Angela Chesler is a Research Fellow with the International Security Program in the Belfer Center, where her research examines intersecting themes of political violence and environmental politics. Her dissertation, "Politics after Autonomy: Repression, Rebellion, and Revision," examines the unintended consequences of territorial regime change. In this project, Chesler challenges conventional wisdom that territorial self-governance is peace-promoting by demonstrating how and why national actors intervene violently in autonomous regions. Another facet of her research focuses on the politics and security consequences of climate change, with publications in journals such as Global Environmental Politics and Climatic Change. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science and Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Chesler's research has received awards from the American Political Science Association and Environmental Peacebuilding Association and has been funded by organizations such as the Institute for Social Research and International Peace Research Initiative, among others. She received her B.S. in Economics and International Affairs from Georgia Tech and her M.A. in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University. She previously worked for the United States Institute of Peace.