Dr Elsie Effah Kaufmann the Quiz Mistress of the recently held National Maths and Science Quiz (NMSQ) , Senior lecturer and head of at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Ghana has recounted instances where students mistake her for their colleague.

“When I was first appointed as the only female lecturer at the Physics Department of the University, I remember students coming into my office and saw the name ‘Dr Kaufmann’ and asked where my father was. They did not believe I was the Dr Kaufmann because of my youthful looks”, she revealed on Accra-based Citi Fm.

Dr Kaufmann who has been the Quiz Mistress disclosed that there were instances students peep through lecture halls to be certain she was indeed a lecturer indicating that despite being the lone female lecturer, she did not shy away from her role.

PROFILE

Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann is a Senior Lecturer and the Foundation Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ghana. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE), a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) and a PhD in Bioengineering, all from the University of Pennsylvania, USA. After her graduate studies she received her postdoctoral training at Rutgers University, USA before joining the University of Ghana in July, 2001.

Dr. Effah Kaufmann was a member of the Planning Committee set up by the Academic Board of the University of Ghana to make proposals for establishing the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and was also a member of the three-person Implementation Committee set up by the Vice Chancellor following the submission and adoption of the Planning Committee’s report. She was appointed as the first Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering in 2006 and has served as Head for a number of years (2006-2012, 2014-2016).

Dr. Effah Kaufmann was named University of Ghana’s Best Teacher for the Sciences in 2009. In 2010 she was elected to represent non-professorial academic staff on the highest decision-making body of the University of Ghana, the University Council, a position she held for four years.

In 2011 Dr. Effah Kaufmann was a winner of the prestigious International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation Fellowship. Dr. Effah Kaufmann’s teaching and research focus on Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials and Application of Biomedical Engineering concepts to the solution of problems in the Ghanaian context. She is also keenly interested in Science education at all levels and has been Host/ Quiz Mistress and Consultant of the Ghana National Science & Mathematics.