Bradley Matthews

Bradley Matthews is a Researcher at the Institute of Forest Ecology within the Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). His work focuses on forest ecology and ecosystem dynamics, particularly carbon cycling in mountain and urban environments, with emphasis on disturbance impacts from windthrow, clearcutting, and bark beetle outbreaks. He currently leads the Vienna Urban Carbon Laboratory project (2021-2025), funded by national public entities, which monitors urban CO2 emissions using tall tower eddy covariance systems.

Education:

• PhD (Promotion) in 2017

His core research interests include forest ecology, ecosystem research, environmental physics, hydrology, and agricultural meteorology. He investigates how disturbances and climate extremes alter soil carbon dynamics, microbial communities, and decomposition processes, with recent expansion into urban cooling effects and green infrastructure equity. Media contributions highlight practical applications, such as his 2024 study showing uneven distribution of urban green cooling in Vienna.

Analysis of his 2017-2022 publications reveals consistent focus on forest disturbance effects on soil carbon and fungal communities, alongside urban CO2 monitoring. Key methodologies involve eddy covariance towers, stable isotope analysis, and spatial heterogeneity mapping. Trends indicate growing interdisciplinary work connecting mountain forest resilience with urban climate mitigation strategies.

Scientific Awards:

• City of Vienna Science Scholarship (2019)
• 120 Years of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Dissertation Prize (2018)

Dr. Matthews has supervised university theses and secured research funding through major projects. As principal investigator for the Vienna Urban Carbon Laboratory (2021-2025), he coordinates with the Institute of Soil Research and national entities. His prior role in the C-Alp II project (2017-2019), funded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences, involved international collaboration across six countries. He has delivered 30 lectures globally including Austria (17), Germany (2), UK (2), and Brazil (1).

He leads the Vienna Urban Carbon Laboratory (VUCL) team operating tall tower eddy covariance systems for city-scale CO2 monitoring. His work also integrates with the Calcareous Alps Forest Ecosystem Research initiative, examining long-term disturbance impacts on mountain forests through field sites like Zöbelboden and Molln. Current efforts focus on translating urban carbon data into climate policy through media engagement and public science communication.