot
    @article{bauer2026enhancing-space,
      title = {Enhancing Spaceflight Imaging Data Using Simple Online Automated Plant Phenomics (SOAPP)},
      author = {Bauer, Lucas and Barker, Richard and Cauthorn, Gilbert and Jenkins, Benjamin and Gilroy, Simon},
      year = {2026},
      journal = {Gravitational and Space Research},
      volume = {14},
      number = {1},
      pages = {106-118},
      doi = {10.2478/gsr-2026-0008},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2026-0008},
    }
  • Fountain, L.L., Gilliham, M., Amitrano, C., Arouna, N., Barker, R.J., Böhmer, M., Braun, M., Brereton, N.J.B., Brocato, R.L., Bunchek, J.M., Canaday, E.L.J., Caplin, N., Castaño, P., Chamberlain, C., Decourteix, M., Del Bianco, M., De Micco, V., Doherty, C.J., Franke, M.F., Fuentes, S., Gilroy, S., Harrison, L., Hasenstein, K.H., Hauslage, J., Herranz, R., Iyer‐Pascuzzi, A., Izuma, D.S., Junya, K., Kiss, J.Z., Legué, V., Lloyd, J.P.B., Maffei, M.E., Massa, G.D., Meyers, A.D., Perera, I.Y., Poulet, L., Roychoudry, S., Sena, G., Shippen, D.E., Stoochnoff, J., Takahashi, H., Wyatt, S.E., Blancaflor, E.B. (2026).
    New Phytologist, 249(2): 656-669.
    Comprehensive vision for plant biology in space exploration and terrestrial planetary resilience.
    New Phytologist DOI: 10.1111/nph.70662
    @article{fountain2026expanding-front,
      title = {Expanding frontiers: harnessing plant biology for space exploration and planetary sustainability},
      author = {Fountain, Luke L. and Gilliham, Matthew and Amitrano, Chiara and Arouna, Nafiou and Barker, Richard J. and Böhmer, Maik and Braun, Markus and Brereton, Nicolas J. B. and Brocato, Rebecca L. and Bunchek, Jess M. and Canaday, Emma L. J. and Caplin, Nicol and Castaño, Paola and Chamberlain, Christine and Decourteix, Mélanie and Del Bianco, Marta and De Micco, Veronica and Doherty, Colleen J. and Franke, Michel F. and Fuentes, Sigfredo and Gilroy, Simon and Harrison, Lynn and Hasenstein, Karl H. and Hauslage, Jens and Herranz, Raúl and Iyer‐Pascuzzi, Anjali and Izuma, Dylan Shun and Junya, Kirima and Kiss, John Z. and Legué, Valérie and Lloyd, James P. B. and Maffei, Massimo E. and Massa, Gioia D. and Meyers, Alexander D. and Perera, Imara Y. and Poulet, Lucie and Roychoudry, Suruchi and Sena, Giovanni and Shippen, Dorothy E. and Stoochnoff, Jared and Takahashi, Hideyuki and Wyatt, Sarah E. and Blancaflor, Elison B.},
      year = {2026},
      journal = {New Phytologist},
      volume = {249},
      number = {2},
      pages = {656-669},
      doi = {10.1111/nph.70662},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.70662},
    }
  • Porterfield, D.M., Moulton, S.X., Sanchez, A.K., Sorg, A., Koenig, T., Terrell, M.S., Zahner, S., Baena, A., Proctor, C., Barker, R.J. (2026).
    Biotechnology Journal, 21(2): e70184.
    Inaugural demonstration of Mycoponics: growing fungal mycelium on biophysical porous ceramics with liquid nutrient delivery for sustainable biomaterials and circular food systems.
    Front Cover Article DOI: 10.1002/biot.70184 Code: AstroMycology
    @article{porterfield2026mycoponics-cont,
      title = {Mycoponics: Controlled Bioproduction Utilizing Biophysical, Solid‐State, Liquid Nutrient Delivery},
      author = {Porterfield, D. Marshall and Moulton, Simone X. and Sanchez, Adriana K. and Sorg, Anna and Koenig, Tayla and Terrell, M. Shane and Zahner, Sigrid and Baena, Alex and Proctor, Caitlin and Barker, Richard J.},
      year = {2026},
      journal = {Biotechnology Journal},
      volume = {21},
      number = {2},
      pages = {e70184},
      doi = {10.1002/biot.70184},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/biot.70184},
    }
  • Silva, J.C.F., Vieira, A., Chue Donahey, M.S., Silva, S.M.d.C., Veloso, T., Lopes, A., Sexson, N., Barker, R., Porterfield, D.M., Silva, C.A., Dias, R. (2026).
    Journal Article.
    DOI: 10.64898/2026.07.13.737239
    @unpublished{silva2026spacebio-knowle,
      title = {SpaceBio Knowledge Hub: A LiteratOmics Platform for Microgravity and Space Biology Research},
      author = {Silva, Jose Cleydson F and Vieira, Arthur and Chue Donahey, Melinda S. and Silva, Sirlane Maria do Carmo and Veloso, Tomas and Lopes, Adilson and Sexson, Nick and Barker, Richard and Porterfield, D Marshall and Silva, Carlos A. and Dias, Raquel},
      year = {2026},
      doi = {10.64898/2026.07.13.737239},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.13.737239},
    }
  • Barker, R.J. (2026).
    Zenodo / GitHub Open Software.
    Vision Transformer (ViT-B) exploration toolkit and multi-illumination topographic inference pipeline for the NASA-IBM Lunar Foundation Model.
    Open Source AI Code: clpds-planetary-visualization
    @software{barker2026lunar-lfm-explo,
      title = {lunar-lfm-explorer: FAIR Exploration Toolkit and Topographic Multi-Illumination Pipeline for the NASA-IBM Lunar Foundation Model},
      author = {Barker, Richard J.},
      year = {2026},
      journal = {Zenodo / GitHub Open Software},
      url = {https://github.com/dr-richard-barker/lunar-arcade},
    }
2025
  • Marshall Porterfield, D., Tulodziecki, D., Wheeler, R., Davis Cross, M.K., Monje, O., Rothschild, L.J., Barker, R.J., Schwertz, H., Collicott, S., Dutta, S. (2025).
    npj Microgravity, 11(1): 57.
