As an interdisciplinary researcher trained in geography and environmental planning, Debolina integrates spatial and policy perspectives of urban sustainability in her work. Her primary research interest is at the intersection of complex human-nature interaction in the built environment, and she has investigated issues surrounding water quality, air pollution, vehicular emissions, urban greening, racial segregation, climate justice, and homelessness through her past and current research projects. Debolina’s doctoral work examined the social and behavioral drivers behind the adoption of climate mitigation strategies, particularly sustainable stormwater technologies. Her research philosophy is guided by three core concepts: participatory planning that integrates local knowledge, human-nature interactions, and socio-psychological theories that explain the perceptual drivers of pro-environmental behaviors.