College of Science, Engineering and Technology | |
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School of Engineering | |
Department: Mechanical Engineering | |
Associate Professor | |
Tel: | (011) 4712137 |
E-mail: | epandet@unisa.ac.za |
Journal publications
Procedia CIRP, Volume 119, 2023, Pages 800-808, ISSN 2212-8271,
Conference publications
Book Chapters
Books
Career Highlights
Selected Awards, Honours and Achievement
Mentor (2010)
Emerging researcher award (2015)
Prof Thanyani Pandelani is currently Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering Design, Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering, Additive Manufacturing in the School of Engineering, Department of Mechanical, Bioresources and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Africa. he occupies the position of Associate Chair for Quality Assurance within the Department of Mechanical, Bioresources, and Biomedical Engineering. In this role, his primary focus is to uphold and enhance the quality standards across various dimensions of the department. This includes ensuring excellence in teaching methodologies, rigorous assessment and moderation processes, and full compliance with all requirements set forth by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). His efforts are geared towards maintaining a high level of educational quality, fostering an environment of continuous improvement, and ensuring that the department's offerings meet both national and international benchmarks of engineering education.
Prof Pandelani is the leader at Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare Innovation (CBEHI) at the University of South Africa; this is a complex multi country, multi centre research programme. The centre is a hub for scholarly activity in the field of biomedical engineering, supporting a diverse array of Masters and PhD students as they explore a wide range of topics within this discipline. Under Prof. Pandelani's leadership, the CBEHI has become a beacon of innovation and excellence in research. He is actively involved in mentoring a broad spectrum of individuals, from undergraduate students to interns and junior colleagues, in addition to providing direct supervision to both Master's and Doctoral candidates. His role extends beyond supervision, as he also imparts crucial technical expertise and offers advice across various fields. Prof. Pandelani's comprehensive approach ensures that the centre not only advances in its research endeavors but also cultivates a rich learning environment for students and professionals at all levels of their academic and professional journeys.
Professor Pandelani distinguishes himself through his specialized technical expertise in the domain of human vulnerability research, with a particular focus on trauma resulting from blast incidents. His unique position as the sole biomedical engineer in the country possessing such a specialized skill set underscores the critical importance of his work. The specificity of his expertise not only contributes significantly to the field of biomedical engineering but also highlights a pressing need within the academic and research community. There is a clear imperative to develop more professionals and scholars in this niche area of study. Given the complex and evolving nature of trauma from blasts, which encompasses both military and civilian scenarios, Prof. Pandelani's knowledge is invaluable. It addresses a crucial gap in understanding and mitigating the effects of such incidents on human health and safety. His role transcends the boundaries of conventional research; it involves pioneering efforts to develop effective strategies, protective measures, and therapeutic interventions. Furthermore, his work lays the foundation for expanding academic curricula and research initiatives to cultivate future experts in this field, thereby strengthening the national and international capacity to deal with the challenges posed by blast trauma.
His research is critical and novel, with the focus on saving human lives. The research creates a shift in the paradigm by which blast on the human body is mitigated and managed. The beneficiaries of this work are communities, the SANDF, Tertiary Education institutes (TEIS), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other national and international agencies that are working on human vulnerability due to explosions. The ultimate beneficiary, of course, is the casualty with these injuries, and society and economy through prevention of injuries.