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Dr. Francis Tanam Djankpa
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Dr. Francis Tanam Djankpa

Senior Lecturer - ( Senior Member ) Department of Physiology

Head of Department

Department of Physiology
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ORCID
ResearchGate
Personal
Field(s) of Specialization
Human Physiology
Molecular And Cellular Biology
Neurosciences
Field(s) of Academic Interest
Artificial Inteligence
Cerebral Malaria
Effects Of Environmental Toxins On Body Functions And Brain Development
Machine Learning
Pathophysiology And Molecular Mechanisms Of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
About

Dr Francis Tanam Djankpa is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences in the College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast. He doubles as Head of the Department of Physiology and the Chairman of the School of Medical Sciences Research Committee.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology (First Class Honors) from the University of Ghana, Legon, which he obtained in 2005. Owing to his passion and zeal to learn more about the functions of the body systems in humans, he proceeded to the University of Ghana School of Medicine and Dentistry (Korle-Bu) to study for an MPhil in Physiology and completed it in 2009.

His seasoned teaching and research experience started in March 2010 when he was first appointed as a Lecturer to teach Human Physiology to undergraduate medical students at the University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences. With a growing passion to unravel the mysteries of the human body focusing on the Nervous System, he successfully enrolled in the Neuroscience Programme at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Maryland, USA in 2012, where he obtained his PhD in Neurosciences in 2018. Since then, he returned to the University of Cape Coast and has been teaching Physiology and Neuroscience modules at the School of Medical Sciences to undergraduate medical students. Furthermore, Dr Djankpa supervises and mentors students at the University of Cape Coast while mentoring and supporting young Ghanaian graduates who have neuroscience aspirations by exposing them to molecular and cellular research to give them a strong grounding for further studies in this field. 

Dr Djankpa doubles as a Physiologist and a Neuroscientist with a keen research interest centering around the effects of environmental toxins on brain development and body functions; the environmental and occupational health of workers in pollution-prone industries; the effect of traditional head molding on brain development in infants; the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders and the effect of cerebral malaria infection on brain function. He is the lead investigator at the Department of Physiology Research Laboratory, which he established in 2018. The Laboratory focuses mainly on multidisciplinary research including Neuroscience Research. 

Dr Djankpa is happily married to Mrs. Gladys Djankpa and they have three (3) children. 

My goal is to stimulate learning interests by encouraging students to transform and reflect on instructional content to make meaning out of it by a way of self-directed learning. My philosophy of teaching is the Learner-Centered-Teaching Approach, as inspired by Benjamin Franklin’s saying, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn”. I believe engaging students to learn by teaching themselves, undertaking exercises of problem-solving and capstone experiences, they can synthesize and demonstrate mastery of content. Consistently throughout the teaching and learning process, I employ self-evaluation, peer-review, and transfer of learning assessment techniques to modify teaching and learning activities. I am successful in achieving a positive outcome of work which helps to build a good rapport between myself and the students and improves overall student performance through giving constructive and timely feedback on students' activities or actions. As an educator of physiology and neuroscience, I endeavor to guide my students in understanding principles at molecular and cellular structural levels of human physiology and neurosciences and the relationship between these structures and human functioning. I utilize tools of this digital era in making teaching and learning resources easily accessible to students via innovative and stress-free means that encourage effective initiatives in learning. Over the years, I have held unto my ideal teaching philosophy of rekindling the interest of learning in students, whiles continuously improving my techniques that enrich teaching content as the data informs according to modern trends. I strongly believe effective learning is achievable by using active, cooperative, and integrated teaching and learning systems that put my students at the center. 

Degrees
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Neuroscience

    University of Maryland 2017
  • Master of Philosophy in Human Physiology

    University of Ghana 2009
  • Intercalated Bachelor of Science in Zoology

    University of Ghana 2005
  • Oral Presenter in Nanosymposium

    October, 2021

    15th Biennial Society of Neuroscientists of Africa (SONA) Meeting Accra, Ghana.

  • Teacher and Mentor

    July, 2021

    13th Teaching Tools Workshop in Neuroscience Accra, Ghana.

  • Participant

    July, 2019

    13th IBRO Canadian School of Neuroscience Montreal, Canada.

