Mitchell Pavao-Zuckerman

Dr. Mitchell Pavao-Zuckerman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology (ENST) at UMD. He has a PhD in Ecology from the Odum School of Ecology at the University of
Georgia, an MS in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Tennessee, and a BA in Environmental Studies from Binghamton University. He directs the Urban and Built Environment Ecology Lab where his research focuses on understanding and enhancing the ecological health of built environments by studying socio-ecological systems and urban infrastructures. His lab collaborates with experts, policymakers, and communities, applying interdisciplinary methods to promote sustainability, climate resilience, and the preservation of essential ecosystem processes.

His current projects include evaluating the ecosystem services of forest patches in Baltimore, MD; studying the links between design and environmental outcomes of stormwater green infrastructure in Prince George’s and Montgomery County MD; exploring how stakeholder engagement and stewardship impact urban tree health; and
evaluating knowledge systems and barriers to adoption of agrivoltaics in Maryland, Arizona, and Colorado. 

He is a member of the Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership and serves on the Maryland Department of the Environment’s (MDE) Watershed Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Climate Adaptation.
 

Research Interests: Climate resilience and adaptation; urban ecology; nature-based solutions; green infrastructure; urban forests; socio-ecological systems; science-fiction prototyping; agrivoltaics

Areas of Expertise: Ecosystem ecology; ecohydrology; ecosystem services assessment; science-policy dialogues; cognitive mapping