Steven J.R. Allain

Dr. Steven J.R. Allain is a Lecturer in Animal Science at Anglia Ruskin University's Writtle School of Agriculture, Animal and Environmental Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Engineering. An accomplished herpetologist, he has been researching aspects of ecology and conservation of native herpetofauna at ARU since 2012, with a particular focus on amphibians and reptiles in the British Isles and internationally.

Dr. Allain earned his PhD in Biodiversity Management from the University of Kent, where he received Natural Environment Research Council funding to study ophidiomycosis in grass snakes in Norfolk. His educational background also includes an MRes in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation from Imperial College London and a BSc (Hons) in Zoology from Anglia Ruskin University.

His primary research interests span emerging infectious diseases in herpetofauna, introduced species ecology, survey techniques for reptiles and amphibians, amphibian bioacoustics, and population genetics/genomics. Dr. Allain conducts field research both in Great Britain and internationally, including projects in Malaysia and the Netherlands. He has maintained a long-term monitoring project on midwife toad populations across Great Britain, an introduced species present for over a century.

Analysis of Dr. Allain's recent publications reveals a strong focus on herpetological conservation challenges, particularly the impact of emerging diseases like ophidiomycosis on snake populations. His work frequently employs genetic and phylogeographic approaches to understand introduced species, while also documenting novel behavioral observations and predation events in wild populations. His research spans both field ecology and laboratory-based genetic analyses.

Dr. Allain has received significant recognition for his work, including:

• 2022 NBN Award for Wildlife Recording – Terrestrial
• 2022 Anglia Ruskin University Sustainability Champion
• 2014 Bob Scott Prize

As an active member of numerous professional societies, Dr. Allain serves as a Trustee for the British Herpetological Society and contributes to the IUCN SSC Amphibian and Snake Specialist Groups. He is also an editor for the journal Reptiles and Amphibians. His collaborative approach is evident in his extensive publication record featuring work with ecologists, wildlife veterinarians, and microbiologists. Dr. Allain welcomes undergraduate and postgraduate research students interested in herpetology and conservation biology, emphasizing passion and willingness to learn over pre-existing research ideas.