  • Poster Presenter

    July, 2019

    13th Canadian Association of Neuroscience Meeting Toronto, Canada.

  • Participant and Oral Presenter

    November, 2017

    Nanosymposium at the Society for Neuroscience Meeting Washington DC.

  • Participant and Poster Presenter

    November, 2016

    Society for Neuroscience Meeting San Diego, USA. .

  • Participant and Poster Presenter

    November, 2015

    Society for Neuroscience Meeting Washington DC.

  • Local Organizer and Teaching Assistant

    September, 2011

    4th Teaching Tools Workshop in Neurosciences and Learner Centered Teaching Pedagogy Cape Coast, Ghana.

  • Participant

    September, 2010

    3rd Teaching Tools Workshop in Neurosciences and Learner Centered Teaching Pedagogy Nairobi, Kenya.

  • Participant

    August, 2010

    1st Annual Society of Neuroscientists of Africa Conference Nairobi, Kenya.

  • Participant

    August, 2010

    Problem-Based Learning Workshop organized by the School of Medical Sciences, University of Cape Coast Cape Coast, Ghana.

  • Participant

    February, 2008

    Workshop on “Guide to Grant Proposal Writing” College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana .

  • Participant, and Oral Presenter

    February, 2007

    1st Annual Scientific Conference of the College of Health Sciences University of Ghana, Ghana.

  • Facilitator

    September, 2024

    Contemporary Issues in Fisheries Management. Fisheries Leadership Short course for Practitioners funded by USAID/Fisheries Recovery Activity Ghana.

  • Presenter

    October, 2024

    International and Regional Fisheries Institutional Frameworks and Bodies. Workshop on Destabilising Impacts of Distant Water Fishing Vessels (DWFV) in the Gulf of Guinea Yaounde, Cameroon.

  • Guest Speaker

    October, 2024

    “Promoting Research Excellence for Impact on Marine Conservation in Africa”, Institute for Oceans and Fisheries Online Seminar Series University of British Columbia, Canada.

  • Co-Facilitator

    October, 2021

    “Grants Proposal Writing Workshop” University for Development Studies.

  • Presenter

    November, 2024

    “Performance of the Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience”, Country Round Table Workshop Association of African Universities (AAU), Online.

  • Facilitator

    November, 2024

    “Regional Political Parties Dialogue on Fisheries: Protecting Our Fish, Securing Our Future, Live Engagement on JoyNews TV Centre for National Culture, Cape Coast.

  • Presenter

    November, 2023

    Professorial Inaugural Lecture on the topic “Our Oceans: Securing Our Common Future through Transformative Research” Medical School Auditorium, University of Cape Coast.

  • Presenter

    March, 2024

    Africa’s Plastic Revolution: Advancing Global Solutions for Healthy Oceans, T.D. Walter Bean Professorship Public Lecture University of Waterloo, Canada.

  • Presenter

    June, 2024

    Expanding the Impact of Research on Africa’s Blue Economy. National Consultative Workshop for the Formulation of a National Blue Economy Strategy for Angola Luanda, Angola.

  • Panelist

    June, 2024

    Regional Steering Committee Workshop for the World Bank West African Coastal Resilience Investment Projects (WACA ReSiP and ReiP2) Banjul, Gambia.

  • Facilitator

    July-August, 2012

    Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change. Short-term Training Course funded by USAID Ghana.

  • Co-Discussant

    July, 2023

    “Expanding the Impact of Blue Economy in Africa” (with Professor Rashid Sumaila) World Bank Headquarters, Washington.

  • Facilitator

    February, 2022

    Workshop on “Winning Research and Development Grants in a Competitive World” Bolgatanga Technical University, Ghana.

  • Facilitator

    February, 2019

    Workshop on “Proposal and Grants writing” University of Ghana, Ghana.

  • Speaker

    August, 2024

    Study Tour on Sustainable Fisheries Management & Leadership University of Rhode Island, United States.

  • Presenter

    August, 2023

    Vulnerability to Viability (V2V) Ghana Case Study. Bootcamp on moving fisheries from Vulnerability to Viability Puri, Delhi, India.

  • Guest Speaker

    April, 2024

    Workshop Presentation on “Expanding the Impact of Research on Africa’s Blue Economy in Africa Hohai University, China.

