Mike Otieno

Mike Otieno is an Associate Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. He received his PhD and MSc(Eng) degrees from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and a First Class Honours BSc (Civil Eng) degree from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (in Higher Education, with Distinction) from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. His teaching covers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Construction Materials, including Strength/Mechanics of Materials. His research interests include concrete durability, service life prediction, steel corrosion in reinforced concrete structures and repair and rehabilitation of concrete structures.

Awards

• 2021: Friedel Sellschop Research Award – University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
• 2020, 2018, 2017, 2016: School Research Award – School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
• 2012: Wason Bronze Medal for Materials Research – American Concrete Institute
• 2010: Carnegie Doctoral Scholarship – Carnegie Corporation (New York, USA)
• 2010: Green Talents international sustainability award – German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
• 2010: Research Associateship award – University of Cape Town
• 2008: Golden Key Award (University of Cape Town Chapter)
• 2006: Best overall Civil Engineering student (First Class Honours) – University of Nairobi, Kenya

Specialities

Concrete testing (compressive strength; flexural strength; creep; shrinkage; elastic modulus; durability; admixtures; steel reinforcement; heat of hydration);

Assessment, repair and maintenance of deteriorating concrete structures (steel corrosion, alkali-silica reaction, soft-water attack, etc);

Tailored workshops on concrete durability, assessment and repair of concrete structures;

Training of laboratory technical staff on concrete strength and durability testing, and experimental design;

Setting up of [specialized] concrete testing laboratories.