Dr. Eshetu Getahun Mulat, PhD

Associate Professor of Energy Systems Engineering 

Department of Chemical Engineering and Bahir Dar Energy Center

Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

· Email: eshetu201384@gmail.com | Eshetu.getahun@edu.bdu.et

· Office: Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

·  Profiles: Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PybhwVIAAAAJ&hl=en 

| LinkedIn: 

| ORCID : https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0448-0761

| ResearchGate: https: //www.researchgate.net/profile/Eshetu_Getahun 

Biography/Profile Summary

Dr. Eshetu Getahun Mulat is an Associate Professor of Energy Systems Engineering and an experienced researcher specializing in sustainable energy technologies, bioenergy systems, solar thermal applications, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and energy efficiency and management. He has more than twelve years of teaching, research, and academic leadership experience at Bahir Dar University. His research focuses on renewable energy systems, solar drying technologies, biomass conversion, biodiesel production, thermal energy systems, energy conservation and auditing, waste to energy conversion and sustainable energy solutions for developing countries.

Educational Background

• PhD in Sustainable Energy Engineering – Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia, in collaboration with KU Leuven, Belgium (2021)
  Specialization: Solar Drying Technologies, Computational Fluid Dynamics, and Renewable Energy Systems
  Dissertation: Experimental and Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling Studies to Design, Develop and Validate Two-Stage Solar Tunnel Dryer for Chili Pepper Drying.
• MSc in Sustainable Energy Engineering – Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia (2012)
  Thesis: Evaluation of Leather Industry Wastes for Biodiesel Production: Experiment and Modeling and Simulation Studies using ASPEN Plus.
• BSc in Chemical Engineering – Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia (2007)
  Thesis: Extraction and Characterization of Essential Oil from Black Cumin Seed.

Core Expertise & Research Interests

• Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems
• Solar Thermal Technologies and Solar Drying Systems
• Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Modeling and Simulation
• Biomass Energy Conversion and Bioenergy Technologies
• Biodiesel Production and Waste-to-Energy Systems
• Thermal Energy Storage and Heat Transfer
• Clean Cooking Technologies and Improved Cookstoves
• Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Technologies
• Biomass Pyrolysis and Gasification
• Energy System Planning and Modelling
• Waste to energy conversion

Academic Positions

• Associate Professor of Energy Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering and Bahir Dar Energy Center, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University (March 2025 – Present)
• Assistant Professor of Sustainable Energy Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering and Bahir Dar Energy Center, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University (December 2021 – March 2025)
• Lecturer in Chemical Engineering and Sustainable Energy Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering and Bahir Dar Energy Center, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University (November 2012 – December 2021)

Previous Professional Experience

• Research Engineer II, Homicho Chemical Engineering Complex Industry, Ambo, Ethiopia (September 2009 – September 2010)
• Head, Water Resource Development and Environmental Regulation Office, Beyeda Woreda, North Gondar, Ethiopia (September 2007 – August 2009)

Leadership and Administrative Roles

• Director, Bahir Dar Energy Research Center, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University (February 2023 – March 2026)
• Chair, Energy and Environmental Engineering Program, Department of Chemical Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology (October 2022 – February 2023)
• Coordinator, Postgraduate, Research and Community Service, Faculty of Chemical and Food Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology (April 2022 – July 2022)
• Chair, Bioenergy Research Unit, Bahir Dar Energy Center (February 2015 – September 2017)
• Coordinator, University–Industry Linkage, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology (October 2014 – March 2015)
• Chair, Energy and Environmental Engineering Program, Department of Chemical Engineering (August 2013 – November 2014)
• Advisory Committee Member and Secretariat for Strategic Planning, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology (June 2021 – 2025)

Project Leadership Roles

• Principal Investigator, Sustainable Energy for Smallholder Farmers (SEFFA) Solar Dryer Piloting Project, SNV Ethiopia (2023–2024)
• Co-Principal Investigator and Deputy Main Contact Person, Erasmus+ Capacity Building Project on Student-Centered Energy Education (2023–2026)
• Research Member, SATREPS-EARTH Project funded by JICA and JST, Japan (2022–2026)
• Co-Principal Investigator, Integrated Bioenergy Production from Biomass Feedstocks Project, BiT (2024–2025)

Research Output and Societal Impact:

• Author and co-author of more than 43 peer-reviewed scientific publications.
• Delivered numerous community service and technology transfer projects related to renewable energy technologies.
• Disseminated research findings through national and international conferences, workshops, and public outreach programs.
• Contributed significantly to sustainable energy development and clean cooking solutions in Ethiopia and East Africa

See my publication on: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PybhwVIAAAAJ&hl=en

Research Supervision and Mentorship

• Supervised more than 20 undergraduate research projects in Chemical Engineering.
• Supervised more than 30 MSc students in Chemical Engineering and Sustainable Energy Engineering.
• Currently supervising 1 PhD student and co-supervising 6 PhD students.
• Served as Scientific Dissertation Advisory Committee member for several doctoral students.

Teaching & Academic Duties

Undergraduate Courses

• Renewable Energy Engineering
• Heat Transfer
• Fluid Mechanics
• Fluid Machine
• Thermodynamics
• Computer-aided process design
• Chemical Engineering Processes
• Energy Conversion Technologies

Postgraduate Courses

• Nuclear power plant system
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Advanced Renewable Energy Systems
• Energy Systems Modelling
• Sustainable Energy Technologies
• Computational Modelling in Energy Engineering
• Advanced numerical methods
• Research methods
• Energy and environment

Awards and Professional Recognition

• Academic Best Teacher Award, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology (2013)
• Master Class for Teaching Online Certificate, Arizona State University (2024)
• Multiple Scientific Research and Conference Presentation Awards
• Scientific Research Award from Homicho Chemical Engineering Industry
• Training Award from on Comprhensive energy utilization and intelligent equipment from April 25, 2025 to April 29, 2025, at Yalong Group, China
• International Conference Organizing Committee Member and editor
  • International Conference on Science and Technology towards the Development of East Africa (EAI ICAST-2025)
  • International Conference on Science and Technology towards the Development of East Africa (EAI ICAST-2022)
  • International Conference on Science and Technology towards the Development of East Africa (EAI ICAST-2015)
  • International Conference on the Advancement of Green Energy Technology, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia (IC-GET-2016)
  • Book editor member of Advancement of Science and Technology (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-33610-2) 

Professional Memberships and International Collaboration

Dr.Eshetu Getahun is a member of the Ethiopian Chemical Engineering Association. Moreover, Dr. Eshetu has collaborated extensively with international institutions, including KU Leuven (Belgium), Soka University (Japan), Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (Germany), Arizona State University (USA), SNV Ethiopia, and several international energy research initiatives focusing on sustainable energy technologies and engineering education.