Her research interests concentrate on links between social stratification, the actions of state and labor market institutions, and the changing expressions of racialization within American society. Her recent work explores the institutional features of the postindustrial-era U.S. labor market and how these factors affect the employment opportunities available to low-skilled African American women workers. At UVM, Davis teaches classes on race and ethnic relations, as well as courses exploring the intersections between race, gender, and work trends within the American labor market.