CV

Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant Metabolomics and Physiology

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

• Lead an OIV-funded integrative phenotyping project combining UAV-based thermal imaging, physiology, metabolomics, gene expression, and AI-assisted predictive modeling to identify climate-resilient varietal performance.
• Design above- and below-ground crop physiology experiments using gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, ionomics, plant biochemistry, and multi-year field and controlled-environment phenotyping.
• Generate and analyze metabolomics and volatilomics datasets using GC-MS, LC-MS, HS-SPME-GC-MS, multivariate statistics, network analysis, and machine learning.
• Integrate multi-omics datasets to resolve carbon metabolism, ion partitioning, root-zone processes, and biochemical regulation underlying abiotic stress responses.

Researcher II, Plant Molecular Breeder

Bio and Emerging Technology Institute

• Led crop improvement research for dryland production systems, integrating physiological phenotyping, quantitative genetics, molecular tools, and stress-resilient trait validation.
• Applied genomic-assisted selection and molecular breeding approaches to accelerate selection and deployment of improved crop varieties.
• Coordinated multi-institutional, internationally funded research programs including BIOINNOVATE Africa.

Junior Researcher to Associate Researcher, Plant Breeder

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research

• Designed and implemented breeding schemes, crossing, hybridization, and heterosis exploitation that led to three improved sorghum varieties and contributed to eight more released varieties as part of a team.
• Led large-scale phenotyping and physiological characterization of sorghum germplasm across multi-environment trials.
• Integrated field phenotyping, SNP-based genotyping, genotype-phenotype association analysis, and data-driven selection pipelines.

Crop Production and Protection Expert, System Agronomist

Amhara Bureau of Agriculture, Amhara Sayint Agricultural Office

• Provided field-level agronomic diagnostics and advisory support for maize, wheat, barley, and haricot bean production.
• Conducted seed quality assessment and certification for haricot bean production systems targeting local and export markets.

PhD

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Plant Metabolomics

• Thesis: Responses of Vitis vinifera grafts to combined abiotic stress: Physiology and Metabolism.
• Designed and executed multi-season experiments across field, greenhouse, and semi-controlled systems to quantify grapevine responses to combined salinity, heatwave, and water stress.
• Integrated physiology with metabolomics, transcriptomics, ionomics, phenomics, and root-shoot phenotyping to identify mechanisms and traits associated with stress resilience.
• Developed predictive and network-based analyses linking environmental variables, physiological traits, molecular responses, and crop performance.

MSc

Jimma University

Plant Breeding

• Thesis: Assessment of heterotic performance and combining ability of Ethiopian elite sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) lines.
• Designed field-based experiments for hybrid sorghum development and evaluated heterosis, combining ability, stability, and genotype-by-environment interactions.

BSc, Great Distinction

Haramaya University

Plant Sciences

Modulation of phenology and agronomical performance of Syrah grafted on two rootstocks under combined salinity and water stress conditions: A three-year field study

Plant Stress

Three-year field study of rootstock-mediated phenology and agronomic performance under combined salinity and water stress.

Integrated metabolomics, ionomics, physiology, and network analysis reveals distinct salinity tipping point in Vitis vinifera cv. Syrah to enter a stress response mode

Plant Stress

Integrative analysis identifying physiological, metabolic, and ionomic tipping points in grapevine salinity response.

Canopy management practices in warm environment vineyards to improve grape yield and quality in a changing climate

Scientia Horticulturae

Review of canopy management strategies for grape yield and quality under warming climates.

Improved berry and wine quality of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Gewurztraminer grown in an arid climate using a Y-shaped training system

OENO One

Review on mechanisms of drought tolerance in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) basis and breeding methods

Academic Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Research

Research grant

International Organisation of Vine and Wine

OIV grant for integrative grapevine phenotyping and predictive modeling research.

AKIS Publication Prize

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

MASOK research grant

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Travel grant

Prism Charitable Trust, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Tamar Golan Africa Center Award

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Silver Medal recognition

7th Ethiopian Science, Technology and Innovation Awards

Distinction Honor Award

Haramaya University