Shaily Mahendra received her B. Tech. degree (1997) in Civil Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Dr. Mahendra earned her Ph.D. (2007) at the University of California, Berkeley, marking the commencement of a career dedicated to the advancement of environmental microbiology and nanotechnology.
Dr. Mahendra currently serves as a Professor and Samueli Fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she is affiliated with several interdisciplinary institutes, including the California NanoSystems Institute, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, and the Molecular Toxicology Program.
Dr. Mahendra is internationally recognized for her pioneering work in bioremediation, focusing on emerging contaminants in the environment. Her fundamental and applied research contributions include the development of enzyme-vault nanocatalysts for water purification, omics-based tools for environmental assessments, energy-positive wastewater treatment approaches, and technologies addressing various water contaminants such as 1,4-dioxane, PFAS, pesticides, munitions, dyes, and bisphenol analogs. Dr. Mahendra’s commitment to research excellence is highlighted by numerous prestigious awards, over 90 publications, 8 filed patents, and more than 250 presentations.
Dr. Mahendra's engagement with UC Berkeley has been enduring as she has maintained active research collaborations, represented both UC Berkeley and UCLA at professional meetings, mentored students, and contributed significantly to academia through her teaching, research, editorial, and leadership roles.