As a researcher Sandra has explored such topics as effects of the East Amarillo Complex wildfires of 2006 on vegetation, soil erosion and bird communities, fire and water relations in hedgehog cacti varieties, season of burn effects on native grasses of the Southern Great Plains, and fire effects in southern pine, Piedmont, and Appalachian ecosystems. Currently Sandra is studying effects of growing season burning on tanglehead, an invasive grass, as well as restoration of endangered slender-rushpea habitat