Kara L. Nelson
- Chancellor’s Public Service Award for Campus Community Partnership (awarded to Covid-WEB; www.covid-web.org), 2021
- Fulbright Fellowship (Colombia), Fulbright Program, US Information Agency, 2014
- Award of Merit, Water Environment Foundation, Disinfection Committee, 2011
- National Science Foundation CAREER Award, 2003
- Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, 2003