Please tell us about your role at PNDC

As a Research and Development Engineer within the Communications, Systems Integration and Resilience theme, I work with PNDC industrial partners to deliver high-value industrial research and knowledge exchange projects in the energy sector. While part of my role involves accelerating innovation and delivering real-world results in emerging IoT and wireless technologies for industrial applications, I also ensure that it satisfies the sustainable energy network of the future, which must be resilient, reliable and secure.

 

How long have you been working at PNDC?

I started working for PNDC part-time in June 2019, a couple of months into my PhD within the Mobile and Security Research Group at Strathclyde University. Delighted that I am now prominently working full-time for PNDC since July 2022, providing an excellent opportunity to enjoy the support from PNDC and continue working on new, challenging, innovative projects.

What was your background before joining PNDC?

A mix of research and teaching! I have more than 10 years of teaching and research professional experience in electrical and electronic engineering. I worked in two higher institutions in Nigeria, rising from Assistant Lecturer to Lecturer II. Before joining PNDC full-time in July 2022, I was involved in research projects on bandwidth analysis of smart grids, MPLS IP/TP, grid virtualisation, and secure OT/IT convergence.

I hold a BEng in electronic engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. My MSc is in communication, control and digital signal processing from the University of Strathclyde, where I obtained a PhD in Industrial IoT with a focus on connectivity and resilience. I also have a postgraduate diploma in education.

I am a visionary scientist with over 7.5 years of combined R&D experience in alternative fuels, energy engineering, thermal engineering, and composite materials. My work continues to contribute to realising a sustainable social and industrial ecosystem.
 

What do you enjoy most about working at PNDC?

PNDC is a unique real-world research, test and demonstration centre. As a strategic meeting point for academics, industrial organisations and technologists, I have the opportunity to gain experience on various innovative projects spanning different technology with different companies on various use cases. What I enjoy most is the work-life balance, the opportunity for growth, the flexibility of the role, and the impact of PNDC research output on tackling societal challenges. When you have the opportunity to visit or work with PNDC, you will understand that every PNDC staff member is as unique as PNDC’s research capabilities.
 

What can we find you doing in your spare time?

I am either supporting friends/family, playing football or engaging in community activity through volunteering. As a STEM Ambassador, I have a long volunteering experience at Strathclyde University and African Challenge Scotland with three Strath Union’s Star Awards. As the current Chair of The Nigerian Society of Engineers Glasgow – Scotland, I spend most of my free time coordinating branch activities and supporting the professional development of Nigerian and students engineers from different works of the engineering industry in the UK and Nigeria.
 
Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn.