David Winickoff's research centers on the interaction of science, norms, and political structure in the governance of human health and the environment, with a particular focus on biotechnology and the law. The work draws upon law and Science, and Technology Studies (STS) to analyze and address socio-legal problems. He is especially interested in the processes and practices through which rules and rights are constructed, decisions exerted, and power exercised in regulatory domains involving the life sciences, e.g., intellectual property, environmental protection, food safety, human research subject protection, and public health. Through this work, he also aims to make theoretical contributions in the areas of bioethics, globalization, constitutional law, and the science-democracy relationship.