Citation of DAUDA Monsuru Olatunji
Born on October 24th in Iwo, Nigeria, Monsuru Olatunji Dauda has always been driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a deep-rooted desire to make a lasting impact on the world. His journey began at Vico Hope Nursery and Primary School, where his academic excellence first became evident. He graduated from A1 Comprehensive Grammar School, Oke Oore, Iwo, with distinction in 2014, earning recognition as the best student in Osun State in a competition organized by Obafemi Awolowo University's student union. That same year, he gained admission to the prestigious Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Ogbomoso to pursue a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Chemical Engineering. Monsuru's academic career at LAUTECH was marked by exceptional performance across research, academics, and leadership. His dedication saw him graduate with first-class honors in 2021, ranking in the top 1% of his class. During his undergraduate years, he conducted research in Sustainable Biotechnological Solutions for Industrial Wastewater Treatment at the Bioenvironmental and Water Research Laboratory, focusing on wastewater purification and synthesizing activated carbon and novel adsorbents from agricultural waste materials. This innovative work resulted in his first few peer-reviewed publications and earned him the Best Undergraduate Research Award in 2021. He earned multiple accolades including "Most Resourceful Student," "Best Student in Process Design," "Best Serving NUESA National President" from the Nigerian Society of Engineers President at the 2020 NSE Conference in Abuja, and "Most Innovative and Outstanding Student Leader" for his exceptional service as National President of NUESA, representing all engineering students across Nigeria. His time at LAUTECH laid the foundation for his future endeavors in sustainable energy and chemical production
Currently, Monsuru is pursuing his PhD in Chemical Engineering at Louisiana State University (LSU) under the mentorship of Professor John C. Flake. His research addresses the global challenge of climate change through the electrochemical conversion of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into valuable chemicals like ethylene, ethanol, and acetate. By leveraging cutting-edge copper-based alloy electrocatalysts, gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs), and anion exchange membranes (AEMs), Monsuru's work aims to enhance the selectivity, activity, and durability of CO₂ conversion processes. His research directly contributes to reducing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations while providing sustainable alternatives for chemical production. Monsuru's work has already set new benchmarks in the field of electrochemical CO₂ reduction. His innovative research on copper-based electrocatalysts, particularly Cu-P, Cu-Sn and Cu-Se alloy systems, has demonstrated record efficiencies in producing valuable C₂ products such as ethylene, ethanol, and acetate at industrial current densities. His research is particularly noteworthy for its scalability, making it commercially viable for large-scale industrial applications. This breakthrough has caught the attention of the broader scientific community and industry alike, with real-world implementation already underway through his concurrent role as Lead Research and Development Engineer at Encore CO₂ in Baton Rouge, where he drives pilot-scale testing, reactor design, and commercialization strategies for CO₂ conversion technologies. His technical expertise is further demonstrated by his proficiency in advanced analytical techniques, including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and computational modeling. These tools have enabled Monsuru to explore the dynamic chemical states of copper reaction sites and establish structure-activity relationships that guide rational catalyst design. His innovative development of dual-membrane electrolyzer systems has solved critical product crossover challenges, enabling efficient liquid product collection and paving the way for commercial viability. Beyond his research contributions, Monsuru actively engages in mentorship and leadership. He currently serves as President of the African Graduate Student Association (AGSA) at LSU, serving 200+ African graduate students across all LSU departments. Previously, he served as Vice President, organizing cultural, professional, and social events that fostered community building and professional development. He has has authored or co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading journals such as ACS Applied Energy Materials and the Journal of The Electrochemical Society. His work has earned him several prestigious awards, including the George A. Daniels Graduate Fellowship, the ECS F. M. Becket Summer Fellowship, the ECS-IOP Trusted Reviewer Award, and the 2025 Industrial Electrochemistry & Electrochemical Engineering Division Student Achievement Award. His leadership extends to mentoring undergraduate and high school students through outreach programs, where he shares his passion for STEM and sustainable energy research, inspiring the next generation of scientists through hands-on demonstrations and workshops. Throughout his academic journey, Monsuru has been an active member of several professional organizations, including Sigma Xi (The Scientific Research Honor Society), Omicron Delta Kappa (National Leadership Honor Society), the Electrochemical Society (ECS), American Chemical Society (ACS), American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE). His involvement in these organizations has not only expanded his professional network but also provided him with valuable opportunities to contribute to the advancement of the engineering field and support diversity in STEM. Monsuru is deeply committed to fostering partnerships between academia and industry. He brings unique industrial perspective from his work at Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited, where he led a team developing Final Investment Decisions for onshore oil fields, and from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), where he monitored compliance in Nigeria's oil and gas industry. He believes that translating research findings into practical, real-world solutions is essential for addressing the global challenges of climate change and sustainability. By working closely with industry leaders through his role at Encore CO₂ and conducting techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life-cycle analysis (LCA), Monsuru aims to ensure that his research has tangible impact on creating a cleaner, greener future for all. Monsuru Olatunji Dauda exemplifies a blend of academic excellence, innovative research, and impactful leadership. From his early work on Sustainable Biotechnological Solutions for Industrial Wastewater Treatment using agricultural waste-derived adsorbents to his current pioneering research in electrochemical CO₂ reduction, Monsuru has consistently advanced sustainable solutions for pressing environmental challenges. His work is not only contributing to fundamental scientific knowledge in both wastewater remediation and sustainable energy production but also translating into real-world applications through pilot-scale implementation and commercialization efforts. Through his mentorship, leadership, and commitment to sustainability, Monsuru is shaping the future of chemical engineering while inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers to follow in his footsteps. He firmly believes that success is not achieved through magic, but rather through hard work, continuous learning, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. This belief has earned him the nickname "No Magic In Success (NMIS)" among his peers and colleagues, serving as a testament to his relentless dedication and his conviction that greatness comes from pushing beyond comfort zones, setting ambitious goals, and maintaining the discipline to achieve them.
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