Shaily Mahendra

Shaily Mahendra is an Indian-American civil and environmental engineer. She is an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Shaily Mahendra
Mahendra in 2011
Academic background
EducationB. Tech, 1997, Indian Institutes of Technology
M.S., 2001, Syracuse University
PhD., 2007, University of California, Berkeley
ThesisBiodegradation of 1,4-Dioxane by aerobic bacteria: experimental studies and modeling of oxidation kinetics, co-contaminant effects, and biochemical pathways (2007)
Academic work
InstitutionsRice University
University of California, Los Angeles
Main interestsenvironmental toxicology
applications of nanomaterial

Career

After earning her PhD at the University of California, Berkeley, Mahendra accepted a research scientist position at Rice University.[1] At Rice, Mahendra studied how silver nanoparticles contained in water filtration membranes, polymers, and oil paints, worked to disinfect viruses, bacteria, and fungi. She also lead a project to explore natural and engineered bioremediation of 1,4-dioxane in colder climates.[2]

Mahendra joined the faculty of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2009.[3] Two years later, she was elected a Hellman Fellow and she conducted a project entitled “Biodegradation of Perfluorinated Compounds" which was submitted to the US Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment.[4] As a result of her research, Mahendra received the 2013 Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award from the National Science Foundation[5] and UCLA's 2013 DuPont Young Professor award. The Dupont award was given to Mahendra for her development of cost-effective detection and remediation of microbes and fungi that could remedy chemical contaminants in groundwater at industrial sites.[6] The next year, Mahendra was promoted to Associate Professor for the 2014–15 academic year.[7] As an Associate Professor, Mahendra teamed up with Leonard Rom to develop a new technique that uses enzymes to remove pollutants from water which also minimizes risks to public health and the environment.[8]

In 2017, Mahendra and her research team developed a method to package enzymes capable of destroying contaminants through biodegradation together into nanoparticle “vaults.” They then immobilized the enzyme vaults in sol-gels, which would help scale up production and integrate vaults at treatment plants.[9] As a result, Mahendra was elected to the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors Board of Directors.[10] She later received the Paul L. Busch award for technology to clean water of pollutants.[11]

The next year, Mahendra received a 2018 Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman award from the Government of India Non-Resident Indian Welfare Society for her "distinguished record of outstanding service, achievements and contributions."[12] In 2019, Mahendra received the 2019 Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize from American Society of Civil Engineers for "pioneering the application of enzyme-nanoparticle vaults in water treatment."[13]

References
  1. "Mong, Rice Honored at 2013 UCLA Engineering Awards Gala". samueli.ucla.edu. November 5, 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  2. "Civil & Environmental Engineering" (PDF). cee.ucla.edu. 2009. pp. 3, 6. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  3. "UCLA Engineering Adds New Faculty for 2009-10". samueli.ucla.edu. August 12, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  4. "Fellows Program 2011 Annual Report" (PDF). hellmanfellows.org. 2011. p. 19. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  5. Duzaryan, Sylvia (January 24, 2013). "Scientist receives NSF award to study microbes that detoxify hazardous chemicals". newsroom.ucla.edu. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  6. "Mahendra wins Dupont award" (PDF). cee.ucla.edu. 2013. p. 4. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  7. "Major Faculty Awards 2014-15" (PDF). cee.ucla.edu. 2015. p. 3. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  8. "Dr. Shaily Mahendra Leads Research in Removing Pollutants from Water". cee.ucla.edu. November 23, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  9. Chawaga, Peter (December 27, 2017). "Will Enzyme Vaults Be A One-Stop-Shop For Emerging Contaminants?". wateronline.com. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  10. "FACULTY" (PDF). cee.ucla.edu. Fall 2016. p. 3. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  11. "Shaily Mahendra receives Paul L. Busch award for technology to clean water of pollutants". cee.ucla.edu. October 12, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  12. Chin, Matthew (November 5, 2018). "Civil and environmental engineering professor honored by Indian government". newsroom.ucla.edu. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  13. "Shaily Mahendra Wins 2019 ASCE Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Prize". cee.ucla.edu. November 12, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
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