By Ikenna Nwokedi

The Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State, has made another academic history as one of its scholars, Dr. Modestus Okwu, has been awarded the prestigious Isambard Kingdom Brunel (IKB) Fellowship for the 2023/2024 academic session at Brunel University London, UK.

This latest achievement by Dr. Okwu, an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at FUPRE, is a testament to his significant contributions to his field of study and his potential for more impactful research.

The IKB Fellowship is designed to foster high-quality collaboration between the fellows and Brunel's academic staff, enhance the fellow's publication record, grant application success, and overall academic profile through an expanded network and interdisciplinary research experience.

The FUPRE don, who is already at Brunel University, is conducting groundbreaking research on optimizing healthcare supply chains, integrating metaheuristics and machine learning to enhance healthcare resilience during crises. The research is crucial in the context of global healthcare challenges and has the potential to significantly improve healthcare supply chain efficiency and effectiveness.

Dr. Okwu also aims to seek collaborative grant opportunities and produce high-quality research outputs suitable for publication in high-impact factor journals. His research interests extend beyond healthcare supply chains to include digital technologies, robotic systems, and renewable energy solutions. These areas are critical for the advancement of essential infrastructure, reflecting his broad expertise and commitment to addressing significant global challenges.

Dr. Okwu holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, and a Master of Science (MSc.) in Industrial Engineering from the University of Ibadan. He completed his Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, and a PhD Intern Fellowship in Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

The outstanding scholar expressed his gratitude for the support received from FUPRE, particularly acknowledging the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, and the entire staff of the institution. He appreciated the enabling environment at FUPRE for his academic successes and promised to remain committed to being an active and accessible mentor to his students and mentees, even while abroad.

A fellow at IKB is entitled to an all-expense-paid trip, which includes free on-campus accommodation, free return flight tickets, full conference sponsorship, visa fee payments, and daily stipends.