Prior to his appointment at Wisconsin, Rudolph taught biology, chemistry, and physics at various high schools throughout Wisconsin. He writes on the history of science education in the United States and, in addition, explores issues related to the teaching of the nature of science in current school practice. His first book, Scientists in the Classroom: The Cold War Reconstruction of American Science Education, examined the intellectual, social, and cultural forces that led to the sweeping reorganization of high school science curriculum after World War II.