Kara L. Nelson

Kara L. Nelson is the Blum Chancellor's Chair in Development Engineering and a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on pathogen detection and removal in water and sludge, water reuse, nutrient recovery, drinking water and sanitation in low-resource regions, and wastewater-based surveillance. She teaches courses on innovation in the water sector, drinking water and wastewater treatment processes, and pathogen detection. Nelson is affiliated with the Blum Center for Developing Economies and serves as the Associate Director of Development Engineering. Her work emphasizes environmentally sustainable and socially equitable water infrastructure and practices globally.

Kara Nelson is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, with expertise in water quality, wastewater treatment, and urban water infrastructure. Her research focuses on waterborne pathogens, sanitation, and the development of sustainable treatment technologies. Nelson's work explores the microbial quality of water supplies, the inactivation of pathogens through advanced oxidation processes, and the role of sunlight in water disinfection. She also investigates the impact of intermittent water supply on public health and the potential of innovative materials like biochar and graphene oxide for water treatment. Her research contributes to improving global water security and sanitation systems.