Funmilola Nwokocha: Pioneering researcher in aerospace structural health monitoring

Funmilola Nwokocha is a trailblazing researcher whose work is transforming the way we monitor and maintain the health of space structures. Her groundbreaking research in the field of structural health monitoring (SHM) has the potential to revolutionize the safety and longevity of rockets, satellites, and other aerospace systems.

Nwokocha earned her Ph.D. at the renowned New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, where she received full funding from NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Her research focuses on using electromechanical impedance analysis to monitor the health of aerospace structures. This technique uses piezoelectric sensors to measure impedance and detect damage, providing a real-time understanding of the structural integrity of space vehicles.

READ MORE: Atiku criticises 2025 budget, warns of deepening economic challenges

As part of her dissertation, Nwokocha developed an electrical circuit model, an analogy of the classical electromechanical impedance method, for SHM of space structures. Her model demonstrates how environmental factors, such as temperature and radiation, affect piezoelectric sensors in the extreme conditions of space. To improve damage detection in space structures, she introduced a multi-input, single-output (MISO) impedance measurement method, offering a significant improvement over the traditional single-input, single-output (SISO) approach.

In addition to her experimental research, Nwokocha has designed and developed experiments for orbital applications, including a project on the International Space Station (ISS) and in a 6U communication satellite. She also collaborated with Immortal Data LLC to launch a payload to suborbital space on October 1, 2024.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by New Mexico Tech (@newmexicotech)

The project was successful and the data obtained will aid in improving the safety of space structures. These contributions further enhance her reputation as a leading expert in aerospace engineering.

READ MORE: Police allegedly torture man to death in Kwara

Funmilola Nwokocha was born and raised in Ibadan, Nigeria and holds multiple degrees, including a National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Yaba College of Technology, a B.Eng. and M.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Akure, and an MBA from the University of Lagos. Her academic excellence earned her the prestigious EPNL Total/NNPC undergraduate merit scholarship and the APWEN award as Nigeria’s best graduating female student in engineering for 2011.

Funmilola’s journey also includes a successful career at Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, where she worked as an engineer before pursuing her Ph.D. in the USA. Today, she continues to contribute to the field with multiple technical publications, and her work is helping to shape the future of space exploration.