[4] In October 1999, Dearing was a member of a research team that explored how atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide drive changes in the Earth's climate and impact the planet's ecology.
Her research team trapped rodents from rat middens in the West Tintic Mountains and found that deer mice had a 30 percent infection rate for hantavirus.
Her research team then scanned the rodents to look for active genes that produce liver enzymes to detoxify the poisons in creosote and the less-toxic juniper.
[8] In 2014, Dearing was named chair of the Department of Biology and was recognized by the American Society of Mammalogists with its C. Hart Merriam Award for her "transformative and cross-disciplinary research on the ecological factors and physiological constraints that influence how mammals such as woodrats forage for food and evolve the ability to eat a wide range of plants, including those that contain toxic substances.
"[9] While serving as chair, Dearing also received the 2018 Joseph Grinnell Award for her contributions to the integration of education and research in mammalogy.