About

Matthew J. Eckelman is a Professor and Associate Chair for Faculty in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University College of Engineering. He is also an affiliated faculty member in Chemical Engineering, Marine and Environmental Sciences, and the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. His research focuses on life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis, sustainable production and green design, energy systems and emissions modeling, climate change and health, and healthcare sustainability. Eckelman's work involves integrated modeling of air quality, carbon, and climate at a city scale for co-benefit mitigation, as well as sustainable structural engineering and environmental health. He has been recognized with numerous awards, including the NSF CAREER Award, the Stanford University World's Top 2% Scientists designation, and the 2025 Faculty Research Team Award from iSUPER Impact Engine. His contributions extend to advancing understanding of climate change impacts on healthcare systems and developing sustainable solutions for environmental challenges.

Research topics

• Engineering
• Environmental science
• Political Science
• Medicine
• Business
• Economics
• Geography
• Environmental resource management
• Economic growth
• Environmental health
• Computer Science
• Meteorology
• Architectural engineering
• Sociology
• Ecology
• Environmental planning
• Mathematics
• Civil engineering
• Aerospace engineering
• Physics
• Environmental economics
• Statistics
• Electrical engineering
• Mechanical engineering

Selected publications

• Reduction of iodinated contrast waste, cost, and greenhouse gas emissions using imaging bulk packaging in a pediatric hospital

  Pediatric Radiology · 2026-05-18

  article
  PublisherDOI

• Climate-Related Health Risks In US Hospital Community Health Needs Assessments: A Mixed-Methods Analysis

  Health Affairs · 2026-05-01

  articleOpen access

  Nonprofit hospitals conduct a community health needs assessment every three years to maintain federal tax-exempt status. Federal rules do not require these assessments to consider climate-related health risks, despite evidence that climate change affects health and health care delivery. This study examined the extent to which hospitals address climate-related health in community health needs assessments. We reviewed a nationally representative sample of 566 community health needs assessments (2021-24) from 3,468 US hospitals. Climate-related content was scored on an eighteen-point rubric including climate hazards and health risks (for example, extreme heat and flooding). The assessments' climate-related content was limited (mean score, 2.51 of 18). Hospitals serving more climate-vulnerable communities, especially those with greater socioeconomic disadvantage, were less likely to identify climate-related health risks. Scores in the Northeast and West were nearly twice those in the South and Midwest, although they were still low. Federal requirements should better align community health needs assessments with emerging public health risks, including climate change, to improve health system resilience.

  PublisherDOI

• Integrating Risk and Feasibility in the Spatial Planning of Nature-Based Solutions: A Cross-City Analysis of Barcelona, Boston, and Rotterdam

  Research Square · 2026-03-18

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Hybrid Grid-Renewable Strategies for Green Steel Production under Electricity Market Uncertainty

  Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research · 2026-04-22

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Volatility in grid spot prices is expected to rise with climate change-driven demand pressures and the intermittency of renewable generation. This volatility poses financial risks for green hydrogen-based steel production. The Direct Reduced Iron–Electric Arc Furnace (H2-DRI-EAF) is a promising pathway to decarbonize steel, which accounts for ∼8% of global GHG emissions. This study assesses how increased grid spot price volatility influences the optimal sizing and operation of H2-DRI-EAF plants under three operational scenarios: grid-connected, fully behind-the-meter (islanded), and mixed-mode (semi-islanded). Our analysis identifies the semi-islanded configuration as the most cost-effective solution, achieving a Levelized Cost of Steel (LCOS) 10–35% lower than sourcing energy solely from the grid. Modeling also shows hydrogen storage or selective electricity purchases at high prices (>$1000/MWh) generally outperform battery storage, except under extreme volatility. Additionally, the study explores cost reduction strategies to strengthen the economic viability and sustainability of green steel production.

