Kevin Foster (biologist)

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Kevin Foster
Alma mater University of Cambridge; University of Sheffield
Known forEvolution and ecology of microbial communities; cooperation and competition in biofilms; human gut microbiome
AwardsFellow of the Royal Society (2025)
Scientific career
FieldsEvolutionary biology; microbiology
Institutions University of Oxford

Kevin FosterFRS is a British evolutionary biologist and microbiologist whose research examines how bacteria interact within communities, including the balance of competition and cooperation in biofilms and in the human gut microbiome. [1] [2] He is Chair of Microbiology at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, and a Professorial Fellow of Wadham College. [1] He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2025. [2]

Contents

Career

Foster completed an undergraduate degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge and a PhD in evolutionary biology at the University of Sheffield. [1] [3] He then led a research group as a Bauer Fellow at Harvard University before moving to Oxford, where he has held posts in the Departments of Biology and Biochemistry and now serves as Chair of Microbiology at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology. [1] [4] [5]

Research

Foster's laboratory applies theory, molecular microbiology and experimental evolution to study how microbes compete, cooperate and assemble into communities, with a particular focus on the human gut microbiome. [6] [2] The Royal Society credited his work with integrating ecological and evolutionary principles into microbiology and with showing that competitive interactions often dominate across bacterial communities. [2]

His group has reported mechanisms of colonization resistance in which diverse resident communities block pathogens through nutrient competition, work published in Science and highlighted by university releases and science media. [7] [8] [9]

Foster has also written widely cited syntheses on spatial structure, cooperation and competition in biofilms, and on the "ecosystem on a leash" view of host control over the microbiome. [10] [11] His perspectives on microbial cooperation have also been discussed in science journalism. [12]

Grants

Foster has led projects supported by the European Research Council, including an ERC Advanced Grant on bacterial competition and "bacterial warfare." [13] [14]

Selected publications

Awards and honours

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Kevin Foster". Wadham College, University of Oxford. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Professor Kevin Foster FRS". Royal Society. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Kevin Foster — Graduate Supervisors". Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "Kevin Foster — Graduate Supervisors". Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "Ecology and Evolution of Microbial Communities". Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Ecology and Evolution of Microbial Communities". Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  7. ↑ Spragge, Frances; Cunrath, Olivier; Foster, Kevin R. (2023). "Microbiome diversity protects against pathogens by nutrient blocking". Science. 382 eadj3502. doi:10.1126/science.adj3502 . Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "Study shows diverse gut bacteria communities protect against harmful pathogens by nutrient blocking". University of Oxford. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Diverse gut bacteria communities protect against harmful pathogens by nutrient blocking". Department of Biology, University of Oxford. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  10. ↑ Nadell, Carey D.; Drescher, Knut; Foster, Kevin R. (2016). "Spatial structure, cooperation and competition in biofilms" (PDF). Nature Reviews Microbiology. 14 (9): 589–600. doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2016.84 . Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  11. ↑ Foster, Kevin R.; Schluter, Jonas; Coyte, Kieran Z.; Rakoff-Nahoum, Samuel (2017). "The evolution of the host microbiome as an ecosystem on a leash" (PDF). Nature. 548: 43–51. doi:10.1038/nature23292 . Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  12. ↑ Yong, Ed (7 August 2013). "On the Microbial Frontier, Cheaters Rarely Prosper". Wired. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  13. ↑ "Professor Kevin Foster's "Bacterial Warfare" project a winner in ERC €650m funding call". Department of Biology, University of Oxford. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  14. ↑ "Oxford academics awarded European Research Council Advanced Grants for cutting-edge research". Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford. 19 June 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  15. ↑ Spragge, Frances; Cunrath, Olivier; Foster, Kevin R. (2023). "Microbiome diversity protects against pathogens by nutrient blocking". Science. 382 eadj3502. doi:10.1126/science.adj3502 . Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  16. ↑ Nadell, Carey D.; Drescher, Knut; Foster, Kevin R. (2016). "Spatial structure, cooperation and competition in biofilms" (PDF). Nature Reviews Microbiology. 14 (9): 589–600. doi:10.1038/nrmicro.2016.84 . Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  17. ↑ Foster, Kevin R.; Schluter, Jonas; Coyte, Kieran Z.; Rakoff-Nahoum, Samuel (2017). "The evolution of the host microbiome as an ecosystem on a leash" (PDF). Nature. 548: 43–51. doi:10.1038/nature23292 . Retrieved 16 October 2025.
  18. ↑ "Exceptional scientists elected as Fellows of the Royal Society". Royal Society. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 16 October 2025.
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