Tesfaye Melak Tadesse (PhD) CV

Cell: +251-911-990091, E-mail: Tes20001@gmail.com

Education

Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS                             

Ph.D.  in Grain Science and Industry December 2018

Graduate certificate in applied statistics, September 2018

Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia     

Master of Science in Biology, July 2009

Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology, July 2005

Additional Training

• Research Ethics Training Participation, MoSHE, March 2021 five days (Certificate)
• Spring 2018 Graduate Student Leadership Development Program (GSLDP) fellow, Kansas State University, Spring 2018, three months (90 days).
• Borlaug Summer Institute on Global Food Security fellowship, Purdue University, Summer 2017 (Two weeks)
• Integrated pest management and fumigation safety training certificate, Kansas State University, IGP Institute January 24-26, 2017 (Three days)
• Training certificate for successful completion of basic STATA 11 software package, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, December 18-22, 2012 

Research and Management Profile

Tesfaye is a PhD in Grain Science and Industry with minor applied statistics. He is currently working as corporate director for research centers of Bahir Dar University.  He is leading the consultancy team on feasibility study, organizational structure and strategy of transforming the Amhara Seed enterprise in to corporate level organization. He is also working as a project staff member and promoter of Resilient Agriculture for Inclusive and Sustainable Ethiopian Food Systems (RAISE-FS ) project funded by Wageningen, Netherlands (ongoing)   and Crowed sourcing of finger millet funded by BDU (ongoing). Conducted several consultancy works funded by KOICA, WFP, EHPEA. Some of them were feasibility studies of different commodities, post-harvest management, and grain operational master plan. Led several expert teams such as the wheat campaign which involved more than 2,000 farmers and covered 850 hectares of land. Involved in organizational transformation committees such as University Autonomy committee and Academic units restructuring committee. Successfully organized several conferences, workshops and seminars. Broad knowledge and skills in grain production and postharvest management. Practical expertise in evaluation of grain postharvest handling practices, evaluation of pesticide under laboratory and field conditions, designing experiments, collecting data and data analysis. In general, Tesfaye has more than 18 years of teaching, research, community engagement and leadership experience. Fluent in English and Amharic with basic knowledge of Ge’ez. 

Consultancy services

• 2024 to date: a project staff member and promoter of Resilient Agriculture for Inclusive and Sustainable Ethiopian Food Systems (RAISE-FS ) project funded by Wageningen, Netherlands (ongoing)
• 2024 to date: feasibility study, organizational structure and strategy of transforming the Amhara Seed enterprise in to corporate level organization
• 2023 to 2024: Assessment and occurrence of Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin A in some selected commodities under farmer’s storage condition in Amhara region, Ethiopia funded by Wageningen, Netherlands, March 2024
• Grain operational masterplan for Motta RTC. Rural Agricultural Value-chain Improvement Project through Linking Smallholder Farmers with Rural Transformation Center (RTC) project funded by KOICA, 2023
• Implementation of aflatoxin management in Ethiopia. In provision of technical assistance in the implementation of the aflatoxin management project in Ethiopia funded by WFP, June, 2023
• Feasibility study of five horticultural crops namely; avocado, papaya, banana, mango, onion and strawberry funded by the Ethiopian Horticulture producer and exporters association in 2022.

Professional Experience

Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia 

Assistant Professor May 09, 2019 to date:                                                                                       Key responsibilities: Teaching courses such as Biometry and statistical soft wares, Postharvest and weed management, seed processing and postharvest handling. Supervising MSc students under seed science and technology, Plant protection, and horticulture programs.

Lecturer, March 2010 - May 2015                                                                                                   Key responsibilities: Taught principles of taxonomy, principles of ecology, General ecology. Supervised undergraduate students’ research related to ecology. 

From Dec. 18, 2023 to date:  Corporate director of Research Centers                                        Key responsibilities:  Leading about 15 research centers monitor their activities on research and community engagements. Support their project write ups and deliveries. Compiling report and submit to the Research and community engagement vice-president

From March 2, 2023 to Dec. 17, 2023: Director for Sine-Hosaena Center                                                 Key responsibilities: Organized and developed the center’s establishment document, recruited the research team leaders, proposed the botanic garden establishment site. 

