Dr. Brainard's academic work has been concerned with the effects of light on biological and behavioral responses of animals and humans for over thirty years.  His research on the effects of light have been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, NASA, FDA, DOE, DOD as well as Philips, OSRAM, Panasonic and other industrial and private sources.  He has authored over 100 original research articles and over 50 book chapters and edited 9 books or monographs including four lighting standards for the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). 

Dr. Brainard chaired the IESNA Photobiology Committee for ten years, is currently chair of the IESNA Light and Health Committee, and has been the Division Six Director for the International Commission on Illumination (USNC/CIE) since 1992. 

The Light Research Program research team has developed and tested advanced lighting designs for treating patients with winter depression. He is currently working on lighting for the International Space Station and other future space habitats.  This work is intended to develop lighting countermeasures for health risks for astronauts and ground crew during space flight.
During his career, Dr. Brainard has taught neuroanatomy and neurophysiology to over 7,000 medical and graduate students.  He has received the Lindback Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching and his painted portrait was dedicated to Thomas Jefferson University in 1989.