Her research in the field of organometallic catalysis focuses on developing highly selective carbon–hydrogen bond activation methods to streamline the process of complex molecule synthesis.
From 1992 to 1993, she worked in the biology graduate program at Johns Hopkins University with Christian Anfinsen on thermophilic bacteria protein folding.
During this time, she developed the first synthetically useful methane monooxygenase (MMO) mimic system for catalytic epoxidations with hydrogen peroxide.
[4] White and her team aim to study and develop selective allylic and aliphatic C-H oxidation reactions for use in organic synthesis.
[6] Recent research in the White lab includes designing reactions for effecting non-directed, remote aliphatic C-H hydroxylation of simple amide-containing molecules.