Stephen's research interests are in the genetics of wildlife with particular emphasis on the application of molecular and field approaches to the population dynamics and conservation of rare or declining wildlife as well as to the study of super-abundant species. He is also interested in understanding how the genomes of organisms influence, and can be influenced by, their environment and how that understanding can be integrated into the analysis of ecological systems. His specific teaching responsibilities at undergraduate level are in Conservation Genetics and he also supervises honours and postgraduate students working on environmental genetics and genomics.

Genetics with special emphasis on the application of molecular techniques to wildlife management and conservation and evolutionary biology. Understanding how the genomes of organisms influences, and can be influenced by, their environment