Dr. Maria (Maite) Maldonado is a Professor in Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of British Columbia. Her research explores how bioactive trace metals—particularly iron and copper—influence phytoplankton physiology and ocean productivity. She earned her PhD from McGill University in 1999. Maldonado’s work has documented iron limitation of primary productivity in the Arctic Ocean and examined how ocean acidification and thinning sea ice affect metal availability for Arctic phytoplankton. She has participated in international GEOTRACES research cruises and served on its Scientific Steering and Data Management Committees, advancing global collaboration in marine biogeochemistry. This will be Maite’s third expedition with us!