Dr Stanley Chindikani Msiska is a Lecturer and Researcher in Chemical Engineering at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), a Graduate Engineer registered with the Malawi Engineering Institution, and an Adjunct Research Scientist at the African Institute for Capacity Development (AICAD). His work integrates chemical and process engineering with sustainability assessment to develop practical pathways for converting agricultural residues, municipal wastes and other underutilized resources into valuable chemicals, fuels, energy and nutrient products.

He obtained a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Stellenbosch University, South Africa, in 2026. His doctoral research investigated the techno-economic and environmental performance of integrated biorefineries based on biomass from maize and legume intercropping systems. He also holds a Master of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Harbin Institute of Technology, China, and a Bachelor of Science in Education, with studies in Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics, from the University of Malawi.

His research spans process systems engineering, circular bioeconomy development, sustainable agri-food systems, integrated biorefineries, agricultural-residue valorization, renewable energy, waste-to-energy, resource recovery and advanced battery materials. He applies Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS process simulation, techno-economic and socio-economic assessment, engineering economics, SimaPro and OpenLCA life-cycle assessment, Design-Expert, environmental impact assessment and multi-criteria sustainability analysis. His research examines the relationships among technical feasibility, investment performance, environmental impacts, rural development, agricultural mechanization, the food-energy-water nexus, ecosystems and the Sustainable Development Goals.

His research has been published in international peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Cleaner Production, Energy for Sustainable Development, Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy, Environmental Nexus, Discover Chemistry and the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. His studies have advanced integrated and decentralized biorefinery models, agricultural-residue supply and logistics analysis, circular waste-to-energy pathways, cleaner production, resource recovery and sustainable energy systems for Sub-Saharan Africa and other resource-constrained settings.

At MUST, Dr Msiska teaches and develops undergraduate and postgraduate courses in process synthesis and integration, advanced chemical engineering plant design, process simulation, environmental and energy engineering, engineering economics and related chemical-engineering subjects. His academic work also includes curriculum development, laboratory development, student mentoring and the supervision of research and engineering-design projects.

He has served as principal supervisor for more than six MSc students, including one completed MSc, co-supervised additional MSc researchers, contributed to PhD co-supervision and supervised or co-supervised more than 26 undergraduate engineering projects. His supervision promotes interdisciplinary research that integrates engineering design, process simulation, economic evaluation, environmental sustainability and practical development challenges.

Beyond teaching and research, Dr Msiska serves as President of the MUST Academic Staff Union, contributing to university governance, staff representation and policy engagement. He also serves as a Client Engineer on a major MUST infrastructure-development project and has undertaken engineering consultancy in process optimization, distillation, process safety, technical capacity development, mineral analysis and technical reporting. He contributes to scholarly peer review and collaborates with academic institutions, government agencies, development organizations and industry partners.

His recognitions include the Stellenbosch University Rector’s Award in 2023 for innovation, research and community impact, and Third Prize for the MAJI digital water-management innovation at UNITE 2030 in New York in 2022. His professional interests centre on translating rigorous engineering research into implementable technologies, viable investment models and policy-relevant solutions that support sustainable industrialization, resilient communities and inclusive economic development.

Circular bioeconomy; sustainable agri-food systems; biochemicals, bioenergy and integrated biorefineries; agricultural-residue valorization; waste-to-energy; renewable energy; resource recovery; process systems engineering; Aspen Plus and Aspen HYSYS simulation; techno-economic and socio-economic assessment; SimaPro and OpenLCA life-cycle assessment; engineering economics; feedstock logistics; environmental sustainability; food-energy-water nexus; ecosystems; Sustainable Development Goals; and sodium-ion battery materials.

 

ResearchGate:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stanley-Msiska-2

Google Scholar:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9PgXvywAAAAJ&hl=en

ORCID:
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0324-1961

AICAD Adjunct Research Scientist Profile:
https://www.aicad.or.ke/stanley-chindikani-msiska/

MUST Institutional Website:
https://www.must.ac.mw/

Sichali, A. G.*, Heiba, Y.*, Nyirenda, J. G., Levison, A. K., Msiska, S. C. (2026). Microplastics Transformation Across Water and Soil Systems: An Integrated Review of Environmental Pathways, Emerging Risks, and Mitigation Strategies. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2026.124735.

Msiska, S. C., Xie, B., and Zuo, P. (2026). Synergistic control of nucleation and crystallinity in Prussian blue cathodes for enhanced sodium-ion batteries. Discover Chemistry, 3, 414.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s44371-026-00878-0 

Msiska, S. C., Chimbende, H. B., Navicha, W., and Mweta, D. (2026). Advancing cleaner production and circular economy pathways: An experimental and simulation-based techno-economic assessment of peanut shell biochar-catalyzed pyrolysis of mixed plastic waste for liquid fuel and biochar production in Malawi. Environmental Nexus, 1(3), 100026.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enex.2026.100026 

Msiska, S. C., Shawa, Y., Lorent, G., Taulo, J., and Chagunda, M. (2026). Techno-socio-economic and environmental sustainability assessment of institutional waste-to-energy pathways in Malawi: A case study for Sub-Saharan Africa. Environmental Nexus, 100028.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enex.2026.100028 

Msiska, S. C. (2026). Towards circular rural bioeconomy development in Malawi through sorghum stover biorefineries: A techno-socio-economic and environmental life cycle assessment of biogas, biofertilizer, and electricity production. Environmental Nexus, 100029.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enex.2026.100029 

Msiska, S. C., Padi, R. K., and Chimphango, A. (2026). Strengthening circular economy in Sub-Saharan agriculture through intercropped mixed-feedstock biorefineries: A techno-economic and life cycle assessment approach. Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy, 100215.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clcb.2026.100215 

Msiska, S. C., Padi, R. K., and Chimphango, A. (2026). A decentralized intercropped mixed-feedstock biorefinery pathway to accelerate agricultural mechanization for smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Energy for Sustainable Development, 101994.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2026.101994 

Msiska, S. C., Padi, R. K., and Chimphango, A. (2024). Process simulation and assessment of the impact of satellite biorefineries and product diversification on the economic and environmental performance of energy-targeted biorefineries. Journal of Cleaner Production, 469, 143221.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.143221 

Msiska, S. C., Padi, R. K., and Chimphango, A. (2024). Comparative techno-economic and life cycle assessments of single and intercropped-mixed feedstocks-based biorefineries for profitable and cleaner production of energy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 450, 141988.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.141988