Nikhail is a biologist with a general interest in the evolution and ecology of animals. He has worked on topics encompassing passerine birds, squamate reptiles, and mammals; ranging from bats to elephants. His research includes assessing how biotic interactions shape species distributions, the effect of climate change and human activity on biodiversity, with more recent studies focusing on large mammal ecology. His roles at STE include, among others, generating scientific research studies from collared elephants, with an aim to ask questions that are both scientifically intriguing and practically useful for conservation.