Janice Brahney

Dr. Janice Brahney is an Associate Professor in the Department of Watershed Sciences within Utah State University's College of Natural Resources. Her research investigates watershed systems as integrated environmental units connecting climatology, hydrology, geology, and ecology, with particular focus on lakes as indicators of global change. She maintains active laboratory facilities and directs graduate research in biogeochemistry and paleolimnology.

• PhD in Geosciences (Biogeochemistry), University of Colorado, 2012
• MS in Earth Science (Paleolimnology/Quaternary Geoscience), Simon Fraser University, 2007
• BS in Environmental Sciences (Geology), Simon Fraser University, 2004

Her research program centers on three interconnected themes: anthropogenic controls on nutrient cycles, climate impacts on freshwater ecosystems, and applications of geochemistry to aquatic ecology. Recent work demonstrates how dust deposition alters lake productivity and community composition, while wildfire smoke inputs create novel nutrient pathways. She pioneered investigations into atmospheric microplastic transport and its watershed-scale implications, revealing plastic deposition even in protected areas. Her laboratory employs multi-proxy approaches including geochemical fingerprinting, paleolimnological reconstructions, and experimental manipulations to address critical questions in environmental change.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2021-2025) reveals strong emphasis on dust-mediated nutrient transport (33%), microplastic pollution dynamics (20%), and climate-wildfire interactions affecting water quality (17%). Key methodological innovations include advanced spectroscopy for nanoplastics detection and novel dust source characterization techniques. Her work consistently bridges fundamental biogeochemical processes with applied watershed management challenges.

• QCNR Graduate Mentor of the Year (2021)
• QCNR Faculty Researcher of the Year (2020)
• Editor's Award for Highly Cited Research in Aeolian Research (2016)
• Elizabeth Sulzman Award, 2nd Place (2014)
• Mercer Patriarch Publication of the Year Award (2011)

Dr. Brahney has mentored 19 graduate students to completion since 2017, with current advisees pursuing research on dust impacts, microplastic cycling, and climate-lake interactions. Her laboratory receives funding from NSF, USGS, and EPA programs focused on critical zone processes and emerging contaminants. She leads the Environmental Biogeochemistry and Paleolimnology Laboratory, which maintains specialized facilities for sediment analysis, water chemistry, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Current projects include the DUST² Project investigating modern dust systems across southwestern North America and multi-institutional convergence research on watershed-scale microplastic pollution.