Professor Finkbeiner ​investigates how rocks respond mechanically to pore pressure changes in a field/reservoir (i.e., injection, stimulation, or depletion), and how this impacts flow (e.g., production) from the affected reservoirs. Monitoring, laboratory testing and numerical modeling provide an understanding and enhanced predictive capabilities for these phenomena for a variety of formation types such as fractured rocks, in particular carbonates; unconventional reservoirs. Additional focus areas include wellbore stability (i.e., mechanical integrity of boreholes both during drilling and production/injection), risk mitigation. Guaranteeing successful well construction is paramount for cost reduction and optimizing well delivery. He is also involved in circular carbon, geothermal energy development for Saudi Arabia, energy storage and Red Sea research.​