Prof. Verdiana Grace Masanja

Professor Verdiana Grace Masanja is an Adjunct Professor of Applied Mathematics at the School of Computational and Communication Science and Engineering (CoCSE), Nelson-Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tanzania since 7th May 2022; she just retired on 28th February 2022 as Full Professor of Mathematics from the CoCSE School at NM-AIST. She has been in academic teaching and research for 46 years since April 1976, and at a professorial rank for 22 years since July 2000 as Associate Professor and as of March 2006 as Full Professor. She also has been in Higher Education management for 24 years since 1994 without interruption until 2017, while 14 years of these were at the level of Director responsible for postgraduate studies, research and innovation (12 years) and Deputy Vice Chancellor (2 years) responsible for strategic development, research and innovation.  She got her PhD from the Technische Universität Berlin (TUB), Germany in January 1986, specialisation Fluid Mechanics, Thesis Title “A Numerical Study of a Reiner - Rivlin Fluid in an AxiSymmetrical Circular Pipe". Prof. Masanja’ s current research interests are in fluid mechanics (stenosed blood flow, drug distribution in brain; MHD flow of nanofluids; modelling surface/ groundwater pollution; modelling groundwater aquifer recharge, modelling clean water/wastewater distribution networks/ systems) and modelling human, livestock and plant diseases dynamics and control strategies.  Verdiana has been a leader of national and international organisations and projects. For example, she was a member of the Advisory committee of the STEM and Gender Advancement (SAGA), a  global UNESCO project, Vice President of Africa Mathematical Union (AMU), Secretary of the Southern Africa Mathematical Sciences Association (SAMSA), member of executive committee of the Governing Board of Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), Chairperson of the Forum for African Women Educationalist (FAWE) – Tanzania, Chairperson of Mathematical Association of Tanzania (MAT), Chairperson of Tanzania Education Network (TEN/MET), and Coordinator of the Female Education in Science and Mathematics in Africa (FEMSA), a project of ADEA.