    Critical investments needed in Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) for sustained lunar habitation and bioastronautics.
    npj Microgravity DOI: 10.1038/s41526-025-00518-4 Code: LunarFarm-BLSS
    @article{marshall porterfield2025critical-invest,
      title = {Critical investments in bioregenerative life support systems for bioastronautics and sustainable lunar exploration},
      author = {Marshall Porterfield, D. and Tulodziecki, Dana and Wheeler, Raymond and Davis Cross, Mai’a K. and Monje, Oscar and Rothschild, Lynn J. and Barker, Richard J. and Schwertz, Hansjorg and Collicott, Steven and Dutta, Som},
      year = {2025},
      journal = {npj Microgravity},
      volume = {11},
      number = {1},
      pages = {57},
      doi = {10.1038/s41526-025-00518-4},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00518-4},
    }
  • Barbero Barcenilla, B., Rivero, R., Lynch, A., Cromer, W., Gong, J., Harandi, B., Stegmann, M., Le, H., Lundine, D., Chung, M., Puig, J., Mikhailova, K., Coker, H., Marks, A., Gilbert, R., Scott, R., Barker, R., Glowe, P., Overbey, E.G., Mason, C.E. (2025).
    npj Microgravity, 11(1): 45.
    DOI: 10.1038/s41526-025-00490-z
    @article{barbero barcenilla2025feeding-the-cos,
      title = {Feeding the cosmos: tackling personalized space nutrition and the leaky gut challenge},
      author = {Barbero Barcenilla, B. and Rivero, R. and Lynch, A. and Cromer, W. and Gong, J. and Harandi, B. and Stegmann, M. and Le, H. and Lundine, D. and Chung, M. and Puig, J. and Mikhailova, K. and Coker, H. and Marks, A. and Gilbert, R. and Scott, R. and Barker, R. and Glowe, P. and Overbey, Eliah G. and Mason, C. E.},
      year = {2025},
      journal = {npj Microgravity},
      volume = {11},
      number = {1},
      pages = {45},
      doi = {10.1038/s41526-025-00490-z},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00490-z},
    }
  • Seo, D., Strickland, H.F., Zhou, M., Barker, R., Ferl, R.J., Paul, A.L., Gilroy, S. (2025).
    npj Microgravity, 11(1): 76.
    GLARE uses representation learning and foundation latent space extraction to uncover hidden molecular signatures across spaceflight transcriptomics.
    npj Microgravity DOI: 10.1038/s41526-025-00525-5 Code: arabidopsis-spaceflight-omics
    @article{seo2025glare-discoveri,
      title = {GLARE: discovering hidden patterns in spaceflight transcriptome using representation learning},
      author = {Seo, DongHyeon and Strickland, Hunter F. and Zhou, Mingqi and Barker, Richard and Ferl, Robert J. and Paul, Anna-Lisa and Gilroy, Simon},
      year = {2025},
      journal = {npj Microgravity},
      volume = {11},
      number = {1},
      pages = {76},
      doi = {10.1038/s41526-025-00525-5},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00525-5},
    }
  • Cauthorn, G., Crisman, K., Boles, H.O., Johnson, C.M., Subramanian, A., Barker, R., Cuthbert, E., Yamada, M., Sato, Y., Chisuga, H., Fukuoka, S., Kagami, S., Tada, C., Park, S., Kunihiro, K., Mitsukawa, K., Ueki, A., Nozawa, S., Delioglu, G. (2025).
    Gravitational and Space Research, 13(1): 30-38.
    DOI: 10.2478/gsr-2025-0002
    @article{cauthorn2025japanese-oblate,
      title = {Japanese Oblate Film as a Novel Method for Seed Handling and Activation in Microgravity},
      author = {Cauthorn, Gilbert and Crisman, Keith and Boles, Haley O. and Johnson, Christina M. and Subramanian, Aswati and Barker, Richard and Cuthbert, Emma and Yamada, Mao and Sato, Yui and Chisuga, Hachi and Fukuoka, Sakura and Kagami, Serika and Tada, Chihiro and Park, Seohee and Kunihiro, Kurumi and Mitsukawa, Kosei and Ueki, Asako and Nozawa, Sana and Delioglu, Gokce},
      year = {2025},
      journal = {Gravitational and Space Research},
      volume = {13},
      number = {1},
      pages = {30-38},
      doi = {10.2478/gsr-2025-0002},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2025-0002},
    }
  • Mokhtari, M., Reinsch, S.S., Barcenilla, B.B., Ziyaei, K., Barker, R.J. (2025).
    npj Microgravity, 11(1): 52.
    DOI: 10.1038/s41526-025-00492-x
    @article{mokhtari2025space-driven-ro,
      title = {Space-driven ROS in cells: a hidden danger to astronaut health and food safety},
      author = {Mokhtari, Majid and Reinsch, Sigrid S. and Barcenilla, Borja Barbero and Ziyaei, Kobra and Barker, Richard John},
      year = {2025},
      journal = {npj Microgravity},
      volume = {11},
      number = {1},
      pages = {52},
      doi = {10.1038/s41526-025-00492-x},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-025-00492-x},
    }
2024
  • Camera, A., Tabetah, M., Castañeda, V., Kim, J., Galsinh, A.S., Haro-Vinueza, A., Salinas, I., Seylani, A., Arif, S., Das, S., Mori, M.A., Carano, A., de Oliveira, L.C., Muratani, M., Barker, R., Zaksas, V., Goel, C., Dimokidis, E., Taylor, D.M., Jeong, J., Overbey, E., Meydan, C., Porterfield, D.M., Díaz, J.E., Caicedo, A., Schisler, J.C., Laiakis, E.C., Mason, C.E., Kim, M.S., Karouia, F., Szewczyk, N.J., Beheshti, A. (2024).
    Scientific Reports, 14(1): 13098.
    DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57948-5
    @article{camera2024aging-and-putat,
      title = {Aging and putative frailty biomarkers are altered by spaceflight},
      author = {Camera, Andrea and Tabetah, Marshall and Castañeda, Veronica and Kim, JangKeun and Galsinh, Aman Singh and Haro-Vinueza, Alissen and Salinas, Ivonne and Seylani, Allen and Arif, Shehbeel and Das, Saswati and Mori, Marcelo A. and Carano, Anthony and de Oliveira, Lorraine Christine and Muratani, Masafumi and Barker, Richard and Zaksas, Victoria and Goel, Chirag and Dimokidis, Eleni and Taylor, Deanne M. and Jeong, Jisu and Overbey, Eliah and Meydan, Cem and Porterfield, D. Marshall and Díaz, Juan Esteban and Caicedo, Andrés and Schisler, Jonathan C. and Laiakis, Evagelia C. and Mason, Christopher E. and Kim, Man S. and Karouia, Fathi and Szewczyk, Nathaniel J. and Beheshti, Afshin},
      year = {2024},
      journal = {Scientific Reports},
      volume = {14},
      number = {1},
      pages = {13098},
      doi = {10.1038/s41598-024-57948-5},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57948-5},
    }
  • Rutter, L.A., Cope, H., MacKay, M.J., Herranz, R., Das, S., Ponomarev, S.A., Costes, S.V., Paul, A.M., Barker, R., Taylor, D.M., Bezdan, D., Szewczyk, N.J., Muratani, M., Mason, C.E., Giacomello, S. (2024).
    Nature Communications, 15(1): 4952.
    Comprehensive multi-tissue astronaut omics atlas characterizing spaceflight stress responses at molecular scale.
    Nature Communications DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47237-0 Code: Astronaut_flavenoids_and_biomarkers
    @article{rutter2024astronaut-omics,
      title = {Astronaut omics and the impact of space on the human body at scale},
      author = {Rutter, Lindsay A. and Cope, Henry and MacKay, Matthew J. and Herranz, Raúl and Das, Saswati and Ponomarev, Sergey A. and Costes, Sylvain V. and Paul, Amber M. and Barker, Richard and Taylor, Deanne M. and Bezdan, Daniela and Szewczyk, Nathaniel J. and Muratani, Masafumi and Mason, Christopher E. and Giacomello, Stefania},
      year = {2024},
      journal = {Nature Communications},
      volume = {15},
      number = {1},
      pages = {4952},
      doi = {10.1038/s41467-024-47237-0},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47237-0},
    }
  • Gonzalez, E., Lee, M.D., Tierney, B.T., Lytell, N., Flores, P., Mishra, M., Beckett, L., Finkelstein, A., Mo, A., Walton, P., Karouia, F., Barker, R., Jansen, R.J., Green, S.J., Weging, S., Kelliher, J., Singh, N.K., Bezdan, D., Galazska, J., Brereton, N.J.B. (2024).
    npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, 10(1): 71.
    DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00545-1
    @article{gonzalez2024spaceflight-alt,
      title = {Spaceflight alters host-gut microbiota interactions},
      author = {Gonzalez, E. and Lee, M. D. and Tierney, B. T. and Lytell, N. and Flores, P. and Mishra, M. and Beckett, L. and Finkelstein, A. and Mo, A. and Walton, P. and Karouia, F. and Barker, R. and Jansen, R. J. and Green, S. J. and Weging, S. and Kelliher, J. and Singh, N. K. and Bezdan, D. and Galazska, J. and Brereton, N. J. B.},
      year = {2024},
      journal = {npj Biofilms and Microbiomes},
      volume = {10},
      number = {1},
      pages = {71},
      doi = {10.1038/s41522-024-00545-1},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41522-024-00545-1},
    }
  • Shahbazi, M., Rutter, L.A., Barker, R. (2024).
    Plant Molecular Biology, 114(4): 79.
    DOI: 10.1007/s11103-024-01478-1
    @article{shahbazi2024transcriptional,
      title = {Transcriptional response of Arabidopsis thaliana’s root-tip to spaceflight},
      author = {Shahbazi, Mohammad and Rutter, Lindsay A. and Barker, Richard},
      year = {2024},
      journal = {Plant Molecular Biology},
      volume = {114},
      number = {4},
      pages = {79},
      doi = {10.1007/s11103-024-01478-1},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-024-01478-1},
    }
2023
  • Sanders, L.M., Scott, R.T., Yang, J.H., Qutub, A.A., Garcia Martin, H., Berrios, D.C., Hastings, J.J.A., Rask, J., Mackintosh, G., Hoarfrost, A.L., Chalk, S., Kalantari, J., Khezeli, K., Antonsen, E.L., Babdor, J., Barker, R., Baranzini, S.E., Beheshti, A., Delgado-Aparicio, G.M., Glicksberg, B.S., Greene, C.S., Haendel, M., Hamid, A.A., Heller, P., Jamieson, D., Jarvis, K.J., Komarova, S.V., Komorowski, M., Kothiyal, P., Mahabal, A., Manor, U., Mason, C.E., Matar, M., Mias, G.I., Miller, J., Myers, J.G., Nelson, C., Oribello, J., Park, S.m., Parsons-Wingerter, P., Prabhu, R.K., Reynolds, R.J., Saravia-Butler, A., Saria, S., Sawyer, A., Singh, N.K., Snyder, M., Soboczenski, F., Soman, K., Theriot, C.A., Van Valen, D., Venkateswaran, K., Warren, L., Worthey, L., Zitnik, M., Costes, S.V. (2023).
    Nature Machine Intelligence, 5(3): 208-219.
    Roadmap for autonomous, self-driving biological laboratories and AI-driven experiment orchestration on deep space exploration missions.
