Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Edeh
University of Port Harcourt
Fall 2019
Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Edeh is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) where he also serves as the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. A Fall 2019 MIT ETT Fellow, he is a researcher in Biofuels and Waste Management who is dedicated to turning environmental liabilities into energy assets. His research focuses on the production of Renewable Diesel and Biodiesel from non-conventional feedstocks. He is particularly known for his work on Activated Sludge, a waste product from sewage treatment plants. Dr. Edeh investigates the use of Subcritical Water Technology to extract lipids (fats) from this sludge which can then be converted into fuel. This approach not only generates energy but also reduces the volume of waste that municipalities need to dispose of. Dr. Edeh holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. His doctoral research involved the use of advanced catalytic processes like Hydrothermal Decarboxylation to improve the quality of biofuels making them compatible with existing diesel engines without the need for modification. Since his return from MIT, Dr. Edeh has been a vocal proponent of Constructive Alignment in engineering curricula. He has redesigned his courses to ensure that every assessment directly measures a specific practical skill rather than just theoretical knowledge. As a former Acting Head of Department, he was instrumental in mentoring junior faculty to adopt these learner-centered teaching methods.
