Dr. Mahama Alhassan is a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry Education at the University of Education, Winneba. With a deep passion for unraveling the chemistry in everyday life, he has made significant contributions through teaching, research, and community engagement, inspiring countless young students to advance their pursuit of chemistry and chemical science education.
Dr. Mahama earned his undergraduate degree in Applied Chemistry from the University for Development Studies. After graduating, he worked with Savannah Diamond Cement for three years. Upon completing his contract, he joined the Mahonani Group of Companies in Accra as a Quality Control Supervisor, overseeing the production of polytanks and sacks.
He later pursued further studies in South Africa, where he completed his master’s degree in Organic Chemistry, specializing in Natural Products Chemistry, under the mentorship of Prof. Fanie van Heerden at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. During his research, he isolated and characterized multiple compounds, including identifying a single active principle in Artemisia afra Jac Ex Wild. responsible for inhibiting lettuce seed germination.
Dr. Mahama continued his academic journey at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, collaborating with Prof. Fernando Albericio and Prof. Beatriz de la Torre Garcia for his PhD. His research focused on peptide synthesis, emphasizing method development and exploring green solvents as eco-friendly alternatives to hazardous chemicals in the peptide industry. His groundbreaking work led to collaborations with leading European companies, including Novartis, and resulted in several publications in prestigious journals. Among his notable achievements was developing a novel method to remove NO₂ used as a protective group for the guanidino group of Arginine in solid-phase peptide synthesis. This innovation, a first of its kind globally, has significantly benefited the peptide industry. The publication of this work was recognized as the most downloaded paper of 2020 by the International Journal of Molecular Science (IJMS).
Before joining the University of Education, Winneba, Dr. Mahama spent six months at the Peptide Science Laboratory conducting drug discovery research in collaboration with global scientists. His research contributions have earned him several publications in internationally acclaimed journals.
Beyond academia, Dr. Mahama is dedicated to community service, seeing it as a vital part of his role. He secured an ACS grant to organize a Chemistry Festival for individuals with disabilities in the Effutu Municipality. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing and watching football.
