PROFESSOR ELSIE A. B. EFFAH KAUFMANN
Prof. Elsie A. B. Effah Kaufmann exemplifies the rare blend of academic excellence, policy insight, and visionary leadership necessary to advance Ghana’s research and innovation frontier. Her role at The Academic Times Journal amplifies her lifelong mission: to empower Ghana’s research ecosystem as a force for transformative development across all sectors.
EDUCATIONAL AND ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP
Prof. Kaufmann earned her B.S.E., M.S.E., and Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania, followed by postdoctoral training in polymer synthesis and biomedical materials at Rutgers University. She has since built a career of over two decades at the University of Ghana, where she currently serves as Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences.
Professor Elsie A. B. Effah Kaufmann, a globally celebrated biomedical engineer and academic leader, brings to her role as Research Director of The Academic Times Journal over three decades of transformative experience in education, research, governance, and policy across the full spectrum of Ghana’s academic and innovation ecosystem.
Her unparalleled professional journey positions her to strategically guide the Journal’s mission to shape Ghana’s research direction from foundational education to tertiary levels, and from academic theory to industrial application and national development.
Her doctoral research in tissue engineering and biomaterials established her as a pioneer in applying engineering principles to biological challenges—knowledge she has since extended into health technology solutions tailored to Ghana’s context.
Her role as Partner University Lead for the Africa-Europe Cluster of Research Excellence (ARUA-The Guild) in “Engineering for the Future” speaks to her commitment to international research collaboration aimed at sustainable technological advancement.
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION AND POLICY REFORM
Prof. Kaufmann’s academic leadership spans multiple institutions and departments. She is the Founding Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Ghana and the Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS).
She has:
- 1) Supervised over 65 undergraduate and numerous postgraduate research projects
- 2) Led curriculum reforms for engineering, biomedical, and health sciences
- 3) Served on the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA), influencing science education policy from the basic to tertiary levels
Her active roles in national committees—such as the Ghana Institution of Engineering’s Education and Training Committee (Chair, 2023–2025) and the National PISA Working Group—showcase her influence in steering Ghana’s education policy toward evidence-based and practical outcomes.
IMPACT ON INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, AND RESEARCH GOVERNANCE
Prof. Kaufmann’s vast consultancy and governance portfolio demonstrates her role in bridging the gap between research and practice. She has provided expert guidance for:
- 1) Biomedical device regulation (FDA Ghana)
- 2) Engineering curriculum development (GIZ and multiple Ghanaian universities)
- 3) Tech start-ups (Advisor to DEXT Technology Ltd.)
- 4) National scientific institutions (Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, where she chairs the Management Board of the National Nuclear Research Institute)
As Chair of the Board of Directors of the Research and Grant Institute of Ghana (2017–2022), she helped drive research funding and mentorship systems critical to national innovation. She has also played significant editorial roles, including membership on journal committees of the IFMBE and Journal of Engineering in Medicine, further reinforcing her capacity to steer research dissemination at global standards.
ADVOCACY FOR STEM AND SOCIETAL TRANSFORMATION
A widely recognized STEM ambassador, Prof. Kaufmann is known nationally as the Quiz Mistress of the Ghana National Science and Maths Quiz. This role, coupled with her speaking engagements at forums such as UNESCO’s STI policy sessions and the Next Einstein Forum, illustrates her dedication to public science education, especially for girls.
She has been a keynote speaker at over 50 events, including
- 1) NSBE-Ghana Anniversary Conference (2024)
- 2) Festival of Education, Accra (2024)
- 3) Women in Tech Ghana Launch (2024)
- 4) Ghana’s National Peace Council/IDEG Presidential Peace Pact Forum (2024)
Through these engagements, she champions practical, inclusive, and innovation-driven learning systems.
VISIONARY CONTRIBUTION TO THE ACADEMIC TIMES JOURNAL
As Research Director of The Academic Times Journal, Prof. Kaufmann’s leadership is anchored in:
- 1) Integrating local and international research excellence to address Ghanaian challenges.
- 2) Promoting interdisciplinary research that feeds into policymaking and governance.
- 3) Elevating industry-academic partnerships for technological commercialization.
- 4) Prioritizing youth mentorship and equitable access to research opportunities.
- 5) Supporting the production and dissemination of research that is socially impactful, globally relevant, and technologically forward-looking.
Her influence ensures the Journal remains a national thought leader in fostering innovation, guiding policy with science, and nurturing a sustainable research culture from classroom to cabinet.
