Dr. Walter Ojok

lecturer


Dr.Walter Ojok is a Lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Gulu University, with expertise in agricultural chemistry, hydrogeochemistry, and materials chemistry. He lectures courses in Physical Chemistry. His research focuses on adsorbent, fertilizer and pesticide synthesis, hydrogeochemistry, value addition to agricultural produce, and multivariate statistical analysis. He has extensive experience in applying chemistry to agriculture, including crop and livestock productivity and value addition, and specializes in monitoring reaction progress using ion-selective electrodes. His laboratory expertise includes hydrochemical assessment, soil analysis, proximate analysis, phytochemical assessment, materials characterization using XRD, SEM, EDX, FTIR, BET analysis (Micromeritics TriStar III), and Zeta potential analysis. Dr. Ojok also supervises BSc and Graduate students’ research, offering guidance in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific writing.

Qualifications

Institution Period Degree obtained
Mbarara University of Science and Technology/University of KwaZulu Natal

 

 2018-2024 Doctor of Philosophy
 

Mbarara University of Science and Technology

 

 2011-2014 Master of Science in Chemistry
2004 -2008 BSc. (Ed), Chemistry major

Research Interests

My research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of novel biodegradable polymeric materials for applications in sustainable agriculture, energy storage, medicine, and CO₂ capture and conversion. Areas of interest include biodegradable polymers, fertilizers, pesticides, hydrogeochemistry, and stimuli-responsive materials aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, value addition, and shelf life.

Publications

Chandan, K., Saadeh, R., Qazza, A., Karthik, K., Varun Kumar, R. S., Kumar, R. N., ... & Kumar, R. (2024) . (2024) . Predicting the thermal distribution in a convective wavy fin using a novel training physics-informed neural network method . Scientific Reports , [online] Volume 14(1), p. 7045. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-57772-x
Suresha, S., Khan, U., Soumya, D. O., Venkatesh, P., Gasmi, H., Sunitha, M., ... & Ojok, W. (2024). . (2024) . Two-phase simulation of entropy optimized mixed convection flow of two different shear-thinning nanomaterials in thermal and mass diffusion systems with Lorentz forces . Scientific reports, [online] Volume 14(1), p. 544. Available at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-50725-w
Ojok, W., Moodley, B., Wasswa, J., Ntambi, E., Wanasolo, W., & Bolender, J. (2023) . (2023) . Role of starch in one pot fabrication of mesoporous gamma-alumina with excellent fluoride sorption capacity . Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment, 3
Ojok, W., P Bolender, J., Wasswa, J., Ntambi, E., Wanasolo, W., & Moodley, B. (2023). . (2023) . Facile synthesis and characterization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with hydroxyapatite from cattle horns for adsorptive removal of fluoride . Heliyon, [online] Volume 9(3), p. 14341. Available at: https://www.cell.com/heliyon/pdf/S2405-8440(23)01548-7.pdf
Ojok, W., Ntambi, E., Bolender, J., Wasswa, J., Wanasolo, W., & Moodley, B. (2022). . (2022) . Synthesis and characterization of hematite biocomposite using cassava starch template for aqueous phase removal of fluoride . Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications, 4, p. 100241
Ojok, W., Wanasolo, W., Wasswa, J., Bolender, J., & Ntambi, E. (2021) . (2022) . Hydrochemistry and fluoride contamination in Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes, Albertine Graben: Assessment based on multivariate statistical approach and human health risk . Groundwater for Sustainable Development, 15, p. 100650
Nakiguli, C. K., Ojok, W., Omara, T., Wasswa, J., & Ntambi, E. (2020) . (2020) . Mobility of Chromium, Copper and Arsenic in Amended Chromated Copper Arsenate Contaminated Soils . Asian Journal of Applied Chemistry Research, 6(3), pp. 33-48
Walter, O., Wasswa, J., Nakiguli, C. K., & Ntambi, E. (2019). . (2019) . Spatial Variation in Physicochemical Surface Water Quality in River Rwizi, Western Uganda , pp. 1427–1440

Projects

Development of nanotech-enabled fertilizer for improved crop productivity in nutrient-deficient soils.
    Dr. Walter Ojok - Role: Principal investigator
Safeguarding Common Drinking Water Sources for Improved Health and Educational Performance in Selected Schools in Arua District
    Dr. Walter Ojok Role: Co-Principal investigator
Uganda Health Survey Geographical Information System
    Dr. Walter Ojok, Role: Co-Principal investigator

Supervision

MSc level

  1. 2024-Ongoing-Ayoo Polycarp: Macronutrient-enriched urea loaded carboxymethyl cellulose and starch: optimizing maize plant growth through controlled nutrient release
  2. 2024-Ongoing-Nannyombi Rachael: Assessment of spatial variability in physicochemical properties of soils in West Nile, Uganda
  3. 2024-Ongoing-Turinayo Emmanuel: Development of biochar-based slow-release fertilizer for improved Irish potato productivity
  4. 2024-Ongoing-Alemi Michael Lumago: Maize Cob-Derived Silica Nano Adsorbents for the Removal of Selected Heavy Metals from Wastewater: Synthesis, Characterization, and Adsorption Performance
  5. 2024-Ongoing-Tema Solomon: Evaluation of trace level pesticide contaminants in surface water of sesame farming communities in Lira district, Uganda
  6. 2024-Ongoing-Kyalimpa Isaq: Assessment of concentration of aflatoxins in post harvested maize and human exposure risks
  7. 2025– On going – Pawege Banja Denis: Transforming Plastic Bottles Waste into Eco- friendly Construction Bricks

Bachelor’s level

  1. 2024: Watyango Derrick, Study on the amount of acidity and caffeine in different samples of tea leaves and their relationships
  2. 2023: Franco Stephen, Heavy metal contamination of soil at Ewuata waste disposal site in Arua District
  3. 2023: Nyesiga Abel, Geophagic material from clay and potential health effects on pregnant women in Arua district, Uganda
  4. 2022: Ohad Linus, Assessment of water quality and fluoride contamination in Lake Albert and Selected fish species in Panyimur Sub-county, Packwach District
  5. 2019: Asiandu Cox, Assessment of selected heavy metals concentration in river Osu sediments in Arua City
  6. 2019: Nagaba Martha, Defluoridation of water using modified Senegalese Date Palm seed char adsorbent
  7. 2019: Adrani Amidu, Kinetic and equilibrium study on adsorption of fluoride from water using Cattle horn char
  8. 2019: Anyama Patrick, Analysis of water quality of Amani borehole in Madulu Village, Moyo Sub-County, Moyo District

More Information

Membership to Professional Bodies

  1. January 2024: Member of Nature Uganda
  2. 2017-Present: Member of the Association of Ugandan-German Alumni (AUGA)
  3. 2019-Present: Member Uganda Chemical Society

Awards, Prizes and Third-Party Funding

  1. Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) scholarship award to Walter Ojok (In-Country/In-Region Scholarship Programme Uganda, 2017 [91672385]) for Ph.D. course in Chemistry at MUST, UGX 76,035,000 (€19,008.75) (USD 21,120) (Twenty one thousand one hundred twenty USD)
  2. Intra-Africa Mobility Grant to University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban by African-German Network of Excellence in Science co-funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and German Federal Ministry of Education and Research awarded in September 2020,USD 3,000 (Three thousand USD)
  3. Uganda government scholarship to study Bachelor of Science with Eduaction at Mbarara University of Science and Technology in 2004, USD 18,663 (Eighteen thousand six hundred sixty three USD)