Stephen Barker

Professor Stephen Barker is a faculty member in the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences at the University of Queensland (UQ), within the Faculty of Science. He holds the rank of Professor and is actively involved in research supervision and media engagements related to head lice and ticks. His primary research interests include genetics, microbiology, and zoology, with a focus on tick and louse systematics, molecular phylogenetics, and mitochondrial genomics.

Education:

• Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), James Cook University
• Doctor of Philosophy, Macquarie University

Research Interests: Professor Barker’s work revolves around understanding the evolutionary relationships, genetic diversity, and ecological roles of ticks and lice. His studies include tick taxonomy, climate impacts on tick distribution, and the development of methods for controlling parasitic arthropods. He has contributed significantly to mitochondrial genome research, uncovering insights into gene rearrangements and fragmentation in parasitic insects.

Funding: Current and past grants include the Development of a membrane-feeding system for Australian paralysis ticks (Queensland grant) and ARC-funded projects on mitochondrial genome function and parasite evolution. Notable collaborations involve studies on tick-borne diseases and global tick phylogenetics.

Advising & Grants: Professor Barker has supervised numerous PhD students, including work on tick climate impacts, mitochondrial genomics, and mite systematics. His grants span decades, addressing topics from acaricide resistance to microbial control of veterinary parasites.

Labs/Teams: His research group focuses on tick and louse biology, leveraging molecular tools to address ecological and public health challenges posed by these parasites.