Xiaoyan Zhou holds a Ph.D in physical geography from the State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research at East China Normal University. She’s currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Padova, where she focuses on coastal environmental studies.

Her addresses key environmental challenges in coastal regions, which play vital roles in filtering pollutants from land, buffering extreme marine events, and providing essential habitats for aquatic life. She applies an interdisciplinary approach, combining fieldwork, hydrodynamics, experimental analysis and biodiversity assessment.

Her work has resulted in 14 publications in peer-reviewed journals in the related field. With a strong scientific foundation and the ability to synthesize knowledge across disciplines, she is committed to addressing pressing marine environmental issues and to contributing meaningfully to diverse marine science projects.