Laura Hanish has developmental expertise in children's peer relationships; aggression and bullying; and school-related contexts and outcomes. Gender and gender integration in peer interactions and relationships play a predominant theme in her work. She specializes in studying how children can develop harmonious peer relationships that are free from aggression, bullying, and harassment. She has expertise in the translation of scientific findings related to peer relationships and classroom functioning to schools. She is engaged in the basic science supporting evidence-based programs for building positive peer relationships among diverse peers in schools and she develops, tests, and disseminates these programs to schools and teachers.

Professor Hanish has published more than 80 papers, with publications appearing in top-tier outlets. Her work has been funded by NICHD, National Science Foundation, Department of Health and Human Services, and the T. Denny Sanford Foundation, and she has served as a consultant on prior IES-funded research. She has been a standing panel member on a National Institutes of Health review panel and has participated as an ad hoc grant reviewer on numerous panels, including for IES.