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 twenty years of experience in understanding Great Lakes coastal wetland condition, including research on zebra mussels, and ten 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 about her lab group here.

Read full CV here

Recent projects:

• Spiny water flea on fishing gear
• Minnesota trout streams: ability to withstand climate change
• Great Lakes coastal Wetland Monitoring Program
• Restorable wetlands in Minnesota, a tool for managers
• Great Lakes Environmental Indicators Project
• Data Archiving
• Using aquatic invertebrates as indicators of stream condition