International Society of Exposure Science : Member, 2014 - Present

Upper Merion Environmental Advisory Council : Member, 2018 - Present

CCATE, Norristown : Board Member, 2021 - Present

Long term trend of particulate matter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and its association with introduction of environmental policies

Monitoring gaseous pollutants using passive sampling in the Philadelphia region

Soil contamination in community gardens of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Spatial and temporal variations in indoor radon concentrations in Pennsylvania, USA from 1988 to 2018

Commuter exposure to particulate matter at underground subway stations in Philadelphia

Mobile monitoring of air and noise pollution in Philadelphia neighborhoods during summer 201

Villanova University was founded in 1842 by the Order of Saint Augustine. To this day, Villanova’s Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition is the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. Villanova prepares students to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them.


The strength of the Villanova experience comes in part from the University’s welcoming community. All members are bonded together by a shared responsibility to uphold the ideals of Saint Augustine and let the principles of truth, unity and love guide their lives. The Villanova community helps students grow intellectually, professionally and spiritually, and challenges them to reach their full potential.


The University’s rigorous academic experience, rooted in the liberal arts, forms an environment in which students and professors are partners in learning. The Villanova community is dedicated to providing a personalized experience that fosters every student’s intellectual and spiritual well-being. As part of their education, students are encouraged to enrich their own lives by working for those in need. Through academic and service programs, students use their knowledge, skills and compassion to better the world around them.


There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University’s six colleges—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Villanova School of Business, the College of Engineering, the College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. These colleges are the setting for an experience that develops both the heart and the mind, and creates the atmosphere where students are called to ignite change.


Villanova University is located in a suburban community 12 miles west of Philadelphia, Pa.

Villanova University

Dr. Shakya is an environmental scientist whose work encompasses investigating outdoor and indoor air quality in Philadelphia region, United States, and developing countries. His past work includes monitoring particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, ozone, and ammonia in Philadelphia region and Philadelphia subways, analyzing long term trends of indoor radon concentrations in Pennsylvania, and assessing soil lead exposures in community gardens across Pennsylvania. His interests include environmental health and environmental justice issues.

Air Pollution

Particulate Matter

Environmental Justice

Lead Contamination in Soil

Personal Website

Google Scholar Profile

ResearchGate Profile

Why Heat Waves Often Bring Air Quality Warnings to the Philadelphia Area

Air Pollution Inside Philly’s Subway is Much Worse Than on the Streets (Op-Ed)

New York City Subway Riders are Breathing in Hazardous Air, Study Finds

EPA sets stricter air emission rules for 3 Philly-area polluters and dozens of others nationwide

New EPA soot standard could bring healthier air to parts of the Philly region

Growing veggies in the city this year? You may want to check your soil

Overbrook Breathe Right Community Air Monitoring Project

Establishment of a community based participatory research (CBPR) program to manage lead exposure risks in a Hispanic neighborhood.

AGILE grant to support visiting undergraduate student

VITAL Minigrant

Faculty Research and Development Grant

Enhancing the augmented reality sandbox’s software and hardware to support quantitative simulation for STEM education

An immersive urban environmental geochemistry research experience as a pathway to careers in the geosciences

Cellular effects of subway air particles in human lung cells

The multi-dimensional structure of urban landscapes and the supply and distribution of ecosystem services

Grant

Summer Grant Program

Associate Professor of Environmental Science

In the Biodiversity in Our Neighborhood – The Oakwell Series, Dr. Shakya discusses air pollution in Philadelphia, and in the neighborhoods and suburban areas around Philadelphia, and the importance of urban vegetation.

Biodiversity in Our Neighborhood: An Overview of Air Quality in the Greater Philadelphia Region

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