  • Participant

    2021

    6th ACE Impact Regional Workshop of the World Bank and the Association of African Universities Accra (Online).

  • Panelist

    2014

    Seaweed (Sargassum) Invasion on the Ghanaian Coasts, Implications for the National Economy and Management Live TV Broadcast, GTV.

  • Guest Speaker

    2010

    “West African Fisheries”, Workshop by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) University of Makerere, Kampala, Uganda.

  1. 2024-2025

    Team member, Contract for services to deliver a short course on Marine Litter under the OCPP

    Cefas/UKAID

  2. 2024

    Panel Chair, Reviewed Environmental Impact Statement of PECAN Energies for Offshore Exploration of Oil & Gas

    Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ghana, Secondi/Takoradi

  3. 2023-2024

    Team member, Contract for development of a short course on Marine Litter for the West Africa Region

    Ocean Country Partnership Program (OCPP) funded by Cefas/UKAID

  4. 2023-2024

    Team member, Contract services to conduct data collection surveys on abandoned lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in Ghana

    Ocean Country Partnership Program (OCPP) funded by Cefas/UKAID

  5. 2023

    Lead Consultant, Contract for the Development of Fishery Courses Syllabi for Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences (DoFAS), University of Liberia

    IDA-V3100

  6. 2023

    Panel Chair, Evaluation of Applications for recruitment of Environmental, Social Safeguards Officers for Ghana’s Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI)

    World Bank funded West Africa Coastal Areas Management Programme

  7. 2022-2023

    Lead Consultant, Consultancy to review and align national fisheries and aquaculture polices and laws with the PFRS, regional instruments and global best practices for 15 AU Member States

    African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)

  8. 2022-2023

    Lead Consultant, Mechanisms to Facilitate the Domestication of Global Instruments and Initiatives (2022)

    African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)

  9. 2022-2023

    Lead Consultant, Identification of Issues for SIDS, Development of Draft Strategic Positions for SIDS

    African Union – InterAfrican Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)

  10. 2022

    Team member, Environmental Systems Analysis of the Avu Lagoon Protected area

    Calgary Zoo Foundation

  11. 2021

    Trainer, Conduct Marine Spatial Planning Workshop in Ghana

    University of Liverpool

  12. 2021

    Team member, Pre-feasibility study for nature-based intervention for Anlo Beach community in Ghana

    Valued at US$32,365.00

  13. 2021

    Team member, Marine Plastic Pollution Study in Liberia

    Conservation International

  14. 2021

    Team member, Vulnerability, Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate - WACA -VAR Workshop

    World Bank

  15. 2020-2021

    Consultant, Support Development of Multi-sector Resilience Investment Programme for the West Africa Coastal Area Management Program

    World Bank

  16. 2020-2021

    Consultant, Issues and Opportunities in the Ghanaian Fishery Sector: Addressing the context, prospects and challenges

    Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), United Kingdom

  17. 2020

    Consultant, Estimations on renewable energy investments in Ghana

    Highland Star Group (HSG) of Companies, Geneva, Switzerland

  18. 2019-2020

    Team Member, Regional Mapping of Experts and Institutions in Coastal management

    World Bank

  19. 2017

    Lead Consultant, Review of the Fisheries Act 2002 (act 625) and the Development of Draft Regulations for the conduct of Fisheries Impact Assessments

    Ghana Industrial Trawlers Association (GITA) and GOGIG funded by DFID/UK

  20. 2013

    Team member, Environmental baseline survey of water bodies in the Great Consolidated Diamond Ghana Limited (GCDGL) mining concession

    AERC Ltd.

  21. 2012

    Team member, Scoping Study on the Dredging of the Whin Estuary in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis

    UCC Consultancy Unit/Consolidated Energy Ltd.

  22. 2011

    Team member, Social Ecology of Anlo Beach Wetland of Ghana

    Friends of the Nation/IUCN/French Global Environment Facility (GEF)

  23. 2010

    Principal Investigator, Biodiversity Assessment of Urban Wetlands in the Western Region, Ghana with focus on Essei and Butuah Lagoons and the Whin River Estuary

    USAID through Friends of the Nation

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