For her thesis work, she studied magnetic interactions in radical pairs using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR).

The final experiments for her thesis research were conducted with an EPR spectrometer at Argonne because equipment at the University of Chicago had been damaged in an explosion.

Dr. Thurnauers studies focused on the fundamental mechanisms of photophysics and photochemistry and their applications to the design of artificial photocatalytic systems.

[9] A major area of her research was solar photochemical energy conversion in bacterial and oxygenic photosynthesis and model photosynthetic systems.

[8] Oxygenic photosynthesis is the main process providing energy to the biosphere of the planet, creating the protective ozone layer and consuming carbon dioxide.

With her collaborators, she extended her concepts to bio-inspired nanomaterials that mimic the energy transduction of natural photosynthetic systems.

"[4] Thurnauer served a two-year term (1992-1994) as the Women in Science Program Initiator, a paid 30% appointment, and for several years was a member of the WIST Steering Committee.