Zydlewski earned a Ph.D. at the University of Maine, served in postdoctoral and professional positions in fisheries biology with the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in western Massachusetts, and returned to the University of Maine in 2004. Her research focuses on sea-run fish, in particular shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon, as well as the effect of tidal energy generation on marine resources. She serves as the University of Maine Chancellor's appointment to the Board of Trustees of the proposed magnet Maine Ocean School.