Mary Feeney's research focuses on public and nonprofit management, sector comparisons, and science and technology policy.

She is currently working on an NSF-funded project investigating materials sharing among academic scientists and a project investigating technology use in municipal governments. Feeney is an associate professor and Lincoln Professor of Ethics in Public Affairs. She is the Editor of the Journal of Public Administration Research & Theory, Associate Director of the Center for Science, Technology and Environmental Policy Studies (C-STEPS), and Director of the School of Public Affairs doctoral program.