Prof. Tawanda Mushiri

Prof Tawanda Mushiri joined the Scientific & Industrial Research & Development Centre (SIRDC) Executive Director – Technical (ED-Tech) on 1 March 2024. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering, MSc in Manufacturing Systems and Operations Management (MSOM) and a PhD in Engineering focusing on fuzzy logic systems (Artificial Intelligence - AI). He has several certifications in Artificial Intelligence including Data Science, Machine Learning and Deep Learning. He has supervised university students in BSc, MSc, and PhD in areas of Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, AI, and Biomedical Engineering. Professor Mushiri is currently a Council Member of the Medical Rehabilitation Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe. He has previously served as Co-Chairperson of the Public Relations and Fundraising Committee of Sally Mugabe Central Hospital. He is a former Board Member of the Zimbabwe Standards Association (SAZ)’s Tariff Code Classification for Solar Products and Solar Photovoltaic Systems Technical Committee, Zimbabwe Standard. Professor Mushiri is also a former Board Member of the ISOlutions SAZ Zimbabwe Standard. His notable achievements include the design and installation of: • automated national vehicle number plate plant for use by the Central Vehicle Registry, • automated bread making plant, and • automated sanitiser production plant. His main research focus is on the Robotic First Aid (RFA) systems to reduce Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) and Disease Prediction Modelling using Artificial Intelligence. He has managed to do projects and grants up to USD$3,5m. His work at SIRDC involves but not limited to • Coordinate the research work of all the 12 Institutes which are: Biotechnology Research Institute (BRI), Geo-information & Remote Sensing Institute (GIRSI), Building Technology Institute (BTI), Informatics Institute (II), Electronics & Communications Institute (ECI), Metallurgical Research Institute (MRI), Energy Technology Institute (ETI), National Metrology Institute (NMI), Environmental Sciences Institute (ESI), Polymer Sciences Institute (PSI), Food & Biomedical Technology Institute (FBTI), Production Engineering Institute (PEI). • Overseeing the general operations of the Institutes • Overseeing professional development of Scientists • Overseeing the management of projects through the Stage Gate business model • Overseeing the protection and management of the Centre’s Intellectual Property Assets • Providing leadership in project management and marketing of SIRDC to stakeholders • Deputize the CEO in his absence.

Email:tmushiri@sirdc.ac.zw