Prathima Nalam

Prathima Nalam is an Associate Professor in the Department of Materials Design and Innovation at the University at Buffalo (UB), affiliated with the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Her research focuses on nanotribology, interfacial phenomena, and materials informatics with applications in tribology, biomedical engineering, and environmental remediation. She leads the Nalam Research Group, which investigates 2D materials, mycelium-based membranes, and machine learning-driven material design.

Key research areas include nanoscale friction mechanisms in liquids, predictive modeling of 2D material properties using AI, and development of sustainable membranes for toxicant removal (e.g., lead remediation via mycelium composites). She has secured major grants, including an NSF CAREER Award (2023) and HUD funding for lead-remediation technologies.

• Education: PhD in Materials Science
• Affiliations: Editorial Board Member of Tribology Letters (Springer)
• Lab Facilities: AFM, QCM-D, microtribometers, atom probe tomography

Recent achievements include an STLE Early Career Award (2023), development of AI frameworks for tribology, and advancements in mycelium-based filtration systems. She advises PhD students on topics ranging from nanocomposite design to machine learning applications in materials science.