Oct. 12, 2019 to Jan. 12, 2023: Vice dean for Post Graduate, Research and Community Services.        Key responsibilities: Organized annual research and proposal reviews, coordinated annual conferences, led postgraduate programs, made research teams for grant writing, and facilitated research and community service activities by academic staff and graduate students.  Managed Koga research and technology transfer farm. Compiled reports and submitted to the college dean

Nov.2021 to May 2022: Team lead of emergency wheat production team                                   Key responsibilities: led the team for emergency irrigated wheat production. It involved more than 2000 households, several extension workers and covered about 850 hectares of land. This intervention enhanced wheat production from 20 quintals per ha to 34 quintals per ha on average. For this BDU has been awarded a crystal and certificate for its first rank in mobilization and production out of 10 Universities 

From Dec. 2021 to June, 2022: Mechanization team lead.                                                           Key responsibilities: led a team of experts to prepare agricultural mechanization machines’ specification, procurement and evaluation. Prepared specifications for agricultural mechanization tools such as tractors, combine harvesters, threshers, and implements. Successfully helped the procurement office to secure agricultural mechanization machines and tools for the first time for research, academic and community engagement purpose. Involved in the development agricultural mechanization operational plan of Universities in Amhara region, 2022. 

Post-harvest loss reduction research and development project funded by USAID, 2015. Tests on on-shelf technologies like triple layered bags (PICS bags), GrainPro Super bags, metal drums, and plastic drums, and compared the efficacy in managing insects in traditional storage structures, 2015. Submitted written reports to USAID funded project PI and regional coordinators, 2015.

From January 2014 – April 2015:   Laboratory manager                                                                           Key responsibilities: Led a team of experts to commission 10 laboratory buildings based on research grade laboratory standards and reported the feedback to higher officials and construction companies.  Suggested laboratory building modifications to meet research grade laboratory standards. Organized and prepared specifications of laboratory equipment and facilitated the procurement process for five different laboratories, including seed and grain quality laboratory. 

September 2011 - August 2013:  Courses chairperson                                                                   Key responsibilities: Designed modular curriculum for courses given to undergraduates. Organized the first annual conference entitled ‘Free Grazing: Challenges and Opportunities in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, June 2014.  Developed modular based curriculum for the Department of Fisheries, Wetlands and Wildlife Management June 2011 – December 2011 

Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA 

2017 – 2018: Grain Science Graduate students’ council Vice president                                                     Key responsibilities: Led the graduate students’ activities such as weekly seminars, annual graduate symposiums and community engagements activities 

May 2015 - Dec 2018: Graduate Research Assistant,                                                                       Key responsibilities:  Managed laboratory insect cultures of stored-product insects. Designed experiments and executed the egg laying behavior of rice weevils on corn. Designed experiments for PhD dissertation and determined the chemical composition and effectiveness of two indigenous products (Filter cake and Triplex) from Ethiopia against a range of stored-product insects. Analyzed data using SAS, TableCurve 2D and SigmaPlot statistical software programs. Recognized for expertise in statistical analysis of data, and served as a resource for other graduate students in the College of Agriculture. Contributed to industry funded studies involving evaluation of pesticides for Winfield Solutions, Central Life Sciences, PureLine, and others using several stored- product insects. Communicated results in person with industry representatives 

Bayer Crop Science, Manhattan, KS, USA

May - August, 2018: Stored Product Technical Sales Intern                                                         Key responsibilities:  Trained clients on management of stored-product insect pests. Met with potential customers of Bayer products, especially pesticides and convinced them to purchase products. Marketed Bayer products particularly pesticides to commercial clients. Collected complaints from clients and suggested potential solutions for better performance of products. Presented weekly reports to Bayer of my work as an intern

Publications

Tegegne, F., Kebede, D., Getaneh, M., Adimasu, E., Tasew, A., Mekuriaw, S., Asmare, B., Beyero, N., Tesfaye, T., Worku, A., Alemu, T., Tamirat, H., Taye, M. (2024). Carcass composition and sensory and chemical attributes of beef from local cattle breeds in North-West Amhara Region, Ethiopia. J. Agric. Environ. Sci. 9(1): 1-12. https://doi.org/10.20372/jaes.v9i1.9428

Zelalem Yadelew, Tesfaye Tadesse Wossen Tarekegn (2024): Appropriate seed source and rate enhanced the Productivity of Bread Wheat Varieties Under Irrigated Conditions in North Mecha, Amhara region, Ethiopia. HELIYON, life Sciences (under review).

Negash, A.M., Tadesse, T.M., and Kolech, S.A. (2023). Seed tuber cutting improves tuber yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L,) varieties under irrigation conditions in Dangla district of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. J.Agric. Environ. Sci. 8(2): 147-159.

Edwin Afful, Tadesse, T.M.,   Manoj Nayak, Thomas Phillips, 2020. High Dose Strategies for Managing Phosphine‐Resistant Populations of Rhyzopertha Dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae). Pest Manag Sci 2020; 76: 1683–1690

Tadesse, T.  M., Subramanyam Bh., 2019. Efficacy of filter cake and Triplex powders from Ethiopia against three externally developing stored product insect species. J. Stored Prod. Res. 82: 73 - 80.