    Nature Machine Intelligence DOI: 10.1038/s42256-023-00618-4 Code: genai-spacebio-roadmap
    @article{sanders2023biological-rese,
      title = {Biological research and self-driving labs in deep space supported by artificial intelligence},
      author = {Sanders, Lauren M. and Scott, Ryan T. and Yang, Jason H. and Qutub, Amina Ann and Garcia Martin, Hector and Berrios, Daniel C. and Hastings, Jaden J. A. and Rask, Jon and Mackintosh, Graham and Hoarfrost, Adrienne L. and Chalk, Stuart and Kalantari, John and Khezeli, Kia and Antonsen, Erik L. and Babdor, Joel and Barker, Richard and Baranzini, Sergio E. and Beheshti, Afshin and Delgado-Aparicio, Guillermo M. and Glicksberg, Benjamin S. and Greene, Casey S. and Haendel, Melissa and Hamid, Arif A. and Heller, Philip and Jamieson, Daniel and Jarvis, Katelyn J. and Komarova, Svetlana V. and Komorowski, Matthieu and Kothiyal, Prachi and Mahabal, Ashish and Manor, Uri and Mason, Christopher E. and Matar, Mona and Mias, George I. and Miller, Jack and Myers, Jerry G. and Nelson, Charlotte and Oribello, Jonathan and Park, Seung-min and Parsons-Wingerter, Patricia and Prabhu, R. K. and Reynolds, Robert J. and Saravia-Butler, Amanda and Saria, Suchi and Sawyer, Aenor and Singh, Nitin Kumar and Snyder, Michael and Soboczenski, Frank and Soman, Karthik and Theriot, Corey A. and Van Valen, David and Venkateswaran, Kasthuri and Warren, Liz and Worthey, Liz and Zitnik, Marinka and Costes, Sylvain V.},
      year = {2023},
      journal = {Nature Machine Intelligence},
      volume = {5},
      number = {3},
      pages = {208-219},
      doi = {10.1038/s42256-023-00618-4},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s42256-023-00618-4},
    }
  • Scott, R.T., Sanders, L.M., Antonsen, E.L., Hastings, J.J.A., Park, S.m., Mackintosh, G., Reynolds, R.J., Hoarfrost, A.L., Sawyer, A., Greene, C.S., Glicksberg, B.S., Theriot, C.A., Berrios, D.C., Miller, J., Babdor, J., Barker, R., Baranzini, S.E., Beheshti, A., Chalk, S., Delgado-Aparicio, G.M., Haendel, M., Hamid, A.A., Heller, P., Jamieson, D., Jarvis, K.J., Kalantari, J., Khezeli, K., Komarova, S.V., Komorowski, M., Kothiyal, P., Mahabal, A., Manor, U., Garcia Martin, H., Mason, C.E., Matar, M., Mias, G.I., Myers, J.G., Nelson, C., Oribello, J., Parsons-Wingerter, P., Prabhu, R.K., Qutub, A.A., Rask, J., Saravia-Butler, A., Saria, S., Singh, N.K., Snyder, M., Soboczenski, F., Soman, K., Van Valen, D., Venkateswaran, K., Warren, L., Worthey, L., Yang, J.H., Zitnik, M., Costes, S.V. (2023).
    Nature Machine Intelligence, 5(3): 196-207.
    Artificial intelligence frameworks for real-time biological health monitoring and precision biosensing in extreme deep space environments.
    Nature Machine Intelligence DOI: 10.1038/s42256-023-00617-5 Code: AstronautHealth
    @article{scott2023biomonitoring-a,
      title = {Biomonitoring and precision health in deep space supported by artificial intelligence},
      author = {Scott, Ryan T. and Sanders, Lauren M. and Antonsen, Erik L. and Hastings, Jaden J. A. and Park, Seung-min and Mackintosh, Graham and Reynolds, Robert J. and Hoarfrost, Adrienne L. and Sawyer, Aenor and Greene, Casey S. and Glicksberg, Benjamin S. and Theriot, Corey A. and Berrios, Daniel C. and Miller, Jack and Babdor, Joel and Barker, Richard and Baranzini, Sergio E. and Beheshti, Afshin and Chalk, Stuart and Delgado-Aparicio, Guillermo M. and Haendel, Melissa and Hamid, Arif A. and Heller, Philip and Jamieson, Daniel and Jarvis, Katelyn J. and Kalantari, John and Khezeli, Kia and Komarova, Svetlana V. and Komorowski, Matthieu and Kothiyal, Prachi and Mahabal, Ashish and Manor, Uri and Garcia Martin, Hector and Mason, Christopher E. and Matar, Mona and Mias, George I. and Myers, Jerry G. and Nelson, Charlotte and Oribello, Jonathan and Parsons-Wingerter, Patricia and Prabhu, R. K. and Qutub, Amina Ann and Rask, Jon and Saravia-Butler, Amanda and Saria, Suchi and Singh, Nitin Kumar and Snyder, Michael and Soboczenski, Frank and Soman, Karthik and Van Valen, David and Venkateswaran, Kasthuri and Warren, Liz and Worthey, Liz and Yang, Jason H. and Zitnik, Marinka and Costes, Sylvain V.},
      year = {2023},
      journal = {Nature Machine Intelligence},
      volume = {5},
      number = {3},
      pages = {196-207},
      doi = {10.1038/s42256-023-00617-5},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s42256-023-00617-5},
    }
  • Barker, R., Kruse, C.P.S., Johnson, C., Saravia-Butler, A., Fogle, H., Chang, H.S., Trane, R.M., Kinscherf, N., Villacampa, A., Manzano, A., Herranz, R., Davin, L.B., Lewis, N.G., Perera, I., Wolverton, C., Gupta, P., Jaiswal, P., Reinsch, S.S., Wyatt, S., Gilroy, S. (2023).
    npj Microgravity, 9(1): 21.
    Comprehensive multi-mission meta-analysis of Arabidopsis spaceflight transcriptomes revealing hardware boundary layer micro-environments as the dominant stress driver.
    Featured Meta-Analysis DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00247-6 Code: Photorespiration_multiomics_microgravity
    @article{barker2023meta-analysis-o,
      title = {Meta-analysis of the space flight and microgravity response of the Arabidopsis plant transcriptome},
      author = {Barker, Richard and Kruse, Colin P. S. and Johnson, Christina and Saravia-Butler, Amanda and Fogle, Homer and Chang, Hyun-Seok and Trane, Ralph Møller and Kinscherf, Noah and Villacampa, Alicia and Manzano, Aránzazu and Herranz, Raúl and Davin, Laurence B. and Lewis, Norman G. and Perera, Imara and Wolverton, Chris and Gupta, Parul and Jaiswal, Pankaj and Reinsch, Sigrid S. and Wyatt, Sarah and Gilroy, Simon},
      year = {2023},
      journal = {npj Microgravity},
      volume = {9},
      number = {1},
      pages = {21},
      doi = {10.1038/s41526-023-00247-6},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-023-00247-6},
    }
2022
  • Barker, R., Johns, S., Trane, R., Gilroy, S. (2022).
    Methods in Molecular Biology.
