Maria Val Martin

Dr. Maria Val Martin is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield's School of Biosciences, where she conducts cutting-edge research at the intersection of atmospheric science, climate change, and environmental engineering. With a distinguished career spanning institutions in the UK and USA including Harvard University, Colorado State University, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, she currently holds a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship while leading innovative projects like the UK's first Air Quality Garden at Sheffield Botanical Gardens.

Her research integrates advanced numerical models (atmospheric chemical transport, land, and Earth system models) with field data and satellite observations to study atmosphere-biosphere-climate feedbacks, air pollution dynamics, and land-based CO₂ removal strategies. Key projects include enhanced rock weathering for carbon sequestration, fire smoke dispersion modeling, and ozone-vegetation coupling analyses.

Recent publications focus on prescribed burning impacts on air quality, climate-land use interactions, and geochemical approaches to climate mitigation. She also contributes to science communication through education outreach and public engagement initiatives, while serving as Director of Sheffield:Air and associate editor for Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene.