Stacy Zhang

Dr. Stacy Zhang is an Assistant Professor at North Carolina State University's Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (MEA), affiliated with the College of Sciences and the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology in Morehead City, NC. Her research focuses on marine community ecology, particularly biodiversity's role in coastal ecosystems and the impacts of anthropogenic change. She investigates how global change affects fish communities and essential habitats, and explores how positive species interactions can improve restoration outcomes.

Education: Ph.D. in Marine Science and Conservation from Duke University (2019), B.S. in Biology from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2012). Her work combines field experiments and large-scale data analysis to address restoration challenges and ecological shifts under climate change.

Research Themes: 1) Global change impacts on coastal ecosystems; 2) Enhancing restoration success through ecological facilitation. Key areas include salt marsh resilience, tropical cyclone effects on seagrass ecosystems, and the role of biodiversity in mediating climate stressors.

Publications highlight her focus on restoration theory, species interactions, and climate adaptation strategies. Her lab emphasizes applied science bridging basic ecology and conservation needs, with ongoing projects in seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and estuarine communities.

Labs/Teams: Based at NC State MEA Department and the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, focusing on field-based marine ecology and restoration science.