Her research involves investigation of the mechanisms that trigger the growth of glial tumors, the most commonly observed brain tumor. She is currently supported by a National Institutes of Health grant to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in ion channel interaction in glial cells and determine the effects of ion channel interaction on cell growth, proliferation, and migration. Dr. Petroff is a member of the Society for Neuroscience and the American Physiological Society. She currently serves on the Awards Committee of the American Physiological Society.