  PublisherDOI

• <i>ES&amp;T</i> at 60: Science, Community, and the Facets of Impact

  Environmental Science & Technology · 2026-01-13

  article
  PublisherDOI

• The 2026 Europe report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: narrowing window for decisive health action

  The Lancet Public Health · 2026-04-01 · 1 citations

  articleOpen access

  This third iteration of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change in Europe report systematically tracks the health effects of climate change adaptation and mitigation action, economics and finance, and the engagement of various societal actors with the climate change and health nexus, drawing on data up to 2025. The report features seven new indicators, methodological updates, extended time series for existing indicators, and highlights inequalities in health risks and impacts where possible.

  PublisherDOI

• Carbon reduction strategies with steel-CLT hybrid structures

  2025-06-30

  book-chapterOpen access

  Biogenic materials are a promising path for building decarbonization. However, carbon storage in short-lived components may only postpone the crisis when releasing the carbon back into the atmosphere. Design strategies for longevity, whether by designing buildings to be reused, or to be deconstructed and materials reused, are just as important. This research explored solutions to the short- and long-term problem through the design of hybrid steel-timber structures. The design leveraged the spatial efficiency, reusability, and market dominance of steel in US commercial buildings to accelerate the path to decarbonization. The cross-laminated timber (CLT) designed for deconstruction and reuse replaced the concrete slab to store carbon for the long term. This paper describes design strategies, from structural patterns to enclosure and distribution of services, and shares results from the Life Cycle Assessment about their relative contribution to carbon reductions from the equivalent baseline steel-concrete building to achieve net zero embodied carbon.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Use of a multihazard sensor system for understanding rider experience and environmental conditions on urban rail

  Environmental Research Infrastructure and Sustainability · 2025-11-12

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  Abstract The range of potential environmental hazards to which public transit riders and operators are exposed include vibration, noise, and air pollution. Understanding these conditions—and their interactions—at a granular level across geographically expansive networks is critical to assessing, designing, and evaluating options for infrastructure improvements. However, the majority of studies to date have focused on a single or few parameters at varied spatial and temporal scales. This work presents a cost-effective and semi-automated approach to simultaneously measuring vibration, noise, and air pollution (particulate matter) at a resolution sufficient to resolve differences in rider experience on a segment-by-segment basis ( <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:mrow> <mml:mtext>⩾</mml:mtext> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> 1 sample·min −1 ). The system was validated through a study of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority urban rapid transit system (Boston, MA). Vibration, noise, and particulate matter hotspots were identified. Vibration data grouped by line, perhaps pointing to differences in train or track characteristics within the transit network, while noise hotspots were not predicted by studied system characteristics and therefore are likely driven by track-specific issues (e.g. aging, curves). Air pollution levels were systematically higher (1) during peak ridership hours and (2) when trains traveled through underground sections of the system, with an abrupt change at the segment where trains transitioned between below and above ground. Correlations are observed between hazards, especially between air pollution and noise ( R = 0.54), implying that targeted interventions (e.g. related to braking or rail systems) could be especially effective in improving the experience of the rider, especially in underground sections where there is less ventilation and more reverberation. This study presents the utility of a multihazard approach for improving understanding of the rider experience in public transit systems and as a method for informing transition system management, suggesting an important next step of assessment by infrastructure management experts to develop processes for converting data-driven insights into candidate system improvements.

  PublisherDOI

• From Runoff to resilience Multifunctional Nature-Based Solutions in Urban Stormwater Management: Comparative Insights from Barcelona, Boston, and Rotterdam

