Dr. Reginald Umunakwe
Reader / Associate Professor | Deputy Dean, Faculty of Engineering
Faculty of Engineering · Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering
Specialization Materials Science and Engineering
Office: Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ikole Campus, Ikole Ekiti
Phone: +234 8135504894
Email: reginald.umunakwe@fuoye.edu.ng
Biography
Dr. Reginald Umunakwe holds a Ph.D in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Akure. He also holds Master of Science degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the University of Lagos, and Bachelor of Engineering degree in Polymer and Textile Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Owerri. He was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Rubber Technology Research Centre, Mahidol University, Thailand. Dr. Umunakwe is a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria and currently a Reader in the Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering. He has published in both local and international journals and has attended conferences in Nigeria and abroad. Dr. Umunakwe has also won some grants and scholarships. Dr. Umunakwe teaches MME and engineering courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate. He supervises master's and Ph.D theses. Dr. Umunakwe's research interest covers diverse areas including physical metallurgy, composites, rubber science and technology, corrosion, materials development and characterizations. Administratively, Dr. Umunakwe has held different positions in the university notably serving as the Head of Department, Examination Officer, Deputy Director, Level Adviser, Postgraduate Coordinator as well as serving in different committees. He currently serves as the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. Prior to joining the academia, Dr. Umunakwe worked in the construction and manufacturing industries. Dr. Umunakwe is an experienced academic mentor and very open to collaborations, fellowships and partnership with the industries and academia for productive research and problems solving. He is very receptive and ready to accept postgraduate students.
Research Interests
Physical metallurgy, composites, rubber engineering, materials development and characterizations, corrosion engineering, design and fabrication, recycling and circularity
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, The Federal University of Technology Akure (2019)
- Master of Science, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Lagos (2010)
- Bachelor of Engineering, Polymer and Textile Engineering, Federal University of Technology Owerri (2007)
- Postdoctoral Certificate, Mahidol University (2023)
Professional Qualification
- Registered Engineer (R, 26661) - The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (2013)
- Member - The Nigerian Society of Engineers (2012)
- Member - The Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers (2012)
Awards
- Postdoctoral Research Fellowship - Tertiary Education Trust Fund/Mahidol University (2022)
- Full Ph.D Scholarship - Tertiary Education Trust Fund (2016)
- Award of Excellence as the Head of Department - National Association of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Students (2024)
Grants
- Sponsorship to attend the 9th International Conference: Building Capacities for Sustainable Futures - Tertiary Education Trust Fund (2026)
Paper Presentation - Local
- MICROSTRUCTURE OF CB/SIO2 HYBRID REINFORCED SOLID TYRE TREAD COMPOUND CONTAINING GROUND TYRE RUBBER AND THEIR EFFECT ON FATIGUE RESISTANCE - Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria Conference, Edo State (2023)
Paper Presentation - International
- TENSILE PROPERTIES, HARDNESS AND ABRASION VOLUME LOSS OF HYBRID CARBON BLACK/SILICA REINFORCED SOLID TIRE TREAD COMPOUND CONTAINING GROUND TIRE RUBBER OF VARIED PARTICLES SIZES - 9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE: BUILDING CAPACITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURES: BRIDGING GLOBAL CHALLENGES AND LOCAL REALITIES, Winneba Ghana (2026)
Postgraduate Ph.D Supervision
- ODUBUNMI, JOY OMONEFE (PHD/ICH/2023/006) - INFLUENCE OF BLENDING VIRGIN, MECHANICAL AND MECHANOCHEMICALLY DEVULCANISED POLYACRYLONITRILE RUBBER ON PHYSICO-MECHANICAL AND SOLUBILITY PROPERTIES (2026)
- ALIYU AKOONO SHAIBU (PHD/MME/2024/001) - CORROSION BEHAVIOUR OF HEAT-TREATED CU–SIC–GRAPHITE COMPOSITES WITH TALC–MAGNESITE-DERIVED OXIDE PHASES IN SIMULATED SEA WATER (2027)
- ILEKENDI, OGERIEHU ANYINCHA (PHD/MME/2023/001) - OPTIMISATION OF THE PRODUCTION OF EPOXY/RECYCLED CERAMICS COMPOSITE FOR AUTOMOTIVE BRAKE PAD APPLICATION (2028)
- ICHETAONYE, SIMON IKECHUKWU (PHD/MME/2025/001 - INTERFACIAL ENGINEERING OF BAMBOO FIBER–POLYLACTIC ACID (PLA) COMPOSITES FOR ENHANCED FIBER–MATRIX COMPATIBILITY AND MECHANICAL PERFORMANCE (2028)
Postgraduate M.Sc Supervision
- Igwe, Bright Ikechi (MENG/MME/2024/001 ) - Effect of Welding Speed and Electrode Flux on Mechanical Properties of API 5L X42 and X70 Weldments (2026)
- Njoku, Marcel Chidi ((MENG/MME/2021/001) - DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIO-COMPATIBLE MAGNESIUM ALLOY SUITABLE FOR ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANT (2025)
- Ayorinde T O (MENG/MME/19/002) - Development and Characterization of Odogi Clay/ Epoxy Nanocomposites for Electronic Packaging. (2023)
- Makanjuola, Babjide Victor - Corrosion Characteterisations of Cu-SiC-Graphite Composites Containing Talc-Magnesite Derived Oxide Sintered at Varied Temperatures (2027)