Valerie Brady Ph.D.

Valerie Brady headshot
Professional Title
Sr. Research Associate, Aquatic Ecologist, Interim Water Research Group Leader

Bio

Valerie's specialty is aquatic invertebrate ecology with a particular interest in using the invertebrate community for assessment and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. She has thirty years of experience in understanding Great Lakes coastal wetland condition, including research on zebra mussels, and twenty years of experience working in Minnesota and Wisconsin streams. 

Current research interests include: the use of aquatic invertebrates as indicators for monitoring and assessment of stream and wetland ecosystems; investigating major determinants of invertebrate community structure in streams and wetlands; investigating the use of aquatic invertebrates as diagnostic indicators of particular causes of ecosystem impairment in streams and wetlands; investigating impacts of aquatic invasive species on food webs and ecosystems; recovery of natural invertebrate community structure and function in restored and created wetlands; using stable isotopes as aids in the above investigations; and public policy issues related to stream and wetland health, protection and water quality.

Read full CV here

Education

  • Postdoc Aquatic and Landscape Ecology U.S. EPA-MED 2000 
  • Ph.D. Zoology/Aquatic Ecology Michigan State University 1996 
  • M.S. Zoology/Aquatic Ecology Michigan State University 1992 
  • B.S. Biology/Environmental Science Taylor University 1988

Profiles

Recent projects

Recent Publications

A Basin-Wide Survey of Coastal Wetlands of the Laurentian Great Lakes: Development and Comparison of Water Quality Indices

Recent Publications: Valerie Brady
4 years 5 months ago
A Basin-Wide Survey of Coastal Wetlands of the Laurentian Great Lakes: Development and Comparison of Water Quality IndicesHarrison, A. M., Reisinger, A. J., Cooper, M. J., Brady, V. J., Ciborowski, J. J. H., O’Reilly, K. E., Ruetz, C. R., Wilcox, D. A. & Uzarski, D. G., Jun 1 2020, In: Wetlands. 40, 3, p. 465-477 13 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Leveraging a Landscape-Level Monitoring and Assessment Program for Developing Resilient Shorelines throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes

Recent Publications: Valerie Brady
5 years 10 months ago
Leveraging a Landscape-Level Monitoring and Assessment Program for Developing Resilient Shorelines throughout the Laurentian Great LakesUzarski, D. G., Wilcox, D. A., Brady, V. J., Cooper, M. J., Albert, D. A., Ciborowski, J. J. H., Danz, N. P., Garwood, A., Gathman, J. P., Gehring, T. M., Grabas, G. P., Howe, R. W., Johnson, L. B., Lamberti, G. A., Moerke, A. H., Niemi, G. J., Redder, T., Ruetz, C. R., Steinman, A. D. & Tozer, D. C. & 1 others, O’Donnell, T. K., Jan 1 2019, In: Wetlands. 39, 6, p. 1357-1366 10 p.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

An expanded fish-based index of biotic integrity for Great Lakes coastal wetlands

Recent Publications: Valerie Brady
6 years 1 month ago
An expanded fish-based index of biotic integrity for Great Lakes coastal wetlandsCooper, M. J., Lamberti, G. A., Moerke, A. H., Ruetz, C. R., Wilcox, D. A., Brady, V. J., Brown, T. N., Ciborowski, J. J. H., Gathman, J. P., Grabas, G. P., Johnson, L. B. & Uzarski, D. G., Oct 1 2018, In: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 190, 10, 580.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

NRRI News Articles

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‘Bugs ‘n Birds’ study underscores importance of insects

NRRI cross-disciplinary research explores availability of food sources for declining species of bug-eating birds.

Rear view of boat coming out of lake at a boat ramp with aquatic vegetation on trailer.

Coming Clean (to the lake)

NRRI tests techniques to clean boat interiors to stop spread of invasives.

Two people in a boat, woman in forefront grabs crayfish from a bin, man in background takes notes.

NRRI research confronts rusty crayfish challenge

Invasive ‘rusties’ add another challenge to growing Minnesota wild rice.

Media Coverage