Her research program centers around perinatal mental health with a focus on mechanisms that lead to perinatal depression. Current active projects include study of biomarkers of inflammation in perinatal depression and the effect of magnesium on maternal mood. In addition to these prospective studies, she has a background in epidemiology and effectiveness outcomes research. She has applied this training to multiple facets of obstetrics, including understanding the role of cervical length in preterm birth prevention, improving outcomes of cervical insufficiency, prediction and prevention of cesarean delivery, and optimizing of outcomes in women undergoing a trial of labor after cesarean.