SIUE Engineering Doctoral Student Ohu Awarded Fellowship

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering doctoral student Ikechukwu P.N. Ohu was one of 107 students awarded a Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois (DFI) Program Fellow for the 2013-2014 academic year.

The Illinois Board of Higher Education awards the fellowships to increase the number of underrepresented faculty and staff in Illinois institutions of higher education. The DFI board members determined the selection process.

Ohu is an electrical, electronics and industrial engineer who works as an analyst with the largest fertilizer plant in sub-Saharan Africa. He has a bachelor's in electrical and electronics engineering and a master's in industrial engineering. Currently, Ohu is a joint Southern Illinois University Carbondale/SIUE Ph.D. candidate, with a focus on the complexity analysis of surgical motions, robotics, computer integrated manufacturing and workplace ergonomics. 

Ike Ohu

“Ike Ohu is an established and outstanding researcher in industrial and manufacturing engineering (IME),” said Dr. Sohyung Cho, associate professor of industrial engineering at SIUE. “Due to the nature of his collaborative work, Ike's publication based on his dissertation research appears in both engineering and medicine journals.”

The Diversifying Higher Education Faculty in Illinois Program (DFI) was established by the Illinois General Assembly and signed as Public Act 093-0862 (Appendix B) on August 4, 2004. DFI serves as a program of financial assistance to implement the policy of encouraging minority students to enroll and complete academic programs at the post baccalaureate level.

The SIUE School of Engineering offers one of the most comprehensive and affordable engineering programs in the St. Louis region with eight undergraduate degrees, five master's degrees and a cooperative doctoral program, all housed in a state-of-the-art facility. Students learn from expert faculty, perform cutting-edge research, and participate in intercollegiate design competitions. Companies in the metropolitan St. Louis area provide students challenging internships and co-op opportunities, which often turn into permanent employment. All undergraduate programs are accredited by their respective accreditation agencies.