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2297-1_1
    @incollection{barker2022analysis-of-pla,
      title = {Analysis of Plant Root Gravitropism},
      author = {Barker, Richard and Johns, Sarah and Trane, Ralph and Gilroy, Simon},
      year = {2022},
      booktitle = {Methods in Molecular Biology},
      pages = {3-16},
      doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-2297-1_1},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-2297-1_1},
    }
  • Lombardino, J., Bijlani, S., Singh, N.K., Wood, J.M., Barker, R., Gilroy, S., Wang, C.C.C., Venkateswaran, K. (2022).
    Microbiology Spectrum, 10(1): e01994-21.
    DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01994-21
    @article{lombardino2022genomic-charact,
      title = {Genomic Characterization of Potential Plant Growth-Promoting Features of
                Sphingomonas
                Strains Isolated from the International Space Station},
      author = {Lombardino, Jonathan and Bijlani, Swati and Singh, Nitin K. and Wood, Jason M. and Barker, Richard and Gilroy, Simon and Wang, Clay C. C. and Venkateswaran, Kasthuri},
      year = {2022},
      journal = {Microbiology Spectrum},
      volume = {10},
      number = {1},
      pages = {e01994-21},
      doi = {10.1128/spectrum.01994-21},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01994-21},
    }
  • Yang, J., Mathew, I.E., Rhein, H., Barker, R., Guo, Q., Brunello, L., Loreti, E., Barkla, B.J., Gilroy, S., Perata, P., Hirschi, K.D. (2022).
    Plant Physiology, 190(4): 2617-2636.
    DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac375
    @article{yang2022the-vacuolar-h-,
      title = {The vacuolar H+/Ca transporter CAX1 participates in submergence and anoxia stress responses},
      author = {Yang, Jian and Mathew, Iny Elizebeth and Rhein, Hormat and Barker, Richard and Guo, Qi and Brunello, Luca and Loreti, Elena and Barkla, Bronwyn J and Gilroy, Simon and Perata, Pierdomenico and Hirschi, Kendal D},
      year = {2022},
      journal = {Plant Physiology},
      volume = {190},
      number = {4},
      pages = {2617-2636},
      doi = {10.1093/plphys/kiac375},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiac375},
    }
  • Fitzgerald, C., Vens, C.S., Miller, N., Barker, R., Westphall, M., Lombardino, J., Miao, J., Swanson, S.J., Gilroy, S. (2022).
    Methods in Molecular Biology.
    The Automated Botanical Contact Device (ABCD): an engineered mechatronic system delivering reproducible touch stimulation to growing plants.
    Methods Mol Biol DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1677-2_6 Code: ABCD_v2
    @incollection{fitzgerald2022using-the-autom,
      title = {Using the Automated Botanical Contact Device (ABCD) to Deliver Reproducible, Intermittent Touch Stimulation to Plants},
      author = {Fitzgerald, Caleb and Vens, Cullen S. and Miller, Nathan and Barker, Richard and Westphall, Matthew and Lombardino, Johnathan and Miao, Jerry and Swanson, Sarah J. and Gilroy, Simon},
      year = {2022},
      booktitle = {Methods in Molecular Biology},
      pages = {81-94},
      doi = {10.1007/978-1-0716-1677-2_6},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1677-2_6},
    }
2021
  • Barker, R., Fernandez Garcia, M.N., Powers, S.J., Vaughan, S., Bennett, M.J., Phillips, A.L., Thomas, S.G., Hedden, P. (2021).
    New Phytologist, 229(3): 1521-1534.
    Cell-type resolution mapping of gibberellin hormone biosynthesis within the Arabidopsis root tip, resolving the spatial coordination of plant root growth.
    New Phytologist DOI: 10.1111/nph.16967 Code: virtual-root
    @article{barker2021mapping-sites-o,
      title = {Mapping sites of gibberellin biosynthesis in the Arabidopsis root tip},
      author = {Barker, Richard and Fernandez Garcia, Maria Nieves and Powers, Stephen J. and Vaughan, Simon and Bennett, Malcolm J. and Phillips, Andrew L. and Thomas, Stephen G. and Hedden, Peter},
      year = {2021},
      journal = {New Phytologist},
      volume = {229},
      number = {3},
      pages = {1521-1534},
      doi = {10.1111/nph.16967},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16967},
    }
  • Overbey, E.G., Saravia-Butler, A.M., Zhang, Z., Rathi, K.S., Fogle, H., da Silveira, W.A., Barker, R.J., Bass, J.J., Beheshti, A., Berrios, D.C., Blaber, E.A., Cekanaviciute, E., Costa, H.A., Davin, L.B., Fisch, K.M., Gebre, S.G., Geniza, M., Gilbert, R., Gilroy, S., Hardiman, G., Herranz, R., Kidane, Y.H., Kruse, C.P., Lee, M.D., Liefeld, T., Lewis, N.G., McDonald, J.T., Meller, R., Mishra, T., Perera, I.Y., Ray, S., Reinsch, S.S., Rosenthal, S.B., Strong, M., Szewczyk, N.J., Tahimic, C.G., Taylor, D.M., Vandenbrink, J.P., Villacampa, A., Weging, S., Wolverton, C., Wyatt, S.E., Zea, L., Costes, S.V., Galazka, J.M. (2021).
    iScience, 24(4): 102361.
    Establishment of the standardized NASA GeneLab RNA-seq consensus pipeline for reproducible processing of space biology datasets.
    NASA Consensus Pipeline DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102361 Code: NASA_GeneLab_MicroArray_Codes
    @article{overbey2021nasa-genelab-rn,
      title = {NASA GeneLab RNA-seq consensus pipeline: Standardized processing of short-read RNA-seq data},
      author = {Overbey, Eliah G. and Saravia-Butler, Amanda M. and Zhang, Zhe and Rathi, Komal S. and Fogle, Homer and da Silveira, Willian A. and Barker, Richard J. and Bass, Joseph J. and Beheshti, Afshin and Berrios, Daniel C. and Blaber, Elizabeth A. and Cekanaviciute, Egle and Costa, Helio A. and Davin, Laurence B. and Fisch, Kathleen M. and Gebre, Samrawit G. and Geniza, Matthew and Gilbert, Rachel and Gilroy, Simon and Hardiman, Gary and Herranz, Raúl and Kidane, Yared H. and Kruse, Colin P.S. and Lee, Michael D. and Liefeld, Ted and Lewis, Norman G. and McDonald, J. Tyson and Meller, Robert and Mishra, Tejaswini and Perera, Imara Y. and Ray, Shayoni and Reinsch, Sigrid S. and Rosenthal, Sara Brin and Strong, Michael and Szewczyk, Nathaniel J. and Tahimic, Candice G.T. and Taylor, Deanne M. and Vandenbrink, Joshua P. and Villacampa, Alicia and Weging, Silvio and Wolverton, Chris and Wyatt, Sarah E. and Zea, Luis and Costes, Sylvain V. and Galazka, Jonathan M.},
      year = {2021},
      journal = {iScience},
      volume = {24},
      number = {4},
      pages = {102361},
      doi = {10.1016/j.isci.2021.102361},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2021.102361},
    }
  • Barker, R., Costes, S.V., Miller, J., Gebre, S.G., Lombardino, J., Gilroy, S. (2021).
    npj Microgravity, 7(1): 15.
