SUMMIT SENIOR GRANTSMANSHIP TRAINING PROGRAMME

Dr Mireille Elhajj is the founder of London-based boutique consultancy Astra-Terra, a company specialising in Positioning, Navigation Timing and intelligent systems with an emphasis on space and infrastructure, including smart transportation. (www.astraterra.com). She is also a Fellow at The Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN) in London and a Senior Honorary Lecturer at Imperial College London. Dr. Elhajj has a background in PNT, systems engineering, space applications and transportation. Previously, she was the Director of the Integrated Space Science Engineering Program (executive and continuing education) and an Advanced Research Fellow at Imperial College London's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. A Lecturer and an “Infrastructure and Space Science Fellow” at the Institute of Security Science and Resilience.

She has published various papers in Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT), Interference mitigation and novel integrity monitoring methods for multiple applications in telematics and smart cities.

She holds a PhD from Imperial College London, where she researched the use of new GPS signals to improve accuracy for surface transport. She has an MSc in Financial Analysis and Fund Management (FAFM) from Exeter University and an MSc in Transport Engineering from Imperial College London. She is a member of the International Advisory Board (IAB) at Imperial College London Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a member of the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services. (RTCM), and a member of the technical committee at the RIN.

Bamidele Adebisi, a Professor in Intelligent Infrastructure Systems, serves as the Head of the Smart Infrastructure and Industry Research (SIIR) Group within the Department of Engineering at Manchester Metropolitan University. His expertise extends beyond academia, as he is also an active member of Manchester’s Conference Ambassador Programme, securing the rights to host several national and international conferences in Manchester in recent years.

In addition to his academic and leadership roles, Professor Adebisi holds the prestigious position of Vice Chair of the IEEE Communications Society Technical Committee on Power Line Communications (IEEE TC-PLC). Through his leadership, he has successfully secured the rights to host two international conferences in Manchester. Notably, he served as Co-Chair of the 22nd IEEE ISPLC Symposium in 2018 and is slated to assume the role of General Chair for the 26th IEEE ISPLC Symposium in 2023.

Professor Adebisi's proficiency in grantsmanship is exemplified by his track record of securing numerous research grants. His extensive experience in this domain will be invaluable during the workshop, where he will share insights and strategies with participants. Moreover, Professor Adebisi is deeply committed to promoting gender equity and inclusion within academia and research, making him a well-rounded and invaluable asset to the workshop and broader academic community.

Abiodun Musa Aibinu, PhD is a distinguished academic and accomplished grantsman with over 2 decades of experience in Mechatronics Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, Teaching, and Research. Currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer of Summit University, Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria, and holding the esteemed position of Professor of Mechatronics Engineering.

Professor Aibinu has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise in securing research grants. Notable among his achievements are the numerous research grants he has successfully secured with other coleagues, both nationally and internationally. Some of these include:

1. Nigerian Communications Commission research grants in 2015, 2016, and 2019
2. TETFUND Research grants in 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020
3. Royal Academy of Engineering Research Grant Awards in 2019 and 2022
4. University of Leeds E-Waste Grant in 2020 and Biotechnology Grants in 2023
5. Kaduna State Government Research Grant in 2020
6. PTDF Research Grant in 2021
7. International Telecommunication Research Grant in 2021
8. European Union Marie Curie Exchange Grant in 2022
9. Gender and Responsive Artificial Intelligence Network Grant in 2023

                                    

Professor Aibinu's exceptional track record in grantsmanship underscores his commitment to advancing research and innovation. His expertise extends beyond academia, as he actively promotes AcadoPreneurship, aiming to translate academic ideas into viable businesses. As a co-founder of Artificial Intelligence for Clean Energy Nigeria Limited, he spearheads product development leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies.

Professor Francisca Oladipo is a highly accomplished academic and grantswoman, recognized for her exceptional contributions to computer science and academia. With a distinguished career spanning various leadership roles and impactful initiatives, she has demonstrated remarkable proficiency in grantsmanship.

Throughout her career, Professor Oladipo has secured numerous grants for donor-funded projects, including prestigious awards such as the Philips Foundation Grants, Google Rapid COVID-19 Grants, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Orange Knowledge Program, Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship, and Dutch Development Bank Grant for Capacity Strengthening in Africa. Her ability to successfully secure funding for these projects underscores her expertise in grantsmanship and her commitment to advancing research and innovation in Africa and beyond.

In addition to her grant-winning achievements, Professor Oladipo has co-authored several award-winning proposals, further highlighting her outstanding contributions to academia and research. Her dedication to bridging the gaps between research and practice, particularly in theoretical computer science and the development of scalable technology for societal impact, exemplifies her commitment to advancing the field.

As the Executive Coordinator of the Virus Outbreak Data Network Africa (VODAN Africa), Professor Oladipo has played a pivotal role in leading initiatives to combat the COVID-19 pandemic through the deployment of machine-actionable COVID-19 FAIR Data Points across multiple countries. Her leadership and strategic vision have been instrumental in expanding the initiative's reach and impact across Africa and beyond.

Overall, Professor Francisca Oladipo's remarkable achievements in grantsmanship underscore her commitment to advancing research, promoting data ownership and governance, and driving innovation in Africa's academic landscape. Her expertise and leadership in securing grants for impactful projects have positioned her as a trailblazer in the field of computer science and academia.