Stephen Nelson earned his undergraduate degree in biologyfrom California State Polytechnic University of Pomona, graduating valedictorian and summa cum laude. This was followed by a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from University of California, Riverside, and then an MD from University of California, San Diego.

His research interests are in the genetic causes of epilepsy, treatment options for intractable seizures, the molecular basis of developmental brain disorders, prenatal causes of cerebral palsy, management of intractable headaches, and others.