Sylvia Sander

Sylvia Sander is a Professor of Excellence in Marine Mineral Resources at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, affiliated with the Faculty of Dynamics of the Ocean Floor. She holds an honorary professorship at the University of Otago, New Zealand. Her research focuses on hydrothermal biogeochemistry, trace metal speciation, and anthropogenic contamination in coastal areas. Sander has led multiple international initiatives, including the European Marine Board's Deep Sea and Ocean Health Working Group (since 2023) and chairs the Marine Sciences Section at Kiel University.

• Education: Doctorate (1995) and Diploma in Chemistry (1992), Technical University of Kaiserslautern.
• Prior Roles: Professor at the University of Otago (2014–2021), Director of NIWA/University of Otago Oceanography Research Centre (2001–2014).

Her research interests span marine mineral resources, hydrothermal systems, and the impact of climate change on trace metal biogeochemistry. She has authored over 100 publications (h-index 39) and contributed to expeditions like HEXPLORES (2023) and HYDROTHERMADEC (2016/2017).

Sander's awards include the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Science Prize (2011), Fellowships from the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (2017) and Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg (2016), and editorial roles in journals like Marine Chemistry. She has supervised over 20 doctoral and master's students.