Maria van Leeuwe

Dr. Maria van Leeuwe is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Groningen with dual appointments in the Faculty of Science and Engineering (Stefels lab - Ecophysiology of Marine Microalgae) and the Faculty of Arts (Arctic and Antarctic studies). Her research focuses on marine microalgae in polar environments, with particular expertise in phytoplankton physiology, biogeochemical cycling, and sea ice ecosystems. She maintains an active research profile with publications spanning from 2019 to 2025, including significant contributions to major polar research initiatives like the MOSAiC expedition.

Dr. van Leeuwe's research interests center on phytoplankton ecology in polar regions, with specific focus on dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) production, carbon fixation processes, and nutrient cycling in sea ice ecosystems. Her work examines how environmental stressors like light conditions affect algal physiology, and how these processes scale up to influence larger biogeochemical cycles in the Arctic and Antarctic. She investigates the phenology of polar microalgae and their responses to climate change, with implications for understanding broader ecosystem dynamics and climate feedback mechanisms.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on polar biogeochemistry, particularly examining the connections between ice algae, carbon cycles, and sulfur compounds that influence climate regulation. Her work spans field studies during polar expeditions, laboratory experiments with phytoplankton cultures, and large-scale data synthesis from circumpolar research efforts. A recurring theme is understanding how climate change affects the timing and magnitude of biological processes in polar marine ecosystems, with implications for global climate models.

• Active participant in the MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) expedition
• Contributor to the CRiceS project (Climate relevant interactions and feedbacks: The key role of sea ice and snow in the polar and global climate system), 2021-2023
• Current Principal Investigator on the MACS project (The key role of mixotrophy in Antarctic carbon and sulphur cycles), 2024-2027

Dr. van Leeuwe has been actively involved in public engagement, with multiple media appearances discussing polar research including the impactful piece "Environmental researchers are watching the world end: 'It got so dark, so empty and quiet'" (2024). Her research has been featured in Dutch media outlets covering the effects of melting sea ice on Arctic ecosystems. She has participated in several high-profile polar expeditions, including the NICO Expedition (2018) and research on melting glaciers (2015).

As part of the Stefels lab at the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, Dr. van Leeuwe collaborates with an international network of polar researchers. Her work involves extensive fieldwork in both Arctic and Antarctic regions, laboratory analysis of algal pigments and biogeochemical processes, and integration of data from multiple polar research initiatives. She contributes to major international collaborations studying sea ice ecosystems and their role in global biogeochemical cycles.