His research interests are broadly centered on the dynamic cross-scale interactions among democratization, economic development, and environmental governance, with a more recent focus on climate change vulnerability and adaptation. After earning a degree in economics from the University of Delhi, he spent 11 years working with local communities and social movements on democratic governance of natural resources in India. He holds a PhD in political science from Duke University and was the Giorgio Ruffolo Post-doctoral Fellow in Sustainability Science at Harvard University, 2006-2007. Chhatre has published articles in Science, PNAS, Conservation Biology, Journal of Peasant Studies, and other journals. He is senior editor of Conservation Letters.