    Rad-Bio-App: an open-science platform for biologists to explore and model space radiation exposures across historical missions.
    npj Microgravity DOI: 10.1038/s41526-021-00143-x Code: Plant_response_to_radiation
    @article{barker2021rad-bio-app-a-d,
      title = {Rad-Bio-App: a discovery environment for biologists to explore spaceflight-related radiation exposures},
      author = {Barker, Richard and Costes, Sylvain V. and Miller, Jack and Gebre, Samrawit G. and Lombardino, Jonathan and Gilroy, Simon},
      year = {2021},
      journal = {npj Microgravity},
      volume = {7},
      number = {1},
      pages = {15},
      doi = {10.1038/s41526-021-00143-x},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41526-021-00143-x},
    }
2020
  • Rutter, L., Barker, R., Bezdan, D., Cope, H., Costes, S.V., Degoricija, L., Fisch, K.M., Gabitto, M.I., Gebre, S., Giacomello, S., Gilroy, S., Green, S.J., Mason, C.E., Reinsch, S.S., Szewczyk, N.J., Taylor, D.M., Galazka, J.M., Herranz, R., Muratani, M. (2020).
    Patterns, 1(9): 100148.
    International consortium standards establishing FAIR guidelines and reproducible processing workflows for space life sciences.
    Patterns (Cell Press) DOI: 10.1016/j.patter.2020.100148 Code: OSDR_Plant_Alternative_Splicing
    @article{rutter2020a-new-era-for-s,
      title = {A New Era for Space Life Science: International Standards for Space Omics Processing},
      author = {Rutter, Lindsay and Barker, Richard and Bezdan, Daniela and Cope, Henry and Costes, Sylvain V. and Degoricija, Lovorka and Fisch, Kathleen M. and Gabitto, Mariano I. and Gebre, Samrawit and Giacomello, Stefania and Gilroy, Simon and Green, Stefan J. and Mason, Christopher E. and Reinsch, Sigrid S. and Szewczyk, Nathaniel J. and Taylor, Deanne M. and Galazka, Jonathan M. and Herranz, Raul and Muratani, Masafumi},
      year = {2020},
      journal = {Patterns},
      volume = {1},
      number = {9},
      pages = {100148},
      doi = {10.1016/j.patter.2020.100148},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patter.2020.100148},
    }
  • Neelam, S., Richardson, B., Barker, R., Udave, C., Gilroy, S., Cameron, M.J., Levine, H.G., Zhang, Y. (2020).
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(18): 6762.
    DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186762
    @article{neelam2020changes-in-nucl,
      title = {Changes in Nuclear Shape and Gene Expression in Response to Simulated Microgravity Are LINC Complex-Dependent},
      author = {Neelam, Srujana and Richardson, Brian and Barker, Richard and Udave, Ceasar and Gilroy, Simon and Cameron, Mark J. and Levine, Howard G. and Zhang, Ye},
      year = {2020},
      journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
      volume = {21},
      number = {18},
      pages = {6762},
      doi = {10.3390/ijms21186762},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21186762},
    }
  • Afshinnekoo, E., Scott, R.T., MacKay, M.J., Pariset, E., Cekanaviciute, E., Barker, R., Gilroy, S., Hassane, D., Smith, S.M., Zwart, S.R., Nelman-Gonzalez, M., Crucian, B.E., Ponomarev, S.A., Orlov, O.I., Shiba, D., Muratani, M., Yamamoto, M., Richards, S.E., Vaishampayan, P.A., Meydan, C., Foox, J., Myrrhe, J., Istasse, E., Singh, N., Venkateswaran, K., Keune, J.A., Ray, H.E., Basner, M., Miller, J., Vitaterna, M.H., Taylor, D.M., Wallace, D., Rubins, K., Bailey, S.M., Grabham, P., Costes, S.V., Mason, C.E., Beheshti, A. (2020).
    Cell, 183(5): 1162-1184.
    Multi-omics landmark paper defining the fundamental biological features of human and plant spaceflight across NASA GeneLab datasets.
    Cell DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.10.050 Code: OSDR_X-species_V2
    @article{afshinnekoo2020fundamental-bio,
      title = {Fundamental Biological Features of Spaceflight: Advancing the Field to Enable Deep-Space Exploration},
      author = {Afshinnekoo, Ebrahim and Scott, Ryan T. and MacKay, Matthew J. and Pariset, Eloise and Cekanaviciute, Egle and Barker, Richard and Gilroy, Simon and Hassane, Duane and Smith, Scott M. and Zwart, Sara R. and Nelman-Gonzalez, Mayra and Crucian, Brian E. and Ponomarev, Sergey A. and Orlov, Oleg I. and Shiba, Dai and Muratani, Masafumi and Yamamoto, Masayuki and Richards, Stephanie E. and Vaishampayan, Parag A. and Meydan, Cem and Foox, Jonathan and Myrrhe, Jacqueline and Istasse, Eric and Singh, Nitin and Venkateswaran, Kasthuri and Keune, Jessica A. and Ray, Hami E. and Basner, Mathias and Miller, Jack and Vitaterna, Martha Hotz and Taylor, Deanne M. and Wallace, Douglas and Rubins, Kathleen and Bailey, Susan M. and Grabham, Peter and Costes, Sylvain V. and Mason, Christopher E. and Beheshti, Afshin},
      year = {2020},
      journal = {Cell},
      volume = {183},
      number = {5},
      pages = {1162-1184},
      doi = {10.1016/j.cell.2020.10.050},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2020.10.050},
    }
  • Barker, R., Lombardino, J., Rasmussen, K., Gilroy, S. (2020).
