Amhara Agricultural Research Instituite at ARARI, Ethiopia
Dr. Yeshitla Merene Abebe is a seasoned entomologist and crop research specialist based in Ethiopia. With over two decades of hands-on research experience, he serves as a senior researcher at the Amhara Agricultural Research Institute. He holds a PhD from the University of Marburg, Germany, where he specialized in the biogeography of beetles. Dr. Merene has led numerous national and international research projects addressing biodiversity, pest management, sustainable agriculture, and food systems resilience. His commitment to science is evidenced by a prolific publication record, including taxonomy-focused studies in top-tier journals. He has also contributed as a project coordinator and steering committee member for various initiatives including those funded by USAID, ILRI, and ICARDA. As a mentor and leader, he upholds values of trust, collaboration, and innovation in agricultural science. He is deeply committed to advancing agricultural sustainability and biodiversity conservation in Ethiopia and beyond.
Pofessional Profiles
Scopus
ORCID
🎓 Education
Dr. Yeshitla Merene Abebe has over 25 years of research experience, progressing from Junior Researcher in 1998 to Senior Researcher and Director of the Crop Research Directorate at the Amhara Agricultural Research Institute. Between 1998 and 2008, he served at Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center, where he contributed to entomological and crop protection research. He held leadership positions, including Director of the same center and head of the crop research directorate from 2012 to 2017. He has coordinated several high-impact research projects like SIMLESA (CIMMYT), DCG (Norway Government), and RAISE-FS (SWR Ethiopia). Dr. Merene is a member of national steering committees and variety release committees, and he has strong experience in laboratory taxonomy, insect rearing, DNA-based analysis, and AI applications in agriculture. His career reflects a balance of field research, technical expertise, and leadership in advancing Ethiopian agricultural innovation and biodiversity research.
🧪 Experience
Dr. Yeshitla Merene Abebe has over 25 years of research experience, progressing from Junior Researcher in 1998 to Senior Researcher and Director of the Crop Research Directorate at the Amhara Agricultural Research Institute. Between 1998 and 2008, he served at Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center, where he contributed to entomological and crop protection research. He held leadership positions, including Director of the same center and head of the crop research directorate from 2012 to 2017. He has coordinated several high-impact research projects like SIMLESA (CIMMYT), DCG (Norway Government), and RAISE-FS (SWR Ethiopia). Dr. Merene is a member of national steering committees and variety release committees, and he has strong experience in laboratory taxonomy, insect rearing, DNA-based analysis, and AI applications in agriculture. His career reflects a balance of field research, technical expertise, and leadership in advancing Ethiopian agricultural innovation and biodiversity research.
🏅 Awards and Honors
Dr. Yeshitla Merene Abebe is widely recognized for his contribution to agricultural entomology and biodiversity research in Ethiopia. While specific named awards are not listed in his CV, his leadership roles and continuous promotion to senior research and directorial positions serve as recognition of his scientific excellence. He has been entrusted with leading national-level projects funded by global organizations such as ILRI, ICARDA, USAID, and the Netherlands Government, demonstrating his trusted role in the scientific community. He has been invited to present his work at global scientific meetings, including the World Congress on Conservation Agriculture in Canada and the European Carabidologists’ Meeting in Budapest. His expertise in taxonomy has led to co-authorship in naming new beetle species, and he serves as a referee and advisor in national and regional agricultural research platforms. His sustained impact positions him as a strong candidate for scientific and research excellence honors.
🔬 Research Focus
Dr. Yeshitla Merene’s research centers on entomology, agro-ecology, and biodiversity with a specific emphasis on Coleoptera (Carabidae and Cicindelidae) taxonomy, pest population dynamics, and sustainable agricultural systems. His PhD research contributed foundational knowledge on the biogeography and systematics of Ethiopian beetles. He has expanded this focus to address climate-resilient agriculture, integrated pest management, and species conservation. Through collaborations with international partners, his work supports Ethiopia’s crop production under changing environmental conditions. He utilizes both classical morphological techniques and molecular tools (DNA, PCR) for species identification. His contributions inform pest control strategies, plant protection, and agrobiodiversity mapping. Dr. Merene has also embraced Artificial Intelligence and advanced analytics (Python, R) to modernize data handling in ecological and agricultural studies. His research impact extends from academic circles to policy-level application in national crop protection programs.
🛠️ Research Skills
Dr. Yeshitla Merene Abebe possesses an advanced skill set in agricultural research and entomology. He is proficient in morphological and molecular taxonomy, including insect mounting, genitalia preparation, species identification, and DNA extraction with PCR analysis. His bioassay design, insect rearing, and behavior studies contribute to pest control innovation. Technically, he’s skilled in data analysis and modeling using R and Python, making him adept at handling complex agricultural datasets. His leadership capabilities are reflected in his coordination of multiple national and international research projects. He has demonstrated expertise in writing, reporting, and scientific communication in both English and Amharic. Additionally, his integration of AI applications in agriculture signifies his embrace of next-generation tools for sustainable farming. He holds deep experience in project design, monitoring, evaluation, and multi-stakeholder engagement, making him an asset in cross-sectoral initiatives. His mentoring and team facilitation skills are well acknowledged within Ethiopia’s research ecosystem.
✅ Conclusion
Dr. Yeshitla Merene Abebe is highly suitable for the Best Research Article Award due to his consistent scientific excellence, international contributions to entomology and agrobiodiversity, and leadership in national agricultural research. His integrative and taxonomically rich publications not only advance science but also directly inform Ethiopia’s food security and biodiversity conservation agendas.
Publications Top Notes
**”Trechus from Ethiopia with Aedeagus Right Side Superior in Repose, an Unusual Character State in Trechine Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae)”**
Published in Insects on March 20, 2025.
DOI: 10.3390/insects16030328
**”Taxonomy, Distribution and Habitat of the Giant Trechus Beetles Endemic to Mt. Choke, Ethiopia (Coleoptera: Carabidae)”**
Published in Taxonomy on January 7, 2024.
DOI: 10.3390/taxonomy4010003
**”Explosive Radiation versus Old Relicts: The Complex History of Ethiopian Trechina, with Description of a New Genus and a New Subgenus (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Trechini)”**
Published in Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift on September 27, 2023.
DOI: 10.3897/dez.70.107425
**”Ground and Tiger Beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Cicindelidae) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia: A Provisional Faunistic Checklist Based on Literature Data”**
Published in Zootaxa on February 27, 2023.
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5247.1.1
**”Systematic Position of Omostropus rotundatus and Notes on Some Other Species of Harpalina (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from Ethiopia”**
Published in Zoosystematica Rossica on September 7, 2020.
DOI: 10.31610/zsr/2020.29.2.195