Silvia Santa Maria Newell

Silvia Santa Maria Newell serves as Director of Michigan Sea Grant and Professor at the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), where she leads critical research on freshwater ecosystems. Her work bridges academic scholarship with practical environmental management through federal partnerships and stakeholder engagement initiatives focused on the Great Lakes region.

Education

• Ph.D. in Geosciences, Princeton University
• M.A. in Geosciences, Princeton University
• A.B. in Biogeochemistry, Smith College

Newell specializes in nutrient biogeochemistry and microbial ecology, with primary focus on how excess nutrients from agricultural and wastewater sources drive harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater systems. Her research integrates field studies of nitrogen cycling, mercury methylation processes, and climate change impacts on eutrophication. She develops stakeholder-driven solutions for nutrient reduction in watersheds through interdisciplinary collaboration with farmers, policymakers, and environmental managers.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant research themes in Great Lakes HABs mitigation, nutrient cycling dynamics (particularly nitrogen-phosphorus interactions), and emerging contaminants like mercury. Her work consistently connects microbial processes to ecosystem-scale phenomena, with strong emphasis on practical applications for water resource management across North American and international freshwater systems.

Scientific Awards

• Excellence in Grantsmanship (2022) for securing $1M+ research funding
• AGU Top 10 Most Downloaded Paper (2021)
• Limnology & Oceanography Outstanding Reviewer (2021)
• ASTRA Fellow, Estonia Education (2019-2020)

Newell actively mentors the next generation of environmental scientists as primary advisor to PhD candidates Berk Durutürk and Ran Jin, and Master's student Monica Woodruff. Her current $1.2M+ research portfolio includes NSF-funded projects on Lake Erie HABs mitigation (DISES CHABS: $150K), mercury-nitrogen cycling interactions (GEOTRACES: $378K), and Ohio wetland monitoring (H2Ohio: $500K). She directs major collaborative initiatives including the Great Lakes Commission HABs Collaboratory and Lake Erie Area Research Network.

As Director of Michigan Sea Grant, Newell oversees a federal-state partnership that funds research, outreach, and education programs addressing critical Great Lakes challenges. Her leadership connects university resources with community stakeholders through the Maumee River watershed engagement project and international collaborations studying nutrient pollution impacts from Lake Erie to Lake Taihu in China.