School of Life Sciences

Professor Gueguim Kana is a distinguished academic at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, where he serves as a Professor in the School of Life Sciences and Academic Leader for Research and Higher Degrees. With over two decades of experience, he is an expert in applying artificial intelligence (AI) to biotechnology and bioengineering.

His research focuses on microbial process technology, particularly the biorefinery of agricultural and industrial wastes into biofuels and bioproducts. He also works extensively in bioprocess development, bioreactor design, and nanobiotechnology, with a strong emphasis on using AI and machine learning to improve process efficiency.

Professor Gueguim Kana has published over 130 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. His work on AI-enhanced biofuel production is highly cited, and his overall research impact is reflected in a Google Scholar h-index above 49 with more than 6,000 citations.

His contributions have earned him several honors, including the National Award of Outstanding Contribution in Biotechnology from Nigeria’s National Universities Commission (NUC), multiple NRF grants in South Africa, and the Distinguished Teacher Award from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. In 2017, he was named among the university’s Top 30 Publishing Researchers.

In addition to his research, Professor Kana is dedicated to mentorship, having supervised numerous national and international postgraduate students, playing a vital role in shaping the next generation of scientists in bioprocess technology.