Maite Maldonado

Maite Maldonado is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth, Ocean & Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She holds a Canada Research Chair II and has been a faculty member since 2003. Her research focuses on trace metal acquisition mechanisms in marine phytoplankton and bacteria, and their role in regulating oceanic primary productivity and climate.

Education:

• B.A., Smith College (1991)
• Ph.D., McGill University (1999)
• Postdoctoral training at UC Santa Cruz, Princeton University, and University of Maine

Research Interests:

• Physiological mechanisms of trace metal (Fe, Cu, Zn) utilization in marine microbes
• Biogeochemical cycles of trace elements in oceans
• Climate impacts of phytoplankton metal physiology
• Trace metal interactions with harmful algal blooms

Recent Article Trends:

Recent work emphasizes Arctic Ocean trace metal dynamics, microplastic pollution quantification via radiocarbon methods, and aerosol effects on phytoplankton communities in Fe-limited regions. Her studies bridge lab experiments with field observations in critical zones like the Northeast Pacific and Subarctic.

Grants & Advising:

• Supervised 15+ doctoral/master's students since 2012
• Extensive fieldwork in Line P transect, Beaufort Sea, and Strait of Georgia
• Collaborations with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Metro Vancouver

Labs & Teams:

• Member of UBC's Climate Crisis Committee
• Active in Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre programs
• Canada Research Chair in Marine Biogeochemistry