Melinda Daniels, Ph.D.

https://stroudcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/melinda-daniels-2019.jpg 500 500 Stroud Water Research Center Stroud Water Research Center https://stroudcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/melinda-daniels-2019.jpg October 3, 2016 April 11, 2023

Senior Research Scientist

Principal investigator, Fluvial Geomorphology Group.
Adjunct professor, Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Pennsylvania.
Adjunct faculty, Department of Geography, Kansas State University.
Affiliate faculty, Department of Geography, University of Delaware.
Affiliate faculty, Department of Geological Sciences, University of Delaware.

Contact

mdaniels@stroudcenter.org
tel. 610-910-0044
970 Spencer Road, Avondale, PA 19311

Interests and Expertise

Melinda Daniels’ research program focuses broadly on the fluvial geomorphology, hydrology, and stream ecosystem ecology of both natural and human-modified river systems, from reach to watershed scales. Her interests include river restoration, watershed management, and stream ecosystem science. Though much of it is theoretically based, all of her research is placed within the context of better understanding our impact on rivers, improving river management, and enabling successful river restoration.

Daniels’ work includes examining how people perceive river environments and the process of communicating science to river managers and stakeholders. Essentially, her research perspective examines rivers as coupled human and natural systems.

Education

Ph.D., physical geography, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.
Master of Research in environmental science, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
B.S., natural resources and environmental science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

Professional Experience

Senior research scientist, Stroud Water Research Center, 2023–present.
Associate research scientist, Stroud Water Research Center, 2013–2022.
Associate professor, Department of Geography, Physical and Environmental Geography, Kansas State University, 2010–2013.
Assistant professor, Department of Geography, Physical and Environmental Geography, Kansas State University, 2008–2010.
Assistant professor, Department of Geography, Physical and Environmental Geography, University of Connecticut, 2002–2008.
Instructor, University of Illinois, 2001–2002.
Research assistant and fellow, stream confluence dynamics, river restoration science, University of Illinois, 1998–2001.

Publications

Understanding freshwater resource problems

Daniels, M., M. Caldas, J.H. Stamm, M. Sanderson, J. Bergtold, G. Granco, M. Mather, J. Alstrup, and D. Haukos. 2019. Open Access Government 2:320–321.

Bison and cattle grazing impacts on grassland stream morphology in the Flint Hills of Kansas

Grudzinski, B.P., and M.D. Daniels. 2018. Rangeland Ecology & Management 71(6):783–791.

An interdisciplinary approach to water management

Caldas, M., M. Daniels, J. Bergtold, M. Sanderson, M. Mather, J.H. Stamm, D. Haukos, A. Sheshukov, and J. Aistrup. 2018. Scientia.

Bison and cattle grazing impacts on baseflow suspended sediment concentrations within grassland streams

Grudzinski, B., C.M. Ruffing, M.D. Daniels, and M. Rawitch. 2018. Annals of the American Association of Geographers.

Our Watershed

Marcum-Dietrich, N., S. Kerlin, C. Staudt, and M. Daniels. 2018. The Science Teacher 85(2):39–48.

See all publications by Stroud Center authors

Because of flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation provided Stroud Water Research Center with a $3 million grant to reduce flooding across the 1,800-acre White Clay Creek watershed by 40 percent.

Nature’s Engineers: Beavers Provide Benefits to Streams

“Before European colonization, beavers would have been ubiquitous across the northern United States Great Lakes region,” explains Melinda Daniels, Associate Research Scientist and Principal Investigator of the Fluvial Geomorphology Group.

Water Science Careers: Fluvial Geomorphology

Melinda Daniels, Ph.D., describes her work as a fluvial geomorphologist at Stroud Water Research Center.

Award-Winning Web Toolkit Helps Protect Fresh Water

The WikiWatershed toolkit was awarded the 2017 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Crayfish May Help Restore Dirty Streams, Study Finds

Stroud Water Research Center study finds crayfish may benefit insects, reduce sediment settling in impaired streams.

Sharing Our Science: Winter-Spring 2016

For the long-tailed dance fly, every night is ladies’ night, Dave Funk explained in a lecture a University of Delaware insect ecology class.