Maya Bhatia

Maya Bhatia
Alma mater	University of Alberta (BSc, MSc) MIT WHOI Joint Program (PhD)
Scientific career
Fields	Biogeochemistry Microbial ecology Arctic science
Institutions	University of Alberta

Maya Bhatia was a biogeochemist and Associate Editor, known for her research in the Arctic, focusing on microbial ecology and biogeochemistry. Dr. Bhatia passed away on August 16, 2023, during field work near Grise Fiord.

Early life and education

Bhatia was an alumna of the University of Alberta, where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees, contributing early to her field under the supervision of Martin Sharp and Julia Foght in the Departments of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Biological Sciences. She furthered her education in the MIT-WHOI Joint Program, graduating in February 2012 with a PhD, co-advised by Elizabeth Kujawinski and Sarah Das in the MG&G Department.

Career and research

As an Assistant Professor at the University of Alberta and a CAIP Chair in Watershed Science, Bhatia's research spanned across glaciers, ice sheets, and oceans. Her work focused on understanding the interactions between microbes and their environment, particularly in relation to carbon cycling and nutrient production, with implications for global climate change.

Death

Dr. Bhatia died while conducting field work in the High Arctic near Aujuittuq (Grise Fiord), Nunavut, on August 16, 2023.