In the past she has studied wildlife ecology, but now focuses on social perspectives and behaviors regarding wildlife and domesticated animals in agricultural settings. Dr. Stuart has explored farmers' perspectives about wildlife on farmland and how farmland may serve as valuable wildlife habitat. Dr. Stuart is currently exploring dairy production in Michigan and how new practices may impact animal welfare, environmental quality, and producer livelihoods. While her work is theoretically grounded in political economy and science studies, she uses mixed social science methods to empirically explore relationships between humans and animals in agricultural settings. Carl S. Taylor