Wakene Negassa

Biography

Dr Wakene Negassa is a soil scientist with over two decades of academic and research expertise. He holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Master of Science (MSc) in Plant and Soil Sciences, laying the foundation for his career. His scientific journey began at the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute in Ethiopia, where he dedicated over a decade to advancing soil and water management research. Later, he transitioned into academia as a Soil Science lecturer at Hawassa University, further expanding his teaching and research experience.

Driven by a passion for tropical soil chemistry, Dr Negassa pursued his PhD in Soil Science at the University of Rostock, Germany, specialising in phosphorus transformation, agricultural waste recycling, and phosphorus speciation in tropical soils. After completing his doctorate, he briefly contributed to the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research before relocating to the United States, where he served as a postdoctoral researcher at Michigan State University for three years. He investigated soil organic carbon sequestration mechanisms, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable soil management practices there.

Returning to Germany, Dr Negassa joined the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam, Germany, as a research fellow, focusing on rehabilitating degraded soils and promoting sustainable land use. He continued his research at the University of Rostock for over four years, delving into peatland biogeochemistry and studying the long-term effects of peatland drainage and restoration on soil organic matter and dissolved organic matter molecular-chemical composition, functional groups, and elemental speciation. He also worked as a freelance researcher before joining the University of Copenhagen, where he briefly worked on phosphorus recycling.

A strong advocate for global collaboration, Dr Negassa has established extensive partnerships across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He actively engages with policymakers to advance soil health strategies that enhance food security, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience. Beyond research, Dr Negassa is a dedicated educator who teaches undergraduate and graduate soil science courses and supervises several graduate and undergraduate students of soil and environmental sciences. Additionally, he is an active peer reviewer for numerous scientific journals and funding agencies and an associate editor for scientific journals.