Education
Ph.D. Okayama University
M.Sc. University of Hanover
B.A. Alemaya University of Agriculture
Courses Taught
- BIO 424 & BIO 619: Plant Physiology and Biotechnology
- BIO 424L: Plant Physiology and Biotechnology Lab
- BIO 456 & Bio 656: Global Change
- BIO 355: Cell Biology
- BIO 734: Current Research in Environmental Health Science
- BIO 499 & BIO 493: Undergraduate research
- HSS 490: Senior Honors Project
Research
My lab is interested in underutilized/orphan crops that have great potential to address global issues of malnutrition, diet-related health problems, and food security in the face climate change. We are using omics approaches for novel gene identification and biotechnological tools to improve desirable traits such as yield, nutritional quality, and stress resilience of the underutilized/orphan crop tef (Eragrostis tef) and major crops. We are also studying the antioxidant properties and cellular mechanisms of the tef grain extracts in human cell models. My lab also collaborates in studying plant interactions with environmental contaminants, including microplastics, antimicrobials, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA).
Selected Publications
1. Abreham Bekele-Alemu, Obssie Dessalegn-Hora, Tura Safawo, Ayalew Ligaba-Osena (2024) Rethinking
Progress: Rationalizing discourse on genetically modified crops. (in press, Front Pl Sci.)
2. Eric D. Whisnant, Christian Keith, Louisa Smieska, Ju-Chen Chia, Abreham Bekele-Alemu, Olena K.
Vatamaniuk, Robert VanBuren, Ayalew Ligaba-Osena (2024) Biggest of tinies: Natural variation in seed
size and mineral distribution in the ancient crop tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter]. Front. Plant Sci.
15:1485819.
3. Bertrand Bachaumond Hankoua, Marieme Diao, Ayalew Ligaba-Osena, Rafael A. Garcia, Sarahani Harun
and Yogesh K. Ahlawat (2024). Constitutive Overexpression of Qui-Quine Starch Gene Simultaneously
Improves Starch and Protein Content in Bioengineered Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz). Front. Plant
Sci. 15:1442324.
4. Abreham Bekele-Alemu, Deribew Girma-Tola and Ayalew Ligaba-Osena (2024) The Potential of
CRISPR/Cas9 to Circumvent the Risk Factor Neurotoxin β-N-oxalyl-L-α, β-diaminopropionic acid
Limiting Wide Acceptance of the Underutilized Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus L.): Curr. Issues Mol. Biol.
46(9), 10570-10589.
5. Raza Ullah, Julia Farias, Biruk A. Feyissa, Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui, Alex Chow, Clinton Williams, Tanju Karanfil,
Ayalew Ligaba-Osena (2024) Combined effects of polyamide microplastic and sulfamethoxazole in
modulating the growth and transcriptome profile of hydroponically grown rice (Oryza sativa L.), Science
of The Total Environment, Volume 952, 2024,175909
6. Bekele-Alemu, A, Girma-Tola. D, and Ligaba-Osena, A. The Potential of CRISPR/Cas9 to Circumvent the
Risk Factor Neurotoxin β-ODAP Limiting Wide Acceptance of the Underutilized Grass Pea (Lathyrus
sativus L). Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2024 Sep 21;46(9):10570-10589
7. Abreham Bekele-Alemu, and Ayalew Ligaba-Osena (2023). In silico analysis of the underutilized crop tef
(Eragrostis tef (Zucc. Trotter) genome reveals drought tolerance signatures. BMC Plant Biology, 23:506.
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