The Newly Appointed HOD
Professor Emmanuel Gikunoo Newly Appointed Head of Department of Materials Engineering KNUST, Bringing Visionary Leadership and Strategic Growth Plans
The Department of Materials Engineering at KNUST warmly welcomes Professor Emmanuel Gikunoo as the new Head of Department, marking his second tenure in this role.
Professor Emmanuel Gikunoo is a Mechanical Engineer and a lecturer at the Department of Materials Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) He obtained an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada in 2005 and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University, USA in 2014. His PhD dissertation was on the ‘Utilization of carbon nanofibers grown on glass microballoons (NMBs) in point-of-care diagnostic devices.
He started his career as a lecturer at the Department of Materials Engineering, KNUST in April 2006 and was later promoted to Senior lecturer in August 2016. He then rose to the rank of Associate Professor in August 2022. Prof. Gikunoo has vast expertise in composite and biomaterials, mineral processing, soil remediation, and solid waste management. His research work has been widely published in reputable peer-reviewed journals that have been widely cited. Prof. Gikunoo is a member of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) and Ghana Institute of Safety and Environmental Professionals (GhISEP).
As Head of the Materials Engineering Department at KNUST, Professor Emmanuel Gikunoo has the vision of improving the Materials Engineering Laboratory by expanding its physical space and seeking for funding to acquire advanced equipment to accommodate the growing number of undergraduate and postgraduate students. He also plans to support the department by fostering robust department-industry collaborations and elevating the department’s visibility through improved website management and social media presence. Professor Gikunoo is committed to creating a supportive and psychologically safe environment for academic work and to strengthening alumni relations. To promote consistency in teaching and learning, he plans setting up a 5–10-year strategic plan for the Department of Materials Engineering.
Department of Materials Engineering KNUST KNUST College of Engineering Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi
