Axtman's research focuses on the synthesis of small molecules, which selectively regulate the protein associated with disease transmission routes. As a member of the Department of Chemical Biology of GlaxoSmithKline, she led a project to understand the molecular basis of immunomodulation of a class of natural products, and developed analogues with improved drug properties. Axtman is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry of UNC Eshelman College of Pharmacy. At SGC-UNC, she led the design of new chemical probes for under-studied protein kinases, which will be shared openly with collaborators to promote target discovery in human disease-related analysis.