Several Post-doctoral fellows, a research associate, a research assistant and PhD students recently joined the Biotechnology group in ILRI Ethiopia to work in different projects.

Post-doctoral fellows and research associates

Kefena Effa is a post- doctoral fellow with Biotech Addis Group starting from 1st of December 2012. In his stay with ILRI he will be working on “Genetic diversities and co-evolution between native cattle populations and major human tribes in Ethiopia”. Kefena completed his PhD at Haremaya University in 2012. He is also a senior researcher at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) in Holetta. His position at ILRI is financed by DAAD.

Solomon Gizaw is a post-doctoral fellow with Biotech-Addis Group starting from 1st of December, 2012. Solomon will be based in Addis Ababa and will work on the design of sheep breeding programs for smallholder systems (his work directly contributes to the CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish). Solomon was awarded his PhD from Wageningen University and he is senior researcher in animal breeding and genetics and head of the livestock research directorate at Debre Birhan Research Centre and coordinator of national sheep research at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural research (EIAR). His position at ILRI is financed by DAAD.

Marisol Collins is a research associate jointly appointed by the University of Liverpool and ILRI. She will be working in Ethiopia and Liverpool in the UK as a new member of the Chicken Health Research 4 Development (CH4D) project team in Jarso, Horro and Debre Zeit in Ethiopia. Before joining this project she was a companion animal veterinary surgeon in the UK. She is based in Debre Zeit ILRI-EIAR lab when she is in Ethiopia

Research assistants

Girum Gebreyesus is recruited as Research Assistant starting from December 4. He will work on the ILRI-BecA project on “harnessing genetic diversity for improving goat productivity in Africa” (he will directly contribute to the CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish). Prior to joining ILRI he was lecturer and researcher in the Department of Animal and Range Sciences. Girum has an MSc in Animal Genetics and Breeding from Haramaya University.

PhD students

Zewdu Edea is registered at Chungbuk National University (CBNU) in South Korea.  His doctoral research topic is “Characterization and Exploitation of the Unique Genomes and Adaptations of Ethiopian Cattle to Changing Local Environments”.  His work will be carried out in different regions of Ethiopia and South Korea

Getinet Mekuriaw is registered at Addis Ababa University.  His doctoral research topic is “Genotyping and Molecular Characterization of Indigenous Goat Breed in Ethiopia through Molecular Techniques” attached to Harnessing genetic diversity for improving goat productivity in Africa which is an ILRI-BecA project.  His work will be carried out in different regions of Ethiopia and BecA lab and registered at Addis Ababa University.

Temsgen Jembere is registered at Haramaya University. His doctoral research topic is “Participatory Planning and Implementation of Community Based Improvement of Indigenous Goat Breeds in Ethiopia” attached to Harnessing genetic diversity for improving goat productivity in Africa which is an ILRI-BecA project. His work will be carried out in different regions of Ethiopia and registered at Haremaya University.

Contributed by Tadelle Dessie