TITLE: DR

NAME: Foluso Oyedotun Agunbiade, Ph.D.

POSITION TITLE: Associate Professor of Industrial Chemistry, University of Lagos

EDUCATION/TRAINING:

A. Personal Statement

I am an Associate Professor with over 20 years of academic, research, and professional experience in Industrial Chemistry, water and wastewater treatment technologies, environmental quality monitoring, and contaminant modeling. I have led or co-led several international and nationally funded research projects, including those funded by the World Bank, Afretec, UKRI, and TETFund. My work integrates nanotechnology, environmental chemistry, and data modeling tools such as fuzzy logic to address pressing environmental and public health issues.  I have served as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and Visiting Professor at the Vellore Institute of Technology, India. I am an active member of some professional societies, with over 60 peer-reviewed publications and an h-index of 22 (Google Scholar). I have also served as an external examiner, postgraduate supervisor, and research group leader in interdisciplinary environmental projects.

B. Positions, Scientific Appointments, and HonoUrs

Academic Positions:

• Associate Professor, University of Lagos, Nigeria (2020–present)
• Visiting Professor, Vellore Institute of Technology, India (2025)
• Senior Lecturer, University of Lagos (2016–2020)
• Senior Lecturer, Redeemer’s University (2012–2016)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (2013–2014)

Honors and Awards:

• IChemE Global Awards – Highly Commended (2014)
• Best Presentation Award, ARUA Conference (£200) (2020)
• TWAS Research Grant Award (2014)
• UKRI GCRF Grant Awardee (2020)

C. Contribution to Science

1. Environmental Modeling and Monitoring:
   • Developed fuzzy logic and geochemical models to assess contamination in coastal and industrial environments.
   • Example: Agunbiade et al. (2008) Fuzzy Comprehensive Assessment of Metal Contamination in Ondo Estuary.
2. Pharmaceuticals and Emerging Contaminants:
   • Investigated the fate of pharmaceuticals in African water systems.
   • Example: Agunbiade & Moodley (2014) Environmental Monitoring and Assessment.
3. Nanomaterials for Water Treatment:
   • Co-developed hybrid clay composites for pollutant adsorption and disinfection.
   • Example: Unuabonah et al. (2017) Journal of Cleaner Production.
4. Environmental Risk from Agricultural and Industrial Sources:
   • Studied the impact of copper-based fungicides and industrial pollutants on ecosystems and human health.

Selected Publications:

• Agunbiade, F.O., Moodley, B. (2014). Pharmaceuticals in Umgeni River, Environ. Monit. Assess. 186(11):7273–7291.

• Atanda S.A., Shaibu, R.O. and Agunbiade, F.O. Eco-friendly synthesis and antibacterial potential of chitosan crosslinked-EDTA silver nanocomposite (CCESN).  Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Engineering 19, 22 DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40712–024–00164–w. 

• Jegede, D.O., Afolabi, T.A., Agunbiade, F.O., et al., Fuzzy Logic Modelling of the Pollution Pattern of Potentially Toxic Elements and Naturally Occurring Radionuclide Materials in Quarry Sites in Ogun State, Nigeria.  Environmental Geochemistry and Health 47, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653–025–02359–2.

D. Ongoing and Completed Research Support

Ongoing:

• TETFund (2023/2024): Poly-herbal formulations for diabetic wound healing – Co-Investigator (₦27.7M)
• AFRETEC (2023): Strengthening water access in Africa – Co-PI ($176,045.86)
• TETFund (2022/2023): Air pollutants in Lagos – Co-Investigator (₦29.8M)
• World Bank (2019–2025): African Centre of Excellence in Drug Research – PG Coordinator ($6M)

Completed:

• UKRI-GCRF (2020): Digital environmental fingerprinting for health risk forecasting – Co-Investigator (£150,000)
• TWAS Grant (2014): Nanoporous composite adsorbents – Co-Investigator ($65,000)
• Seeding Labs (2016): Instrumental access – Co-PI (Lab equipment worth $150,000)