verran works on the interactions of microorganisms with surfaces including food preparation surfaces, water pipes and dentures at manchester metropolitan university. she has looked at the pathogenicity of "candida albicans" and how it relates to stomatitis. she recognised that the properties of surfaces affected the retention of cells, and began to investigated the topography and chemistry of surfaces. she was the academic lead for a ministry of agriculture, fisheries and food (maff) link project that worked with unilever, astrazeneca, studying the impact of wear on the ability to clean food surfaces. she developed atomic force microscopy to evaluate the attachment of microorganisms to work surfaces. the project informed european commission funded pathogencombat, which informed small and medium-sized enterprises about food hygienic preparation. she served as president of the international biodeterioration biodegradation society between 2006 and 2009.