Professor Ruiz's research interests are in machine learning, artificial intelligence and data mining. She has worked on numerous interdisciplinary research projects with clinicians from the University of Massachusetts Medical School on developing and using machine learning algorithms over clinical and behavioral patient data.

Ruiz is also a member of WPI's Center for Project-Based Learning divers team of faculty. She has advised PhD, MS, undergraduate, and high school students in disciplinary and interdisciplinary research projects. She has also advised projects at the intersection of science, technology, and society at the WPI Project Centers in London, England, and Wellington, New Zealand.