Esther Akinlabi

Teaching Professor

Mechanical Engineering for the Adams State/CSU Mechanical Engineering Partnership Program

Professor Esther Akinlabi is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Walter Scott, Jr College of Engineering, Colorado State University, Alamosa Campus, USA. In her most recent role, she served as the Deputy Faculty Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, Northumbria University, Newcastle, United Kingdom. Prior to this appointment, she served as the Director of the African Union Commission – Pan African University for Life and Earth Sciences Institute (PAULESI), Ibadan, Nigeria. Before joining PAULESI, she had a decade of meritorious service at the Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, University of Johannesburg (UJ), South Africa. At UJ, she grew through the academic ranks from Lecturer to Full Professor and served as the Head of Department of the Department of Mechanical Engineering Science and as the Vice Dean for Teaching and Learning of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.

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Research Interests

Professor Esther Akinlabi’s research is primarily in advanced manufacturing processes, particularly additive manufacturing and welding, with a focus on improving material properties and sustainability.

Advanced manufacturing processes

· Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing): Her work focuses on laser-based additive manufacturing to create complex parts and prototypes. This includes using techniques like Laser Metal Deposition to produce functional components directly from CAD models.

· Friction Stir Welding (FSW): Akinlabi is a specialist in FSW, which she has used to investigate the mechanical and corrosion behaviors of various metal alloys, such as different grades of aluminum, copper and other metals.

Materials science and engineering

· Microstructure Engineering: A core theme of her research involves studying and manipulating the microstructure of materials to achieve desired properties.

· Surface Engineering: She researches methods for improving the surface integrity and properties of materials, including surface modification techniques and coatings. This includes cladding titanium alloys with other materials to enhance properties like corrosion and wear resistance.

· Titanium-based alloys: Her work has a special emphasis on the development and characterization of advanced titanium alloys for use in high-performance applications, such as medical implants and marine components.

· Composites: Akinlabi explores the creation of composites, including those reinforced with natural fibers or waste materials, to develop high-performance and sustainable materials.

Sustainable manufacturing and renewable energy

· Bioenergy and waste valorization: She has collaborated on research which involves converting biomass and agricultural waste, such as rice straw and olive seeds, into solid fuels and other useful materials.

· Circular plastic economy: investigated ways to involve students and communities in creating a circular economy for plastics.

· Renewable energy systems: Her research also addresses challenges related to renewable energy sources, specifically opportunities and challenges concerning solar-wind hybrid power systems.

Engineering education and innovation

Entrepreneurship in engineering: Akinlabi contributes to research on how to foster entrepreneurship and innovation within higher education, particularly in engineering fields.

Education

2018 PGD LL.- Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
2011 PhD – Mechanical Engineering, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.
2003 M. Eng – Mechanical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
1997 B. Eng – Agricultural Engineering (With Distinction), Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

Honors and Awards

Chartered Engineer, United Kingdom (C.Eng.).
Professional Engineer, South Africa (Pr. Eng.).
Fellow, African Academy of Science (FAAS).
Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS).
Member, Institution of Mechanical Engineers, United Kingdom (MIMechE).
Member, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), USA.
South African National Award: Winner of the 2016 Women in Science Awards (WISA), ‘Distinguished Young Women Researchers (Physical and Engineering Sciences) category. (Two pioneering UJ researchers honoured with 2016 Women in Science Awards | UJ News)