Shaily Mahendra

Science Fellow 2011

Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles

Shaily Mahendra studies how microbes interact with new contaminants in the environment. As synthetic chemicals and nanomaterials are being used in more and more commercial products, Shaily studies which ones are the next generation of pollutants – and uses microbes to detoxify them. Applications of Shaily’s research range from ecotoxicology and disinfection to biofuels and bioremediation. Her articles have appeared in ACS Nano and Environmental Science & Technology, and her work has received support from the National Science Foundation and the Air Force. Through her research, Shaily is helping find biological solutions to two of the world’s biggest needs: clean water and clean energy.

Shaily Mahendra at UCLA Civil and Environmental Engineering