Rebecca D. Klaper
Shaw Associate Professor

Great Lakes WATER Institute
600 E. Greenfield Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53204
Phone: (414) 382-1713
E-Mail:

Curriculum vitae: KlaperCV.

Education
Ph.D. Ecology, University of Georgia

M.S. Entomology University of Georgia

B.S. Honors Biology, University of Illinois

I. Environmental Impacts of Emerging Contaminants

My research examines the impact of various emerging contaminants (e.g. nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals) as well as natural stressors on freshwater organisms. Emerging contaminants are chemicals that are novel to the marketplace and have not been fully evaluated for their potential environmental distribution or effect. Emerging contaminants can also be chemicals that have been in use but we have only recently been able to measure them in the environment.

II. Environmental Genomics: Gene expression as an indicator of environmental health

We are using genomic data as a tool to investigate the impacts of contaminants and other environmental stressors. Changes in the expression of genes in various tissues can provide a snapshot of the physiological status of an organism. This information can be used to indicate the specific pathways that are disrupted with exposure to a chemical or other stressor and can be used to develop biomarkers that indicate when an organism has been exposed to a stressor.

Other interests include issues of water use in the Great Lakes and local watershed restoration efforts. Towards these efforts I have produced a movie about the Great Lakes Compact Agreement and I have served as a technical advisor for efforts to restore the Kinnickinnic River watershed in Milwaukee. (see links to the left for more details).