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Civil & Environmental Engineering
Engineering Sustainable Infrastructure for the Future      
  •  
Shaily Mahendra, Ph.D.     
Assistant Professor
5732C Boelter Hall
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of California
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1593
mahendra@seas.ucla.edu
Phone: (310) 794-9850      Fax: (310) 206-2222
 

Research Interests  |  Education  |  Selected Awards and Honors

 Research Interests
 
My research interests lie in the area of microbial interactions with chemical contaminants and nanoparticles for applications ranging from ecotoxicology to biodegradation to disinfection. Bacteria and fungi serve as useful indicators of potential toxicity to higher organisms and ecosystem health, but they can also detoxify a variety of environmental pollutants. Conversely, antimicrobial materials can be used for disinfection applications.

My laboratory pursues research projects employing microbiological, molecular biological, and isotopic tools to (a) characterize microbial communities in engineered and natural environments, (b) optimize biological processes to improve the performance of wastewater treatment or bioremediation systems, (c) explore production of biofuels from industrial wastewater, and (d) investigate mechanisms of transformation, toxicity, and trophic transfer of nanoparticles. Thus, a comprehensive study of the implications and applications of the biotechnology and nanotechnology revolutions will enable us to use their benefits without environmental and public health liabilities.
 Education
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (2007)
M.S., Syracuse University (2001)
B. Tech., Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (1997)
 Selected Awards and Honors
CH2M-Hill/AEESP Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award. Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (2008).
Best Technical Presentation Award. Groundwater Resources Association of California Symposium on Emerging Contaminants, Concord, CA (2006).
Corporate Activities Program Travel Grant. American Society for Microbiology 106th General Meeting, Orlando, FL (2006).
Best Presentation Award. 16th Association for Environmental Health and Sciences Meeting & West Coast Conference on Soils, Sediments & Water, San Diego, CA (2006).

Research Interests  |  Education  |  Selected Awards and Honors

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UCLA Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering     5731/5732 Boelter Hall     405 Hilgard Avenue     Los Angeles, CA  90095-1593
Tel: (310) 825-1346     Fax: (310) 206-2222     E-mail: ceedept@cee.ucla.edu