    Frontiers in Plant Science, 11: 147.
    Test of Arabidopsis Space Transcriptome (TOAST): an open-science relational portal enabling plant biologists worldwide to explore microgravity and spaceflight datasets.
    TOAST Discovery Tool DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00147 Code: toast2
    @article{barker2020test-of-arabido,
      title = {Test of Arabidopsis Space Transcriptome: A Discovery Environment to Explore Multiple Plant Biology Spaceflight Experiments},
      author = {Barker, Richard and Lombardino, Jonathan and Rasmussen, Kai and Gilroy, Simon},
      year = {2020},
      journal = {Frontiers in Plant Science},
      volume = {11},
      pages = {147},
      doi = {10.3389/fpls.2020.00147},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.00147},
    }
2019
  • Lien, M.R., Barker, R.J., Ye, Z., Westphall, M.H., Gao, R., Singh, A., Gilroy, S., Townsend, P.A. (2019).
    Plant Methods, 15(1): 6.
    Design and deployment of an open-source, low-cost Raspberry Pi automated imaging platform for continuous plant phenotyping.
    Plant Methods DOI: 10.1186/s13007-019-0392-1 Code: ABCD_v2
    @article{lien2019a-low-cost-and-,
      title = {A low-cost and open-source platform for automated imaging},
      author = {Lien, Max R. and Barker, Richard J. and Ye, Zhiwei and Westphall, Matthew H. and Gao, Ruohan and Singh, Aditya and Gilroy, Simon and Townsend, Philip A.},
      year = {2019},
      journal = {Plant Methods},
      volume = {15},
      number = {1},
      pages = {6},
      doi = {10.1186/s13007-019-0392-1},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-019-0392-1},
    }
  • Choi, W., Barker, R.J., Kim, S., Swanson, S.J., Gilroy, S. (2019).
    American Journal of Botany, 106(1): 123-136.
    DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1223
    @article{choi2019variation-in-th,
      title = {Variation in the transcriptome of different ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana reveals signatures of oxidative stress in plant responses to spaceflight},
      author = {Choi, Won‐Gyu and Barker, Richard J. and Kim, Su‐Hwa and Swanson, Sarah J. and Gilroy, Simon},
      year = {2019},
      journal = {American Journal of Botany},
      volume = {106},
      number = {1},
      pages = {123-136},
      doi = {10.1002/ajb2.1223},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ajb2.1223},
    }
2017
  • Barker, R., Gilroy, S. (2017).
    The Biochemist, 39(6): 10-13.
    Popular science feature in The Biochemist detailing what happens to living cells when gravity is removed.
    Science Communication DOI: 10.1042/bio03906010
    @article{barker2017life-in-space-i,
      title = {Life in space isn't easy, even if you are green},
      author = {Barker, Richard and Gilroy, Simon},
      year = {2017},
      journal = {The Biochemist},
      volume = {39},
      number = {6},
      pages = {10-13},
      doi = {10.1042/bio03906010},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1042/bio03906010},
    }
2016
  • Barker, R., Cox, B., Silber, L., Sangari, A., Assadi, A., Masson, P. (2016).
    Methods in Molecular Biology.
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3356-3_2
    @incollection{barker2016assessing-gravi,
      title = {Assessing Gravitropic Responses in Arabidopsis},
      author = {Barker, Richard and Cox, Benjamin and Silber, Logan and Sangari, Arash and Assadi, Amir and Masson, Patrick},
      year = {2016},
      booktitle = {Methods in Molecular Biology},
      pages = {11-20},
      doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-3356-3_2},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3356-3_2},
    }
  • Fitzgerald, C.P., Barker, R.J., Choi, W.G., Swanson, S.J., Stephens, S.D., Huber, C., Nimunkar, A.J., Gilroy, S. (2016).
    Gravitational and Space Research, 4(2): 8-19.
    Far-red light hardware systems engineered to reliably impose and release seed dormancy for spaceflight mission profiles.
    GSR Journal DOI: 10.2478/gsr-2016-0008
    @article{fitzgerald2016development-of-,
      title = {Development of Equipment that Uses Far-Red Light to Impose Seed Dormancy in Arabidopsis for Spaceflight},
      author = {Fitzgerald, Caleb P. and Barker, Richard J. and Choi, Won-Gyu and Swanson, Sarah J. and Stephens, Shawn D. and Huber, Colleen and Nimunkar, Amit J. and Gilroy, Simon},
      year = {2016},
      journal = {Gravitational and Space Research},
      volume = {4},
      number = {2},
      pages = {8-19},
      doi = {10.2478/gsr-2016-0008},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.2478/gsr-2016-0008},
    }
2015
  • Swanson, S.J., Barker, R., Ye, Y., Gilroy, S. (2015).
    Methods in Molecular Biology.
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2697-8_12
    @incollection{swanson2015evaluating-mech,
      title = {Evaluating Mechano-Transduction and Touch Responses in Plant Roots},
      author = {Swanson, Sarah J. and Barker, Richard and Ye, Yonggeng and Gilroy, Simon},
      year = {2015},
      booktitle = {Methods in Molecular Biology},
      pages = {143-150},
      doi = {10.1007/978-1-4939-2697-8_12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2697-8_12},
    }
2013
  • Barker, R., Cox, B., Mackie, T.R., Masson, P. (2013).
    Plant Methods, 9(1): 41.
    The Vacuum Seed Sowing Manifold: an open-source vacuum-assisted hardware tool enabling precise high-throughput arraying of small seeds.
    Plant Methods DOI: 10.1186/1746-4811-9-41 Code: Seed_sowing_simulator
    @article{barker2013vacuum-seed-sow,
      title = {Vacuum Seed Sowing Manifold: a novel device for high-throughput sowing of Arabidopsis seeds},
      author = {Barker, Richard and Cox, Benjamin and Mackie, Thomas Rockwell and Masson, Patrick},
      year = {2013},
      journal = {Plant Methods},
      volume = {9},
      number = {1},
      pages = {41},
      doi = {10.1186/1746-4811-9-41},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4811-9-41},
    }

Honors & Awards

Recognitions for Research, Mentorship & Innovation
  • 2026
    Front Cover Feature, Biotechnology Journal
    Wiley-VCH / Biotechnology Journal (Vol. 21, Issue 2)
    Featured for inaugural Mycoponics publication: Controlled Bioproduction Utilizing Biophysical, Solid-State, Liquid Nutrient Delivery.
