Chela Zabin

Chela Zabin is an Adjunct Professor of Biology at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) and Research Staff at its West Campus (Romberg Tiburon Campus). Her research focuses on three core areas: ecological impacts of non-native species, restoration of benthic habitats like oyster and eelgrass beds, and large-scale biodiversity patterns. She also emphasizes public engagement through citizen science for environmental monitoring.

Her work integrates natural processes and human impacts, particularly addressing marine invasions via biofouling regulations and vessel management. She explores restoration strategies in invaded estuaries and investigates stressor interactions affecting coastal ecosystems. Zabin collaborates with institutions like SERC’s Marine Invasions Research program and has published in journals such as Management of Biological Invasions, Ecology, and Biological Conservation.

Zabin’s research highlights practical solutions for conservation, blending policy, ecology, and community science. While no awards are explicitly listed, her contributions to invasion biology and restoration science underscore her academic impact.