Throughout his administrative career, Fleming has remained a highly active and successful scientific researcher. He has authored or co-authored more than 444 publications, and is widely considered to be one of the world's foremost authorities on ultrafast processes. His ultimate goal is to develop artificial photosynthesis that would provide humanity with clean, efficient and sustainable energy. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Foreign Fellow of the Indian National Science Academy.