Mitchell A Pavao-Zuckerman

Dr. Mitchell A Pavao-Zuckerman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Technology at the University of Maryland's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He directs the Urban and Built Environment Sustainability Lab, focusing on co-productive research linking ecology, design, and policy to address urban environmental challenges. His work spans green infrastructure performance, stormwater management, agrivoltaics, and socio-ecological resilience in cities.

Research Interests: Dr. Pavao-Zuckerman investigates how urban ecosystems function under anthropogenic pressures, with emphasis on:

• Hydrological services of green infrastructure and urban forests
• Agrivoltaic systems for energy-food-water synergies
• Soil-plant-biogeochemistry interactions in built environments
• Governance and decision-making for climate-resilient cities

Publication Trends: Recent works (2020-2024) demonstrate strong focus on urban hydrology, stormwater infrastructure resilience, socio-ecological dimensions of green infrastructure, and scaling agrivoltaic solutions. Studies employ field measurements, socio-hydrological frameworks, and stakeholder engagement across Baltimore, Tucson, and other urban systems.

Awards & Grants:

• Teaching Innovation Grant (UMD Provost's Office)
• Sustainability Teaching Fellow (University of Maryland)
• $1.2M DOE FARMS grant for agrivoltaics scaling (2024)

Lab & Advising: Leads the Urban and Built Environment Sustainability Lab with instrumentation for soil/water analysis. Collaborates with Montgomery County, MD on agrivoltaics and stormwater projects. Teaches courses in ecosystem ecology (ENST 360), ecosystem services (ENST 410), and urban sustainability (ENST 607).