After earning his BSc, Graham Stafford took up an BBSRC-funded PhD the laboratory of Professor Colin Murrell in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Warwick investigating the molecular mechanisms of methane monooxygenase genetic regulation in Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b and related organisms.

After graduation in 2002, he joined the laboratory of Professor Colin Hughes in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge funded by a Wellcome Trust Programme Grant held by Professor Hughes to investigate various aspects of flagellar biogenesis in enteric bacteria.  This allowed him to develop an interest in protein secretion and the molecular pathogenesis of disease causing bacteria.

Since taking up his position back in Sheffield, he has been growing the group and continues to pursue a number of interests from Molecular Microbiology of periodontal pathogens through antimicrobials and synthetic biology and still retains an interest in flagellar biogenesis.

Currently, he teaches Medical and Oral Microbiolgy in the Dental School and aspects of Protein Secretion in Chemical and Biological Engineering.

In Jan 2013, he was promoted to senior lecturer level and took over as the chair of the Early Careers Group aimed at representing and championing the needs and career development of Early Career Researchers in the medical faculty.