Tadesse, T.  M., Subramanyam Bh., 2019. Efficacy of Filter Cake and Triplex Powders Against Three Internally Developing Stored-product Insect Species. Amer. J. Entomol. 3(1): 15 - 23.

Tadesse, T.  M., Subramanyam Bh, Zhu, K. Y., Campbell, J. F., 2019. Contact Toxicity of filter cake and Triplex powders from Ethiopia against adults of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 112(3): 1469–1475.

Tadesse, T.  M., Subramanyam Bh., Zhu, K. Y., Campbell, J. F., 2019. Contact Toxicity of filter cake and Triplex powders from Ethiopia against adults of Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). J. Stored Prod. Res. J. Stored Prod. Res. 80, 34-40.

Tadesse, T. M., Subramanyam, Bh., 2018. Efficacy of filter cake and Triplex powders from Ethiopia applied to wheat against Sitophilus zeamais and Sitophilus oryzae. J. Stored Prod. Res. 79, 40–52.

Tadesse, T. M., and Subramanyam, Bh., 2018. Efficacy of filter cake and Triplex powders from Ethiopia applied to concrete arenas against Sitophilus zeamais. J. Stored Prod. Res. 76, 140–150.

Shewit, G., Minwyelet, M., Tadesse, T.M., Lewoye, T., Ferehiwot, M., 2017.  Land use change and its drivers in Kurt Bahir wetland, north-western Ethiopia. Afr. J. Aqu. Sci. 42, 45-54.

Tadesse, T.M., Getahun, A., 2012. Diversity and relative abundance of fishes in some temporary and perennial water bodies of the Baro basin, Gambella, Ethiopia. Eth. J. Biol. Sci. 11, 193-206.

Honors And Awards

• Certificate of Best Vice-dean award, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, 2022.
• Certificate of participation, Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences (HSWT), Germany, Oct. 2021.
• Kansas State University International Student and Scholar Services Certificate Award, International Student Center, Kansas State University, September 28, 2018
• Outstanding Graduate student Award, Kansas State University, April 3 2018
• Student Life Extra Ordinary Student Award, Kansas State University, Spring 2018
• Anheuser-busch Fellowship, Kansas State University, April 3 2018
• International Coordinating Council Scholarship, Kansas State University, Spring 2018
• Borlaug Summer Institute on Global Food Security fellow, Purdu University, 2017
• Grain Science Graduate Students Organization 10^th annual research symposium best presentation award and certificate (2^nd position), Kansas State University, September 23, 2017 
• Graduate Student Travel Award, Kansas State University, Fall, 2017
• Rene Buhler Memorial Scholarship, Kansas State University, May 2017
• Graduate Student Council Travel Award, Kansas State University, Spring 2017
• Feed the Future Innovation Lab for the Reduction of Post-Harvest Loss Fellowship, Kansas State University, Summer 2016 – Fall 2018
• Certificate of participation, Entomological Society of America, November 5-8, 2017, Denver, ColoradoPCI-TOPS-KSU International IPM and Fumigation Safety Training Certificate, Kansas State University, IGP Institute January 24-26, 2017
• Certificate of awesomeness for the valuable contribution of TOPS integrated pest management and fumigation safety training certificate, Kansas State University, IGP Institute January 24-26, 2017 
• Certificate of Principles of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HCCAP), Location Kansas State University, Spring 2016
• Kansas State University International Student and Scholar Services Certificate Award, International Student Center, Kansas State University, April 26, 2016
• Certificate for the successful conduction of farmers’ training in adoption of fish postharvest processing and drying technologies held from actual dates October to June 2013, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

References

Firew Tegegne Amogne (PhD):  DDG, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) Former President of Bahir Dar University; Fellow, Ethiopian Academy of Sciences; Recipient of Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation 2022. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Cell phone: +251-918-782297, Email: firewtegegne@yahoo.co.uk

Dawit Alemu (PhD), Stichting Wageningen Research (SWR) Ethiopian representative, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Cell phone: +251-911-629149. E-mail: dawit.alemu.swr@gmail.com 

Bhadriraju Subramanyam, PhD, University Distinguished Professor, Department of Grain Science -and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506. Cell phone: +1-785-313-7178.  E-mail: sbhadrir@ksu.edu 

Research interest:

• Post-harvest loss management 
• Food and feed safety
• Food governance
• Food systems research
• Seed science
• Stored products management
• Fumigation