About
Dr. Sipokazi Mabuwa is an NRF Y2-rated researcher and Senior Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at UNISA. Her award-winning work integrates advanced materials processing, additive manufacturing, and AI-driven Industry 4.0 solutions to develop sustainable engineering systems for the aerospace, marine, and automotive sectors.
Biography
Dr. Sipokazi Mabuwa, Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.) in Mechanical Engineering, is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mechanical, Bioresources and Biomedical Engineering at the University of South Africa (UNISA). She is an NRF Y2-rated researcher, an NRF proposal reviewer and panelist, Chair of Collaborations in her department, Co-founder and Coordinator of the International Conference on Applied Research and Engineering (ICARAE), Board Member of the Professionals Societies in Science, Engineering and Technology (proSET), and serves as a Guest Editor and reviewer for several internationally indexed journals. She obtained her National Diploma, BTech, Master of Engineering, and Doctor of Engineering degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Dr. Mabuwa has received several prestigious recognitions, including the UNISA Research Award for NRF Rating, multiple research publication awards, international conference awards, and competitive research grants from the National Research Foundation and international institutions. Dr. Mabuwa's research focuses on advanced materials processing, friction stir welding and friction stir processing, aluminium-based metal matrix composites, additive manufacturing, and intelligent Industry 4.0-enabled manufacturing systems for aerospace, marine, and automotive applications. Her work integrates artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced manufacturing technologies to develop innovative, sustainable engineering solutions. She has published extensively in high-impact international journals, successfully supervised numerous postgraduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and actively contributes to engineering research through editorial leadership, international collaborations, keynote presentations, conference organization, and professional service. Her research and academic leadership continue to advance manufacturing science while strengthening engineering capacity development both nationally and internationally.