Akshay Kumar Saha

Dr. Akshay Kumar Saha is a Professor and Academic Leader of Research and Higher Degrees at the School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), South Africa. He is a seasoned academic and professional engineer with extensive expertise in electrical engineering, specializing in power systems and energy technologies.

Dr. Saha holds a Ph.D. and Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Jadavpur University, India. He has significant industry experience, having worked with CESC Limited at various power generation stations. Transitioning into academia, he has held teaching positions since 2001, with a full-time academic career at UKZN beginning in 2010. He has mentored a large number of postgraduate students—thirteen PhD and thirty-six MSc graduates—and continues to supervise several others, in addition to examining theses from multiple universities across South Africa and abroad.

An accomplished researcher, Dr. Saha has published over 80 journal articles and 120 international peer-reviewed conference papers. He is a recipient of several teaching and research awards, including UKZN’s Best Lecturer in Electrical Engineering and the Research Excellence Award for multiple consecutive years. He was also recognized among UKZN’s Top 30 Researchers.

Beyond his teaching and research roles, Dr. Saha has held various academic leadership and administrative positions, contributing to program coordination, curriculum development, and institutional governance. He has played an active role in organizing national and international conferences and serves as an editor and reviewer for leading journals such as IEEE Access and the International Journal of Energy Research. He is also a regular reviewer for the National Research Foundation of South Africa and frequently delivers keynote and invited talks at academic and community events.

Dr. Saha is a Fellow of several prestigious organizations and maintains strong ties with academic and engineering communities worldwide.