Environmental toxicologist and educator, Dr. Rebecca Klaper is a crucial guardian of our Great Lakes whose research on emerging contaminants is shaping the future of water conservation. Klaper is the Dean of the School of Freshwater Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Director of the Great Lakes Genomics Center. A leading researcher at the forefront of environmental health, Klaper’s work examines the impact of emerging contaminants—such as nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals, and "forever chemicals" like PFAS—on aquatic ecosystems. Her research is uniquely proactive; rather than simply identifying toxicity, she collaborates with a national network of scientists in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology to design manmade materials that are inherently safer for both human health and the environment from the moment of their creation. A frequent expert advisor to the International Joint Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Klaper has testified globally on the utility of genomic technologies in ecological risk assessment. Her commitment to the "Wisconsin Idea" is evident in her leadership of the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, where she works to strengthen the state’s water workforce and address urgent contamination crises. Most recently, she cofounded Built-N-Bioassays, a biotech startup that uses AI and machine learning to revolutionize how industries detect and understand chemical impacts on water systems. Through her interdisciplinary approach, Klaper ensures that Wisconsin remains a global leader in freshwater science, securing a resilient future for the Great Lakes and beyond.
