This edition, we caught up with Dr. Augustine Ikpehai to find out a bit more about him and his work in I2Ri.
Augustine Ikpehai
“I find tapping into the knowledge of the rapidly evolving fields of energy systems and digital technologies to deepen the understanding of the challenges and exploring new ways to address them particularly exciting.”
Please can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a Senior Lecturer in Electrical, Electronic and Future Technologies as well the course leader for the BEng Mechatronics and Robotic Engineering course.
I obtained PhD in Smart Grid Communication from Manchester Metropolitan University, UK and am a chartered engineer.
My current research interests are decentralised smart energy systems and transport decarbonisation.
What led you to work at Hallam?
Before joining Hallam in 2019, I was a post-doc at Manchester Metropolitan University, where I worked on several research projects involving local and multinational collaborations, such as the UK-South Korea peer-to-peer energy trading and H2020 Triangulum smart city project with partners across Europe.
Prior PhD, I worked as a Senior Communication Network Engineer with Zenith Bank Nigeria, where I developed core expertise in routing and switching, including professional certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, CCIE (written), JNCIA and JNCIS.
This industry experience aligns well with research in smart grid communication, which I pursued in my PhD.
What is the most exciting thing about your work?
As you know, the fields of energy systems and digital technologies are evolving rapidly. I find tapping into this knowledge to deepen the understanding of the challenges and exploring new ways to address them particularly exciting.
What are some of the challenges?
The first challenge is balancing research with teaching and other committee. The second one if finding the right industry partner to collaborate with.
Who or what inspired you to pursue your career?
In the twilight of my career in the industry, I felt the need to further develop my knowledge of the fundamentals of science rather than its applications alone. That pushed me into pursuing a research degree.
Can you share a turning point or defining moment in your work as a researcher?
A high percentage of my PhD research was on Power Line Communication.
At the time of completing my PhD, I was gaining practical insights into the role of communication systems in power grid and wanted to do that for a bit longer and at the same time tempted to re-enter the industry as a researcher.
The post-doc opportunity made it possible to continue the research, after which I decided to remain in academia.
What advice would you give to someone who was looking to embark on a career in research?
Like every other profession, it has its ups and downs and research itself is about confronting challenges.
Two pieces of advice are: one, you need commitment, without it you will never start any real work (quote: Denzel Washington) because many activities are competing for your limited time.
Secondly, build or belong to a multidisciplinary network, as it is increasingly important.
What do you most enjoy about your work?
I enjoy seeing how my work fit into what other people are doing. That sometimes opens up new ideas.
What are your ambitions and the next steps for the research?
The main one is to strive to create real world impacts from my research work.
Is there an opportunity for colleagues to collaborate with you on your research?
Yes, I am always open to collaborations. I have a number of collaborations going on, locally and abroad.
What real-world impact do you hope your research will make?
One of the areas I am hoping to make impact is addressing the energy trilema, particularly low-cost access to clean energy in developing countries.
What do you like to do when you’re not working on your research?
I like going on a walk, not necessarily in the woods. Even the local area is good enough, a change of scenery, seeing unfamiliar places sometimes helps to recharge or spark new questions and imaginations.
Please find more spotlights on the researchers within the Industry and Innovation Research Institute here.
