Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Personal Information
Timeline
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Francis Gyakwaa

Francis Gyakwaa

Oulu

Summary

I am a passionate and interdisciplinary Metallurgist/Processing Engineer with over nine years of experience as a researcher in process engineering and five years as an industrial hydrometallurgy engineer for multinational mineral processing companies. My expertise includes process engineering research, metallurgy, materials characterisation, and analysis expertise using various analytical techniques. In addition, I have excellent skills in supervision, managing research projects, and technical report writing. I understand industrial workplace safety and environment, with demonstrable adaptability to processing industries and teamwork ability. I am open to learning new things.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience

Work History

Postdoctoral Researcher, Process Metallurgy

Process Metallurgy Research Unit
Oulu
01.2021 - Current
  • Conducts research on steel quality and cleanliness assessment, such as oxide scale formation and properties in steel
  • Conducts high-temperature metallurgical slag characterisation using spectroscopic techniques
  • Actively participate in technical reporting, writing, and publications in high-standard peer-reviewed scientific journals and is involved in research project funding applications.

Metallurgist/Reagent's Coordinator

Otso Gold Oy
Raahe
10.2021 - 03.2022
  • Supervised and coordinated all the reagents used at the gold process plant (from milling, flotation, leaching and elution) and ensured their availability within the process plant
  • Involved in the preparation and optimisation of reagents consumption for the processing plant
  • Prepared daily and monthly reports based on metallurgical data from various sections within the process plant
  • Assisted in metallurgical accounting and monitored the process plant parameters for enhanced gold recovery.

Early-Stage Researcher (Doctoral Researcher, I4Future MSC-COFUND doctoral program)

Process Metallurgy Research Unit
Oulu
01.2017 - 12.2020
  • Studied the application of Raman spectroscopy to characterise synthetic non-metallic inclusions in steel products towards achieving cleanliness assessment
  • Experienced and competent with using analytical techniques to characterise materials for advanced studies of their structural information
  • Experienced and demonstrable knowledge of writing successful grant applications and presenting research results in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Research Assistant

University of Tartu (Environmental Physics Research Group)
Estonia
11.2014 - 12.2016
  • Participated in developing and validating an alpha spectrometric analytical procedure to determine Polonium-210 (210Po) in environmental samples (master's thesis).

Metallurgist and Process Engineer

Kinross Chirano Gold Mines Limited (a subsidiary of Kinross Gold)
08.2010 - 12.2012
  • Trained and supervised operators in various sections such as crushing circuits, milling, leaching and electrowinning (elution) to ensure smooth operation of the process plant
  • Participated in metallurgical accounting that optimised production output within the process plant
  • Carried out sampling and analysed operating parameters such as sodium cyanide (NaCN), slurry pulp density, pH, activated carbon level, etc., for optimum gold extraction within the process (treatment) plant
  • Efficiently applied and demonstrated my knowledge of effective reagent usage and control within the processing plant under a high safety standard
  • Participated in reagent preparation at reagent circuits within the gold processing plant.

Metallurgist and Process Engineer (National Service)

Red Back Mining Inc (Chirano Gold Mines Limited)
Ghana
11.2009 - 08.2010
  • Trained and independently operated the process plant sections, such as crushing circuits and milling sections
  • Prepared samples from the grinding circuit, leaching, adsorption, and elution for laboratory analysis to enhance production
  • Gained hands-on experience in discipline-specific areas such as health & safety, crushing, grinding (milling), dewatering, and basic laboratory techniques.

Student Trainee (Internship)

AngloGold Ashanti Limited- Iduapriem
Tarkwa
06.2008 - 08.2008
  • Acquired practical skills contributing to operational efficiency within the gold process plant
  • Assisted plant operators with effective plant operations ideas to contribute to their work output within various sections in the gold processing plant.

Education

Doctor of Science (Technology) in Process Engineering -

University of Oulu
Oulu, Northern Ostrobothnia
12.2020

Master of Science in Engineering - Applied Measurement Science -

University of Tartu
Tartu
06.2016

Bachelor of Science in Minerals Engineering (Major in minerals processing and metallurgy) -

University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa (UMaT)
Tarkwa
06.2009

Skills

  • Process engineering research
  • Metallurgy
  • Materials characterisation
  • Analysis expertise using various analytical techniques
  • Supervision
  • Managing research projects
  • Technical report writing
  • Industrial workplace safety and environment
  • Adaptability to processing industries
  • Teamwork ability

Personal Information

Nationality: Finland

Timeline

Metallurgist/Reagent's Coordinator

Otso Gold Oy
10.2021 - 03.2022

Postdoctoral Researcher, Process Metallurgy

Process Metallurgy Research Unit
01.2021 - Current

Early-Stage Researcher (Doctoral Researcher, I4Future MSC-COFUND doctoral program)

Process Metallurgy Research Unit
01.2017 - 12.2020

Research Assistant

University of Tartu (Environmental Physics Research Group)
11.2014 - 12.2016

Metallurgist and Process Engineer

Kinross Chirano Gold Mines Limited (a subsidiary of Kinross Gold)
08.2010 - 12.2012

Metallurgist and Process Engineer (National Service)

Red Back Mining Inc (Chirano Gold Mines Limited)
11.2009 - 08.2010

Student Trainee (Internship)

AngloGold Ashanti Limited- Iduapriem
06.2008 - 08.2008

Doctor of Science (Technology) in Process Engineering -

University of Oulu

Master of Science in Engineering - Applied Measurement Science -

University of Tartu

Bachelor of Science in Minerals Engineering (Major in minerals processing and metallurgy) -

University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa (UMaT)
Francis Gyakwaa