School of Life Sciences

Professor Olaniran is the Dean and Head of the School of Life Sciences. He joined the University as a full-time staff member in 2006. He has taught a range of Microbiology modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, with particular focus on Environmental Microbial Biotechnology. Recently, his teaching has been focused on pollution microbiology, pollutant monitoring and detection; waste and wastewater treatment; bioremediation of pollutants; bioenergy production and microbial diversity in biotechnological processes. He embraced teaching as an opportunity to inspire and empower students by involving them in a creative thinking process to become co-producers of knowledge. He was a recipient of the College Distinguished Teacher award for 2014.

Professor Olaniran has been involved in various Environmental Microbiology/Biotechnology research geared towards possible exploitation of microorganisms and/or their enzymes for bioremediation of polluted sites, especially with chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds. He has also conducted research on water/wastewater projects, biosensor development and application to pollutant detection, food safety and climate change. Current focus areas include: biodegradation of chlorophenolic compounds; prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater effluent; metagenomics; water use and waste management; as well as microalgal biotechnology for bioenergy production. He is an active member of several microbiology and biotechnology-related professional bodies.

Ade has served as Head of the Discipline of Microbiology in the pre-existing School of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology. He also served as the Academic Leader for the Biotechnology cluster on the Westville campus of the School of Life Sciences and served as a mentor to young and emerging academics. Until his new appointment, Professor Olaniran was the Academic Leader: Teaching & Learning in the School of Life Sciences.