Dr. Stewart earned her Ph.D. in Plant Biology at University of California--Davis following receipt of her B.S. in Plant Genetics and Breeding at Brigham Young University. Her doctoral work focused on the phloem-limited Crinivirus, Lettuce infectious yellows virus (LIYV), including molecular biology of a plasmodesmata-associated virus protein and understanding whitefly transmission of the virus. She began work as a research scientist with the USDA-ARS Corn, Soybean, and Wheat Quality Research Unit in 2009.

Her lab focuses on understanding molecular biology and transmission of corn viruses, in particular the phloem-limited, leafhopper-transmitted Maize chlorotic dwarf virus (MCDV). In 2010 she became an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Ohio State University's department of Plant Pathology. Dr. Stewart is interested in mechanisms and control of virus transmission by arthropod vectors, improving beneficial uses of viruses in monocot crops, and understanding virus gene functions.