Maira Maselli

Maira Maselli serves as a Guest Researcher in the Marine Biology section of the Department of Biology at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on marine plankton ecology with particular emphasis on mixotrophic organisms and their ecological significance in marine ecosystems. Based at Strandpromenaden 5 in Helsingør, Denmark, she maintains an active research profile with international collaborations.

Dr. Maselli completed her PhD in 2021 through the Department of Biology at the University of Copenhagen with her dissertation titled 'Eco-physiology of prey generalist mixoplanktonic ciliates.' Her educational background established her expertise in the physiological mechanisms underlying mixoplankton behavior and trophic strategies.

Her research interests center on mixoplankton ecology, particularly the physiology and trophic dynamics of mixotrophic ciliates such as Strombidium species. She investigates how these organisms balance photosynthetic and heterotrophic nutrition under varying environmental conditions including light availability, nutrient concentrations, and prey dynamics. Her work bridges laboratory experiments with field studies in environments ranging from Greenlandic fjords to coastal marine systems, examining how glacial meltwater impacts marine micro-plankton communities.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a progression from fundamental physiological studies toward more applied research with policy implications. Her recent 2024 paper demonstrates how her work has evolved to address practical applications of mixoplankton research in marine ecosystem management frameworks like the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, indicating growing recognition of the importance of these organisms in ecosystem functioning.

Dr. Maselli actively collaborates with researchers across multiple institutions globally, as evidenced by her co-authorship on papers with scientists from Greenland, the Netherlands, and Italy. Her work has gained recognition in academic circles with references on Wikipedia pages and sharing across social media platforms including X (Twitter) and Facebook, while attracting attention on academic networking sites like Mendeley.