Drazenka Svedruzic has been involved in diverse research areas in catalytic conversions for renewable energy technologies, catalyst design, and fundamental understanding of associated chemical transformations. Her research has included biocatalysts, molecular catalysts, metals, and semiconductors, as well as various catalytic conversions such as water splitting, H₂ and biofuel oxidation, CO₂ reduction, and C-C bond formation. research has been focused on the effects of extrinsic strain on optoelectronic and catalytic properties of materials (mechanochemistry, strain catalysis). Her current research focuses on changes in optoelectronic properties of small molecules under elastic strain as well as various catalytic conversions on the surfaces of extrinsically strained semiconductors and metals.

Optoelectronic and catalytic properties of intrinsically and extrinsically strained materials

Electrochemical and biochemical CO₂ reduction and C-C bond formation

Interfacing biological and nonbiological materials; biofuel cells and bioelectrodes

Biochemistry and enzymology of metalloenzyme

Svedruzic started her career at NREL as a postdoctoral researcher working on the recombinant expression and biochemical end electrochemical characterization of [FeFe] hydrogenases (H2ases). She also studied various aspects of interaction between H2ase and nanomaterials. As a staff scientist, she initially worked on the design and characterization of enzyme-based electrodes and biofuel cells as part of a cooperative research and development agreement with Lockheed Martin.