Rajendra Bordia is a Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He has been a faculty member since 1991. From 1998 to 2005, he was the Chair of the Department. Prior to his academic career, he worked as a Research Scientist in the CR&D Dept. of DuPont Co. (1986 to 1991). He received his undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (Mechanical Engineering in 1979) and his M.S. (1981) and Ph.D. (1986) from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY in Materials Science and Engineering.

His research is at the intersection of materials and mechanics and is focused on fundamental and applied studies in the processing and properties of complex material systems for energy, biomedical, environmental and high temperature applications. His current emphasis is on ceramics, composites, multilayered and porous materials. He has authored or co-authored over 110 peer-reviewed technical publications.

In 2002, Prof. Bordia was elevated to Fellow of The American Ceramic Society and in 2010 as Fellow of the Indian Institute of Metals. He received the Humboldt Research Award for Senior Scientist (2007). He has been selected as the Teacher of the Year seven times by students in the Department and was the sole recipient of the Marsha Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor award from the University of Washington (2007).

Prof. Bordia is an Associate Editor of the Journal of the American Ceramic Society (1988-Present). He was the Chair of the Basic Science Division (2004-05) and a member of the Board of Directors of The American Ceramic Society (2008-2010).