Stephen Akinlabi

Dr. Stephen Akinlabi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University, USA. With over twelve years of industrial experience in the oil and gas sector, he transitioned to academia while maintaining active registration with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), and Chartered Engineer (C.Eng.) status with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). His career spans engineering practice, advanced manufacturing research, and international collaboration.

• PhD (2017) - University of Johannesburg
• M.Eng. (2005) - University of Port Harcourt
• B.Eng. Hons (1997) - Federal University of Technology, Akure

Dr. Akinlabi's primary research focuses on Materials Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing Systems, specializing in laser processing, additive manufacturing, welding technologies, and materials characterization. His work includes optimizing metallic coatings for aerospace applications, investigating corrosion resistance in titanium alloys, and advancing sustainable manufacturing through waste-to-wealth initiatives and renewable energy integration.

His publications demonstrate a consistent record in 2021-2019 addressing laser welding, nanofluid refrigerants, and additive manufacturing. Key trends include surface engineering, thermal modeling, and nanoparticle applications.

• National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher, South Africa
• 2024 Northumbria University Student-Led Teaching Award
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), UK

As principal investigator in the Royal Academy of Engineering-funded Industry-Academia Partnership Program (IAPP), he collaborated with Prof. Hong Dong (University of Leicester) and South African institutions to advance welding technology education. His work includes numerical simulations for manufacturing optimization and experimental studies on material properties, with applications in aerospace, automotive, and marine sectors.