Munkaila Musah

Munkaila Musah is an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, affiliated with the School of Earth and Sustainability and the Department of Environmental Conservation. His research focuses on sustainable construction materials, particularly cross-laminated timber (CLT) for high-rise buildings, nondestructive testing (acoustics, near-infrared spectroscopy), and bio-based composites.

Education:

• PhD in Sustainable Forest Biomaterials, Michigan Technological University
• MSc in Forest Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Michigan Technological University
• Postgraduate Certificate in Sustainability Engineering, Michigan Technological University
• BEd in Science (Biology and Chemistry), Ghana
• MPhil in Science Education (Environmental Science), Ghana

His work explores the structural-property relationships of timber through material density, macro anatomy, and microstructure analysis, aiming to replace petroleum-based adhesives with biomaterials like soy flour and nanocellulose. He also leads efforts in manufacturing and quality assessment of composites including OSB, fiberboard, and polymer composites.

Recent publications span CLT mechanical properties (2021-2025), predictive modeling of downed timber (2025), acoustic testing for damage assessment (2024), and biofiller integration in resins (2023). His research bridges materials science, environmental sustainability, and structural engineering.