Hans Sanden

Hans Sanden is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Forest Ecology, School of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), with a habilitation in Forest Ecology (2017). His work bridges forest ecology, mycorrhizal symbiosis, and soil microbial dynamics, focusing on climate change impacts, agroforestry systems, and ecosystem services in temperate and tropical forests.

• Research Themes:
  • Role of mycorrhizal fungi in tree nutrient acquisition and soil carbon dynamics.
  • Effect of disturbances (logging, insect outbreaks, drought) on forest-soil interactions.
  • Urban groundwater quality and tree stress responses to salinity and drought.
• Projects:
  • Lead EU-funded initiatives like Wiederbelebung der akademischen Kapazitäten and High Five (Ethiopia).
  • Collaborative capacity-building projects in Ethiopia and Austria.
  • Co-investigator in climate-smart forest management and microbial physiology studies.
• Awards:
  • 2016 Förderungspreis der Stiftung '120 Jahre BOKU'.

His recent publications highlight microbial carbon-use efficiency in conservation farming, tree diversity effects on drought resilience, and urban groundwater dynamics. He mentors graduate students on forest biodiversity and soil-plant interactions.