  • 2019
    Thora Halstead Young Investigator Award
    American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR)
    National recognition for pioneering contributions to space gravitational plant biology and open-science data frameworks.
  • 2018
    Undergraduate Mentoring Award
    University of Wisconsin–Madison
    Awarded for exceptional multi-year research mentoring of >20 undergraduate and post-baccalaureate scholars in Birge Hall, including underrepresented students via the PEOPLE Program.
  • 2015
    WARF / Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID) StartUp Weekend Winner
    Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)
    Director of winning 'FlashLapse' automated plant phenotyping imaging team.
  • 2010
    BBSRC Biotechnology Business Competition National Finalist (2nd Place)
    Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Oxford, UK
    Selected across UK universities for commercialization concept in agricultural biotechnology.
  • 2008 – 2009
    Best Science Communication Student Award
    Rothamsted Research, UK
    Recognized for translating agricultural hormone biochemistry and genetics to public and student audiences.
  • 2007 – 2011
    Lawes Trust Agricultural Scholarship
    Lawes Agricultural Trust & Rothamsted Research, UK
    Prestigious 4-year doctoral fellowship supporting research in plant science and gibberellin hormone biochemistry.
  • 2006
    Kenneth Whymes Memorial Prize for Distinction in Plant Science
    University of Nottingham, UK
    Conferred for top academic standing in undergraduate plant sciences.

Education & Executive Training

Doctoral & Postdoctoral Foundations
  • 2007 – 2011
    Ph.D. in Plant Science & Hormone Biochemistry
    University of Nottingham & Rothamsted Research, UK
    • Thesis: Molecular genetics and spatial regulation of gibberellin biosynthesis in the Arabidopsis root tip
    • Supervisor: Prof. Peter Hedden (Rothamsted Research)
    • Honors: Lawes Trust Agricultural Scholarship
  • 2003 – 2007
    B.Sc. (Hons) in Plant Science (First Class Honours)
    University of Nottingham, UK
    • First Class Honours with University Certificate of Merit
    • Awarded the Kenneth Whymes Memorial Prize for Distinction in Plant Science (2006)

Executive & Specialized Technical Training

  • 2020
    American Family Insurance Social Impact Educational Accelerator
    Strategic communications, KPI analytics, and stakeholder/donor stewardship
  • 2023 – 2024
    NASA Transform to Open Science (TOPS) Curriculum
    Open-source science standards, FAIR research reproducibility
  • 2021
    NASA Spaceflight Technologies, Applications & Research (STAR) Leadership
    Space biology payload architecture and flight operational management
  • 2021 – 2022
    Software & Data Carpentry
    Reproducible research data workflows, shell scripting, Git version control
  • 2015
    UW–Madison DELTA Teaching & Mentoring Program
    Evidence-based STEM pedagogical design, inclusive research mentoring

Instructional & Mentoring Leadership

Recipient of 2018 UW–Madison Mentoring Award
  • 2012 – 2023
    UW–Madison Undergraduate Mentoring Leadership
    University of Wisconsin–Madison
    Directly mentored 20+ undergraduate and post-baccalaureate researchers across Botany and Genetics. Mentored students have gone on to doctoral programs, industry careers, and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed papers.
  • 2017 – 2020
    AstroBotany Experiential Project-Based Laboratory
    UW–Madison & Sector67
    Founded and instructed an interdisciplinary lab where undergraduates designed microcontroller plant growth chambers, computer vision algorithms, and plant stress assays.
  • 2022 – 2025
    Curriculum Lead & Instructor, NASA GeneLab for High Schools
    NASA Space Biosciences
    Trained over 500 educators and advanced high school students nationwide in Linux command line, RNA-seq quantification, and FAIR data curation.
  • 2016 – 2023
    Pre-College STEM Mentorship (PEOPLE Program)
    University of Wisconsin–Madison
    Mentored first-generation and underrepresented pre-college scholars in Birge Hall labs and co-developed virtual space biology workshops during COVID-19.
  • 2016 – Present
    University Guest Lecturer
    UW–Madison & Purdue University
    Lectures delivered across Plant Physiology (Botany 500), Plant Development, Molecular Genetics (Genetics 560), and ABE Sensor Systems.
  • 2004 – Present
    Capoeira Instructor & Community Practitioner
    UK & Madison, WI
    Over 20 years teaching Afro-Brazilian Capoeira, fostering inclusive community movement, mutual respect, and student mental and physical wellbeing.

Professional Service & Review Panels

National & Consortium Leadership
  • 2018 – Present
    Chair, Plant Analysis Working Group (AWG)
    NASA GeneLab / Open Science Data Repository (OSDR)
    Coordinates 100+ international researchers; hosts monthly scientific seminars; publishes standardized pipelines; organizes annual public workshops at ASGSR and COSPAR.
  • 2024 – Present
    Chair, Education and Outreach Committee
    American Society for Gravitational and Space Research (ASGSR)
    Leads national conference student programs, public outreach initiatives, and social media communications.
  • 2019 – Present
    Federal Peer Reviewer
    National Science Foundation (NSF) & NASA
    NSF Proto-OKN Expert Panel (2023–2024); NASA TOPS & ROSES Open-Source Science (2023); NASA Space Biology ad-hoc reviewer.
  • 2015 – Present
    Journal Peer Reviewer
    International Scientific Journals
    Regular reviewer for Nature Communications, npj Microgravity, Frontiers in Plant Science, Plant Methods, Biotechnology Journal, iScience, Patterns, and International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Federal Peer Review Panels

  • 2023 – 2024
    Expert Peer Review Panelist · National Science Foundation (NSF)
    Prototype Open Knowledge Network (Proto-OKN) Solicitation Panel
  • 2023
    Scientific Peer Review Panelist · National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
    Transform to Open Science (TOPS) & ROSES-23 F.15 Open-Source Science
  • 2019 – Present
    Ad-hoc Reviewer · NASA Space Biology
    Flight and Ground Research Proposals