Elise Pizzi's research focuses on rural development, primarily in China. Her work has explored natural resource management and public goods provision as well as ethnic politics and migration. Outside of China, Pizzi’s research has explored the intersection of natural resources, ethnic politics, and conflict, the relationship between environmental migration and violent conflict, and migrant access to public goods and services. Pizzi was a recipient of a Fulbright grant to study drinking water access in rural China.