Ngalula Sandrine Mubenga is a Congolese engineer, a professor of electrical engineering technology, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, and a government official leading electrification initiatives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Her accomplishments as a professor at the University of Toledo are detailed at www.DrMubenga.com. Research interests include renewable energy, solar power, electric vehicles, and battery management. Entrepreneurial credits include founding the SMIN Power Group LLC. The company specializes in the design and installation of renewable energy devices, with a primary mission to provide electrification for communities, schools and hospitals in her native country. As a Philanthropist, Mubenga has become a thought leader and socio-economic influencer in the (DRC) culminating in the founding of the STEM DRC Initiative in 2018 where she serves as president. With offices in Toledo Ohio and Kinshasa DRC, the STEM DRC Initiative is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which promotes STEM education and provides college scholarships for over 100 Congolese students studying in STEM fields. The organization supports interest in STEM fields as a means to stimulate social and economic development in the DRC. As a government official, Mubenga served as a Director on the Board of Directors of Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL) since 2017 until her appointment as the Director General of the Electricity Regulatory Agency in the DRC by President Felix Tshisekedi in 2020. In this capacity she leads regulatory initiatives to promote electrification as a means to spurring social and economic development in one of the poorest nations in the world.
Dr. Ngalula Sandrine Mubenga | |
|---|---|
 Mubenga Keynote Presentation, at Energy Fair | |
| Born | Ngalula Sandrine Mubenga |
| Alma mater | University of Toledo (PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Toledo |
| Thesis | A Lithium-Ion Battery Management System with Bilevel Equalization. (2017) |
| Website | sminpowergroup |
Early life and education edit
Mubenga was born in Kinshasa and is the daughter of a United Nations diplomat. She grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Senegal and in the United States. At the age of seventeen she was hospitalized with appendicitis, and needed surgery, but the city had run out of power. This near death experience inspired Mubenga to become an electronic engineer.[1] Mubenga studied electronic engineering at the University of Toledo and graduated in 2005. She has three kids and a husband. Her master's research considered hybrid vehicles that included hydrogen fuel cells.[2] In 2011 she became a licensed engineer.[3] Her doctoral research, also at the University of Toledo, involved the development of a bilevel equaliser, and was the first to combine an active and low-cost passive equaliser.[1][4] The equaliser could be used to extend the battery life of lithium-ion batteries.[1][5]
Research and career edit
Her research considers sustainable energy. After earning her doctorate she was appointed as an assistant professor at the University of Toledo.[1]
Mubenga founded the SMIN Power Group in 2011, which develops renewable energy solutions for people in Africa.[3] Alongside their work in engineering, SMIN provides financial support to African students who study science and work on initiatives to tackle climate change.[3] To complement these scholarships, Mubenga launched the STEM DRC initiative, which looks to encourage African young people to become inspired by science and engineering.[6][7] See www.StemDRC.org
Awards and honors edit
Her awards and honors include:
- 2009 Democratic Republic of the Congo Nkyoi Mérite[2][8]
- 2010 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Toledo Young Engineer of the Year Award[9]
- 2017 Africa's Most Influential Woman in Business[10]
- 2017 Appointed to Board of Directors of Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL)[11]
- 2018 DesignNews Most Important Black Women Engineers[12]
- 2018 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Engineer of the Year[13][14]
- 2020 Appointed Director General of the Electricity Regulatory Agency in the DRC[15]
References edit
- ^ a b c d "University of Toledo engineer finds power from near-death experience". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ a b "Ngalula Sandrine Mubenga | NEF Global Gathering 2018". Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ a b c "Ngalula Mubenga". www.utoledo.edu. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ "UToledo engineer creates solution to cheaper, longer lasting battery packs". EurekAlert!. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ Murray, Charles (2018-02-20). "New Battery Management Technology Could Boost Range, Longevity of Big Packs". Design News. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ ""J'ai mis en place une bourse pour inciter les jeunes congolaises à s'intéresser aux métiers scientifiques" (Sandrine Mubenga)". Actualite.cd (in French). 2019-03-11. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ "Stem DRC initiative: soixante-trois bourses d'études d'excellence attribuées | adiac-congo.com: toute l'actualité du Bassin du Congo". www.adiac-congo.com. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ Iris, Shiny. "My Title". Afroculture.net. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ "IEEE Toledo Section". ewh.ieee.org. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ "MIW Regional Digital Magazine 2017". Issuu. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ Rédaction, La (2017-07-13). "URGENT – Joseph Kabila nomme des mandataires de 10 entreprises publiques [Ordonnances] | Zoom Eco" (in French). Retrieved 2021-06-25.
- ^ Wiltz, Chris (2018-03-05). "10 of the Most Important Black Woman Engineers". Design News. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ "USA: Sandrine Ngalula Mubenga lauréate du prix " Ingénieur de l'année "". 24hcongo (in French). 2018-11-22. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ rédaction, La (2018-12-25). "Société : Parmi les dix congolais honorés en 2018, figure Jean-Claude Tshipama, CEO Broadband Africa chez Eutelsat". Scoop RDC (in French). Retrieved 2020-02-17.
- ^ "RDC : Sandrine Ngalula Mubenga nommée directeur général de l'Autorité de régulation du secteur de l'électricité (ARE)". 7sur7.cd (in French). 2020-07-17. Retrieved 2021-06-25.