d’Ambruoso teaches on topics related to international relations, including international relations theory, international security, human rights, and US foreign policy. His research, which is mostly qualitative and draws on primary abd archival sources, focuses on the causes of major war and wartime violence, with special emphasis on norms and beliefs as explanatory factors.

His recent book investigates the United States’ recurring use of torture since the early twentieth century. He’s also working on another large project that examines past major wars, and future nuclear ones, as self-fulfilling prophecies.