  2025-03-14

  preprintOpen access

  In response to the growing challenges posed by climate change and rapid urbanization, this research investigates the intricate dynamics of stormwater-related urban hazards. It emphasizes the risks and needs arising from environmental injustice, high-intensity rainstorm events, limited combined sewer system capacities, and the prevalence of impervious surfaces. &amp;#160;A cross-comparative analysis is conducted in three coastal cities&amp;#8212;Barcelona, Boston, and Rotterdam&amp;#8212;each with distinct climates and policy frameworks, but facing shared challenges in urban stormwater management. The study advocates for tailored Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) to address these issues while incorporating diverse perspectives to comprehensively evaluate their effectiveness.The study underscores the urgency of integrating detailed risk assessments with strategic NBS planning to bridge the gap between current urban water management practices and the evolving needs for environmental resilience and societal well-being. A comprehensive framework is established for assessing climate-change-induced hydrological risks, implementing NBS, collecting evidence, and providing actionable guidance to decision-makers.Adopting a Social-Ecological-Technological Systems (SETS) framework, the research explores the interactions among these interdisciplinary domains. First, it employs a novel methodology that integrates SETS vulnerability, hazard, and exposure factors into a spatially explicit risk score, offering nuanced insights into the impacts of water-related hazards on urban communities (IPCC, 2012; IPCC, 2022). Second, it develops baseline and themed NBS scenarios alongside site potential maps, presenting a systematic and replicable methodology for identifying suitable NBS implementation areas within urban environments. These scenarios account for SETS constraints, categorizing areas from fully feasible to infeasible. Third, the study evaluates the mitigation potential of NBS in reducing vulnerability while enhancing co-benefits, such as thermal comfort, recreation, water storage, habitat provision, and improved water quality.The findings highlight the multifunctionality of NBS in complementing traditional grey infrastructure while strengthening urban resilience. By integrating natural elements, NBS delivers a wide range of ecosystem services that benefit urban populations. This study emphasizes the critical importance of flexible, forward-thinking, and equitable planning to adapt to climate change.

  PublisherDOI

• The Environmental Impact of Short-Stay Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

  JBJS Open Access · 2025-10-01

  articleOpen access

  Background: The healthcare sector significantly affects the environment, with hospitals consuming more energy and producing more waste than other nonresidential buildings. The shift toward outpatient total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) is driven by increasing demand and cost reduction, yet the environmental implications of this remain poorly understood. We hypothesize that the inpatient stay accounts for 20% of TSA's environmental impact. This study aims to quantify the environmental impact of TSA using life cycle analysis (LCA) and waste audit, and to identify opportunities for sustainability. Methods: Patients eligible for outpatient TSA between June 2023 and March 2024 were included. LCA evaluated 4 phases of care: preoperative (preop), operative (OR), postanesthesia care unit (PACU), and a 23-hour inpatient stay. Waste audits quantified surgical and inpatient waste. Patient demographics were collected through chart review. Results: e, equivalent to driving 379 miles in a gasoline-powered vehicle. Emissions by phase: OR (61%), anesthesia (27%), inpatient (9%), preop (2%), and PACU (1%). Major contributors included anesthetic supplies, surgical packs, and anesthetic medications. Conclusion: TSA's environmental impact may be mitigated by performing outpatient procedures, minimizing inhaled anesthetics, adopting reusable devices, and customizing surgical packs. Recognizing the environmental implications of surgical practices is essential to balancing patient care, public health, and environmental sustainability. Level of Evidence: Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• NSF East Asia Summer Institutes for US Graduate Students

  NSF · $5k · 2007–2008

• Collaborative Research: Ethics Education in Life Cycle Design, Engineering, and Management

  NSF · $248k · 2013–2018

• CAREER: Building Chemical Synthesis Networks for Life Cycle Hazard Modeling

  NSF · $542k · 2015–2022

Frequent coauthors

• Hardeep Singh

  Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

  45 shared

• Donald M. Berwick

  Perspectives Charter School

  37 shared

• J. Daniel Sherman

  Center for Innovation

  36 shared

• Jodi D. Sherman

  31 shared

• Julie B. Zimmerman

  Yale University

  26 shared

• John Isaacs

  Northeastern University

  20 shared

• Ian Hamilton

  University College London

  17 shared

• Tadj Oreszczyn

  University College London

  15 shared

Education

• Ph.D., Environmental Engineering

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  2003

• M.S., Environmental Engineering

  Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  1998

• B.S., Environmental Engineering

  University of California, Santa Barbara

  1997

Awards & honors

• Faculty Research Team Award – iSUPER Impact Engine (2025)
• Søren Buus Outstanding Research Award (2025)
• Stanford University World's Top 2% Scientists (2022)
• Emerging Leaders Forum Presenter, National Academy of Medici…
• College of Engineering Faculty Fellow (2019)