Academic Credentials
  • Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2018
  • M.S., Biological Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2011
  • B.Tech., Biotechnology, University of Calicut, India, 2007
Professional Honors
  • Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellow, National Academies, Washington D.C, January - April 2020
  • Poster Presentation Award, College of Veterinary Medicine Research Day, 2018
  • Conference Travel Award, Developmental Neurotoxicology Society, 2018
  • Abbvie Young Investigator Award, Midwest Regional Chapter, Society of Toxicology, 2017
  • Toxicology Scholar, Interdisciplinary Environmental Toxicology Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2016-2018
  • Best Poster Presentation Award, 40th Annual Meeting, Developmental Neurotoxicology Society, 2016
  • UIUC Graduate College Grant, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2015-16, Jan - May 2017
  • 1st Prize, Poster Competition, Economics and Policy Section, “Growing the Bio-Economy” conference, Alberta, Canada, Fall 2012
Professional Affiliations
  • Society of Toxicology (SOT), 2017 - Present
  • Developmental Neurotoxicology Society (DNTS), 2015 - Present

Dr. Balachandran is a toxicologist with over 8 years of experience as a research scientist and public health risk assessor. During her career, she has investigated the human health impacts of a myriad of chemical substances, including heavy metals, phthalates, solvents, pesticides, and phenols. 

Dr. Balachandran has extensive experience with the development of toxicological profiles for toxic substances, systematic literature reviews, as well as conducting benefits assessments and human health risk assessments.

Prior to joining Exponent, Dr. Balachandran worked on federal contract projects with a focus on toxicology and economic benefits analysis for health effects to support various federal agencies. As a Postdoctoral fellow, she studied the in vitro effects of manganese and polyfluoroalkyl substances exposures on cell signaling pathways of neurotoxicity. Dr. Balachandran earned her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2018, where her dissertation focused on identifying cognitive deficits caused by circadian disruption.

Dr. Balachandran is an active member of the Society of Toxicology (SOT), Developmental Neurotoxicology Society (DNTS).   She has received numerous scholarships and awards during her graduate career including the AbbVie Young Investigator Award at the Midwest Regional Chapter of SOT in 2017 and the Toxicology Scholar Award supported by Interdisciplinary Environmental Toxicology Program at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign two times.