[1] At Rice, Mahendra studied how silver nanoparticles contained in water filtration membranes, polymers, and oil paints, worked to disinfect viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

[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.

[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.

[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.