Ideas for scientific and public audiences.
Circular economy · Carbon management · Waste across phases and scales · Women and girls in STEM
Invite Leslie to speak ↗GROUP DIRECTOR · ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEER
Dr. Kandis Leslie
Gilliard-AbdulAziz
Exploring how chemistry, technology, and entrepreneurship can reshape carbon, energy, and resource management.
Known professionally as Leslie.
Associate Professor · University of Southern California
Pasquale and Adelina Arpea Early Career Chair
ABOUT LESLIE
Scientific discovery.
Environmental purpose.
Dr. Kandis Leslie Gilliard-AbdulAziz is an environmental chemical engineer, educator, and public speaker at USC. Her work connects materials discovery and catalytic processes with challenges in carbon, energy, and resource management.
Growing up in Philadelphia and working as a refinery chemist shaped her understanding of industry’s economic opportunities and environmental consequences.
She sees sustainability as a shared ambition: healthy lives, resilient companies, and a planet that can support future generations. Her teaching connects chemistry, computational tools, and entrepreneurial thinking.
NSF CAREER 2022
DOE Early Career 2023
Sloan Research Fellowship 2024
SPEAKING & MEDIA
Science Friday & Mission Unstoppable
Public conversations connecting research, environmental challenges, and careers in engineering.
Selected talks & appearances ↗