Biography

Brian Makuza is a PhD Candidate in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering from Midlands State University, where he first developed his interest in mineral processing. He went on to earn a Master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering from Central South University, specializing in the pyrometallurgical recycling of complex battery materials. During his master’s studies, Brian conducted research on the extraction of valuable metals from spent lithium-ion battery black mass. This work led to an innovation patent, two Highly Cited Papers, and several publications in high-impact journals. He also received multiple distinctions, including the Honorary Research Award and the Outstanding International Student recognition. Currently, Brian is part of the Sustainable Materials Processing Research Group. His PhD research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of high-temperature reactions that occur during the thermal treatment of ultramafic nickel concentrates, with the goal of improving nickel recovery. His findings have been presented and published at international conferences such as the Conference of Metallurgists (COM) and Minerals Engineering International (MEI). He is also the recipient of the 2025 MetSoc Pyrometallurgy Student Award, in honor of Professor Toguri, which recognizes academic excellence among students at Canadian universities in pursuit of educational goals.