Bhavna Shamasunder

Dr. Bhavna Shamasunder is the Mellichamp Chair in Racially Just, Resilient and Sustainable City Futures at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), affiliated with the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. Her academic rank is Professor, focusing on environmental health and justice with an emphasis on urban communities of color.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley (Environmental Science, Policy, and Management)
• M.ES., Yale University (School of Forestry and Environmental Studies)
• B.S./B.A., University of California, San Diego (Biology and Development Studies)

Research: Her work investigates health impacts of urban oil drilling in Los Angeles and chemical exposures from consumer products (e.g., beauty products) affecting women of color. She employs community-participatory approaches, partnering directly with affected communities. Key themes include cumulative pollution burdens, environmental racism, and sustainable urban futures.

Funding: Research supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Science Foundation (NSF), and California Breast Cancer Research Program.

Advising & Labs: While no specific lab or team is named, her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration with community organizations and marginalized groups.