Website and Staff Profile

Staff Data Collection Template

• Full Name: Mr. Birara Melku Ayenew
• Current Position/Role: Chief Technical Assistant I 
• Department/Faculty: Chemical and Biotechnology/Chemical and Food Engineering
• Office Location: Gion Building, Room #214
• Official Email: birara.melku@bdu.edu.et 
• Professional Links
• ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3043-1303
• Scopus ID: http://www.scopus.com/inward/authorDetails.url?authorID=59474495900
  • MSc in Industrial Biotechnology| Bahir Dar University, Institute of Technology
  • BSc in Biotechnology |  University of Gondar
  • Single cell protein production
  • Optimizing wine production from mixed vegetables
  • Bio fertilizer production and Application
  • Characterization of yeast for food fermentation 
• Short Biography

Mr. Birara Melku Ayenew is an academic and researcher in laboratory practices. He studies food and beverage biotechnologies, industrial biotechnology, and sustainable bioprocessing. His research focuses on creating innovative and eco-friendly food and beverage production techniques. These techniques help improve food security, add value, and make better use of agricultural resources.

He earned a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Industrial Biotechnology at Bahir Dar Technology Institute and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Biotechnology at University of Gondar. Over his career, he has built a diverse set of skills. His expertise includes managing laboratories, providing analytical services, ensuring quality, training others, and supporting research and Laboratory teaching.

Mr. Birara used to work as a Legal Metrology Calibration Officer at the Dangila Administration Trade, Industry, and Market Development Office. There, he inspected, calibrated, and verified measuring instruments to make sure they met legal standards and protected consumers.

Currently, he is the Chief Laboratory Technical Officer in the Department of Chemical and Biotechnology at the Faculty of Chemical and Food Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology,Bahir Dar University. In this role, he offers key laboratory and technical services to undergraduate and postgraduate students, academic staff, researchers, and external clients. His duties include managing the laboratory, operating and maintaining equipment, supporting experimental design, conducting analytical tests, ensuring quality control, training others, and facilitating research activities.

Mr. Birara's research focuses on creating sustainable food and feed production techniques using microbial fermentation and utilizing agricultural and agro-industrial waste. He emphasizes producing value-added products like single-cell proteins, fermented animal feed, functional foods, and bio-based products. He is particularly interested in turning locally available, underused resources into economically viable and environmentally friendly products that can support food and nutritional security.

• Academic Qualifications
• Key Areas of Expertise/Research Interests
• Recent Key Publications or Major Projects
• Tamene M* and Birara M..  Single Cell Protein Production from Torula Yeast (Cyberlindnera sp.) Using Banana Peel Hydrolysate. DOI: 10.9734/JAMB/2018/44801
• Birara M * , Neela S , Zemenu B , Desalegn A..’; A review on the production of nanofertilizers and its application in agriculture https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e41243 Received 16 July 2024;

Courses Taught / Current Responsibilities

• Undergraduate courses
• Downstream lab
• Food and beverage  Lab 
• Biochemical Engineering Lab