PROF. HULDA SWAI

Professor Hulda Shaidi Swai is a Tanzanian Professor at the renowned Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) in Arusha since 2015 and she has been a great champion of the institutional vision and mission on Academia for Society and Industries.
Prof. Hulda Swai is a goal-oriented and results-driven professional who has proven ability to independently formulate, initiate and execute research projects and implement scientific research programmes, both in public and private sectors. She has a remarkable experience in sourcing funds both locally and internationally with an admirable track record in initiating and maintaining collaborations, networks, synergies, exchange programs and sabbaticals. In her endeavors, she has displayed astounding work ethics and excellent leadership/ managerial, strategic, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills. Over the years, she has earned her stage as a renowned speaker in International, local and even multidisplinary platforms.

Prof. Hulda Swai is a proud alumna of the University of Dar es Salam where she obtained her Bachelor of Science majoring in Chemistry and Statistics in 1980. Her great contribution as a Scientist saw her being recognized as a University of Dar es Salaam Alumna of the Month in October 2020. In 1985, Prof. Swai obtained her Master of Science (MSc), Technology and Development in Chemical Engineering degree from the University of London, Imperial College of Science and Technology. In 2000 Prof. Swai got her PhD in Biomedical Materials Science, Biomaterials in Dentistry from the University of London, Queen Mary & Westerfield College. Even though she obtained all her graduate qualifications and began her research career in the United Kingdom, her passion has always been to have an impact in Africa through her expertise and Scientific niche. As such, she made a bold move to relocate to Africa immediately after she obtained her PhD in 2000. She initiated her ground-breaking research and training in South Africa in 2001 at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), where she worked till 2015, and then moved back home to Tanzania and joined NM-AIST and since then, she has been initiating impactful research projects and making very commendable strides.
In 2016, through a very rigorous and competitive proposal selection, Prof. Swai won a grant worth USD 6 Million from the World Bank for the establishment of the African Centre for Research, Agricultural Advancement, Teaching Excellence and Sustainability in Food and Nutritional Security (CREATES-FNS) in Africa that was established through the World Bank’s African Centers of Excellence (ACE II) initiative. Prof. Swai is the Director for this very impactful centre at NM-AIST.
Through Prof. Swai’s leadership and great contribution as the Director at this African Centre of Excellence, CREATES-FNS was awarded a grant worth USD 250,000 in the year 2019 for the establishment of a Regional Incubation Centre on Data-Driven Innovation for food and nutritional security. This is a 5 years grant and Prof. Swai is also the Director and Principal Investigator of this Incubation Centre Project that is geared toward facilitating up-scaling of the scientific innovations and ensuring startups for the innovations into commercialized products and services to help in the fight against food and nutritional insecurity in the Eastern region of Africa. Most recently, in October 2020, Prof. Swai was awarded the Chairship of the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative with funding of USD 1 Million and her research will be mainly focusing on the use of Nanotechnology to revolutionize Agriculture and Health for the people of Africa.
In the year 2021, Prof. Hulda Swai was crowned a celebrated Laureate of the African Union Kwame Nkuruma Award for Scientific Excellence (AUKNASE), 2020 Edition. In great honour, Professor Hulda Shaidi Swai was awarded the Regional Award for Life and Earth Sciences category from Eastern Region. Prof. Swai was recognized for her quest in improving food and nutritional security in Africa through innovative research and the application of Nanotechnology.
Tanzanian Professor Hulda Shaidi Swai, wears many hats:
• She is a Professor at the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology and a Nanotechnology Scientist with over 28 years of experience.
• She is the Centre Director of the Africa Centre for Research, Agricultural Advancement, Teaching Excellence and Sustainability in Food and Nutritional Security in Africa (CREATES-FNS) funded by the World Bank in the World Bank’s African Centres of Excellence (ACE II) initiative.
• She is a Director and Principal Investigator of a Regional Incubation Centre on Data Driven Innovation for food and nutritional security (DDI).
• She is a Research Chair in the O.R. Tambo Africa Research Chairs Initiative.
• She is an Extraordinary Professor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa
• She is the immediate former President of the African Materials Research Society (AMRS) where she was elected in 2018.
• She has been a committee member of various African and European committees.
• She has published 76 peer reviewed articles in high impact international journals and 40 of these reported in Scopus.
• She is an Editor in the International Journal of Nanomedicine and an Advisory Board Member of WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology which is a Journal with an Impact Factor of 7.689.
As a natural leader, Prof. Swai is passionate about human capacity development (HCD). She is passionate and feels an urgent responsibility to develop human capital and infrastructure, through which a critical mass of African scientists can be built to bring great economic impact in Tanzania and Africa at large:
• She has supervised/co-supervised, mentored and trained 13 Post- Doctoral, 10 Doctoral and 8 Master’s students.
• Over the years, she has initiated and build very strong Scientific collaborations and partnerships in different countries of Africa and parts of the World, she is indeed not only a celebrated African Scientist but also a globally Icon of Scientific Excellence!
Her accolades have not gone unnoticed and she has been immensely lauded and up to date won:
• 16 prestigious awards including the Tanzanian National Health innovation Award, the 2010 Winner of the President’s prestigious award for excellence-CSIR-Wide Biennial Excellence Awards in South Africa, as well as
• Gauteng Best Mentor Award in South Africa just to mention a few.