Silvia Winter

Silvia Winter is a researcher at the Institute of Plant Protection, part of the Department of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU). With a career spanning over two decades, she focuses on agroecology, vineyard biodiversity, and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes.

• Education:
  • Master in Bioinformatics (2018, FH Campus Wien)
  • Doctorate in Natural Sciences (2012, BOKU)
  • Degree in Agricultural Sciences (2005, BOKU)

Her research investigates how vineyard management practices, landscape composition, and climate change impact biodiversity, soil health, and pest control. She specializes in predatory mite ecology, soil biota interactions, and citizen science applications in biodiversity monitoring. A meta-analysis of her 15 most recent articles reveals trends in agroecosystem modeling, functional trait analysis, and environmental policy evaluation.

Scientific Awards:

• Dr. Karl Schleinzer Förderungspreis (2006)

Winter leads projects like "Detection dogs hunting for poisonous plants in arable fields" and "EU Environmental scenarios for ERA of non-target organisms", funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), EU institutions, and national agencies. She collaborates with institutions across Europe and South Africa, integrating soil science, plant ecology, and technology for sustainable agriculture.