Engineering
Sandrine Mubenga PhD, PE
Dr. Ngalula Sandrine Mubenga, PE is Assistant Professor at the Engineering Technology Department at the University of Toledo (UT), Ohio, USA where she received the Bachelor’s (2005), Master’s (2008) and Doctorate (2017) degrees in Electrical Engineering with honors. Her research areas include battery management systems, electric vehicles, and renewable energy systems. Her battery research won the 2018 IEEE National Aerospace & Electronics Conference Best Poster Award in the USA, while her hybrid electric vehicle research won the 2008 University of Toledo EECS Dept. Most Outstanding Thesis Award. Prior to this role, Sandrine was the Manager of Electrical Engineering at UT where she helped manage a $65 million budget. She is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Ohio, USA.
Sandrine is also an entrepreneur. Since 2011, she is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of SMIN Power Group, a solar developer with offices in the USA and in the D.R.Congo. In 2018, Sandrine founded the STEM DRC Initiative, a non-profit organization that aims to encourage Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) in the D.R.Congo. She is a Member of the Board of Directors at the Société Nationale d’ Eléctricité, the main electric utility company in the D.R.Congo.
Sandrine is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). In 2009, she started and chaired the first IEEE Graduate of the Last Decade Group in the Toledo Section. She chaired the 2017 IEEE PowerAfrica Conference in Ghana with attendees from over 30 countries. Sandrine received many awards including the 2018 IEEE Engineer of the Year Award, the 2017 Africa Most Influential Women Award in Engineering and Manufacturing by CEO Magazine, and she was inducted in the 2018-2019 World Association of Cooperative Education Co-op Hall of Fame.
Dr. Wale
Odukomaiya
Dr. Wale Odukomaiya is an experienced researcher, engineer, and scientist with expertise in building energy science/technology, thermal energy storage materials and systems, electro-mechanical energy storage, and renewable/distributed energy systems integration including policy and economics.
Dr. Odukomaiya currently serves as a Director's Fellow at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, USA, the United States Department of Energy's flagship research center for renewable energy and energy efficiency. His current work at NREL is focused on the development and characterization of novel low temperature combined thermal and moisture storage materials for buildings. Prior to this, he spent 3.5 years as a research associate at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, another US Department of Energy research laboratory. Dr. Odukomaiya was educated at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he obtained a Bachelors, Masters, and PhD in Mechanical Engineering, specializing in Heat Transfer and Energy Systems.
Dr. Odukomaiya has published over 15 peer-reviewed research papers and holds a patent on combined compressed gas/pumped hydro electricity storage with waste heat recovery capabilities. He is passionate about energy technologies, improving energy access in developing regions, and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers, especially those from groups historically underrepresented in these fields.
Djami Kakona, MSEE, is a Senior Engineer with specification in Electrical Power Engineering.
With about 10 years work experience with multi international companies around the world and
currently working for water and wastewater facility project as Principal scientist leading the
electrical engineering scopes at Hazen and Sawyer. He is a Graduate from Wayne State University
in Michigan United States and hold a Master’s degree in electrical engineering (2017) and
bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering (2013) from Tshwane University of Technology Pretoria
South Africa. He has worked in the mining, semiconductor, automotive, environmental and
commercial industries.
He is a Knowledgeable Electrical Engineer with strong understanding of Electrical Engineering
principles, techniques, design and engineering management’s tools with a Proven strong
technical and computer abilities using variety of software and equipment with more focus on high,
medium and low voltage power system. Strong communication abilities along with exceptional
problem solving, management and troubleshooting skills, Hardworking, highly motivated, team
player, creative, ready for challenges but also open minded.
Djami is also an entrepreneur. Since 2017, he is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of DK
Group.
Djami is an active member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)Smart
Village.
Djami is excited to join STEM DRC to serve in any capacity as a role model to young engineers in
the Democratic Republic of Congo. Within STEMDRC, Djami is more excited about encouraging,
empowering youth to do STEMDRC. He is currently overseeing all STEMDRC membership
programs.
Djami Kakona
“Deborah Mobula, EIT is a Roadway Designer at Arcadis, Inc. Deborah obtained her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Toledo (UT), in Toledo, Ohio in 2017. Deborah’s role consists of working in teams with other senior engineers by performing the geometric design of highways and streets in the state of Georgia. She had previously worked on major projects in different states (Ohio, Illinois, Michigan) where she learned requirements of roadway and highway design from states’ Departments of Transportation.
Deborah is currently involved in and serves in several professional organizations. She is an active member of Women in Transportation Seminar (WTS), where she participates in outreach events with her firm, and a professional member of the American Society of Highway Engineers. Within her organization, Deborah is a member of Toastmasters International, an international organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills, where she serves as the Vice President of Education.
During her college years, Deborah served in many capacities, and held several leadership positions in different organizations on her college campus. She was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, where she served as the treasurer for a year. She was a member of the National Society of Black Engineers for 3 years, and served as the Executive Assistant during her last year of college.
Deborah was also a member of the University of Toledo Engineering Council for 3 years, and served as the Executive Vice President, as well as the vice President of Corporate and Community Outreach for a semester during her senior year. Deborah was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and is a lifetime member of Chi Epsilon, the Civil Engineering National Honors Society, where she served as an editor her last year of college.
Deborah is excited to join STEM DRC to serve in any capacity as a role model to young engineers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Within STEM DRC, Deborah is more excited about encouraging, empowering and reaching out to young women in the country, and stir their interest in STEM. “
Deborah Mobula
