[1] At UC Davis, Kauzlarich leads a research group focused on the synthesis and characterization of Zintl phases and nanoclusters with applications in the fields of thermoelectric materials,[2][3][4] magnetic resonance imaging, energy storage,[5] opto-electronics, and drug delivery.
From 1985 to 1987, Kauzlarich was a postdoctoral fellow with John Corbett at Iowa State University[13] where she explored the synthesis and bonding characteristics of novel extended condensed metal chain compounds built on [R66I12Z] (R=Ln, Y, Sc; Z=B,C,N, C2) clusters.
She was the Maria Goeppert Mayer Distinguished Scholar at Argonne National Laboratory from 1997 to 1998, Faculty Assistant to the Dean of Mathematical and Physical Sciences from 2010 to 2013, and chair of the chemistry department from 2013 to 2016.
She was an associate editor for the Journal of Solid State Chemistry from 2000 to 2005,[1] and as a member of the advisory review board of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement from 2004 to 2010.
Throughout her career she has built and continues to support a pipeline of women and underrepresented students in the field of chemistry from high school through graduate study.
During her career, Kauzlarich's mentorship strategies have expanded to help support a culture shift in her community through discussions, workshops, and development of new initiatives.