Dr Fredrick Mwema

Research Fellow

School: Engineering, Physics and Mathematics

Dr. Mwema is currently a Researcher (since March 2023) at Northumbria University, UK where he is working on high entropy thin film materials for extreme condition applications. He is also a Senior Lecturer, at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT), Kenya (currently on leave). He also served as Chair of the Department-Mechanical Engineering & Director of the Centre for Nano Materials and Nanoscience Research Center at DeKUT (for three years since 2020). He was a lecturer (2019-2021), assistant lecturer (2015-2019), and teaching assistant (2011-2015) of Mechanical Engineering at DeKUT. He has been a visiting student/researcher at the University of Southampton (2013), BIUST-Botswana (2018-2022), and IIT-Kharagpur, India (2018). He serves as an external examiner (since 2022) and has assessed several postgraduate theses and dissertations.

In addition, he has supervised over 100 undergraduate students and 5 master's degree students (engineering). He is currently supervising 4 P.h.D. students and 5 Master's degree students.

He has published over 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and books (according to his Scopus profile) in his fields of interest. He has almost 1000 citations according to his google scholar profile. He has written four books in the areas of Thin Films, 3D printing, and Material characterization. He has successfully filed two intellectual properties (IPs) with Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI).

He is a registered member of ASME, IAENG, and a graduate engineer, of the Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK).

Email Fredrick

Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

Dr. Mwema has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Johannesburg. His interests include thin films and coatings, surface engineering, severe plastic deformation, material characterization, Material Science, Finite Element Modeling, image analysis, and advanced manufacturing techniques. He has also worked on projects in 3D printing (fused deposition modeling).

In his current role as a researcher at Northumbria University, he is working on innovative high entropy alloy thin film materials.

Key Publications

Please visit the Pure Research Information Portal for further information
A numerical investigation of the deformation behaviour of modified re-entrant lattice structure unit cells, Otieno, S., Wambua, J., Mwema, F., Jen, T., Akinlabi, E. 11 Aug 2025, In: Advances in Materials and Processing Technologies
A Numerical Study on the Effect of Gate Position to the Structural Integrity of Plastic Injection-Molded Biomedical Implants, Otieno, S., Mwema, F., Mharakurwa, E., Bayode, A. 20 Feb 2025, In: Engineering Proceedings
A predictive modelling strategy for warpage and shrinkage defects in plastic injection molding using fuzzy logic and pattern search optimization, Otieno, S., Wambua, J., Mwema, F., Mharakurwa, E., Jen, T., Akinlabi, E. 1 Mar 2025, In: Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing
Effects of Screw Speed on Screw Pressure and Temperature: A Case of Non-Newtonian Non-Isothermal Flow, Maina, A., Mwema, F., Bayode, A., Nyanga, L. 20 Feb 2025, In: Engineering Proceedings
Evolution of TiAlSi thin film coatings under varying target power in DC magnetron sputtering, Wambua, J., Mwema, F., Zoppi, G., Woo, W., Akinlabi, E. 1 Apr 2025, In: Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part L: Journal of Materials: Design and Applications
Fuzzy assessment of process parameter interactions on warpage defect modeling in plastic injection molding, Otieno, S., Mwema, F., Mharakurwa, E., Jen, T. 1 Jul 2025, In: International Journal on Interactive Design and Manufacturing
Influence of Sputtering DC Sputtering Power on the Surface Evolution of Ti Thin Films: A Fractal Description, Mwema, F., Wambua, J., Jen, T., Akinlabi, E. 1 Feb 2025, In: JOM
Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing of Composite Laminates: Printability and Characterizations, Haile, F., Igwe, A., Wambua, J., Mwema, F., Akinlabi, S., Akinlabi, E. 1 Feb 2025, In: Applied Research
Mechanical Response of Four-Star-Honeycomb Hybrid Metamaterial Under In-Plane Loading, Mwema, F., Igwe, A., Akinlabi, E., Wambua, J., Akinlabi, S., Jen, T. 1 Jan 2025, In: Advanced Engineering Materials
Microstructure and Morphology Analysis of DC-Magnetron Sputtered TiAlSi Thin Coatings on Glass, T42 High Speed Steel, and AISI 01 Tool Steel Substrates, Wambua, J., Mwema, F., Zoppi, G., Woo, W., Akinlabi, E. 23 Jan 2025, Proceedings of ASME 2024 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, New York, US, American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Further Information

As a teaching staff, Dr. Mwema teaches the following course units:

A. Undergraduate teaching

Engineering Drawing & Design; Machine Design; Vibrations; Material Science; Engineering Materials; Experimental Stress Analysis; Materials Forming Processes; Mechanics of Metal Cutting; Manufacturing Processes-Traditional & Advanced; Strength of Materials

B. Postgraduate teaching

Thin Films; High-performance materials; Advanced Computer-Aided Design; Micro-fabrication Techniques; Advanced Production Technologies; Materials Characterisations & Structures; Systems Modelling & Simulation