Nair’s research focusses on development and characterization of novel cementitious materials. Prior to joining CEE, she worked as a Post-Doctoral Associate at the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), investigating the micro-mechanical response of alternate cementitious materials. Previously, she was a Research Associate in the Petroleum Engineering Department at the University of Texas at Austin and worked on improving zonal isolation of oil and gas wells and for decommissioning and permanent abandonment of wells. Dr. Nair received her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and developed a novel set-on-demand concrete based on the principles of magneto-rheology. Her master’s degree is from the University of California, Davis and her undergraduate degree is from Indian Institute of Technology Madras. She is an active member of American Concrete Institute and American Ceramics Society.

In January 2023, Nair was named an Early-Career Research Fellow of the Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine