Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Dr. Seltene Abady Tesfamariam is a dedicated plant breeder committed to enhancing agricultural resilience in Eastern and Southern Africa. He earned a PhD in Plant Breeding from the University of KwaZulu‑Natal (2018–2021), supported by an OFID scholarship under CGIAR. Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the African Centre for Crop Improvement (since 2023), he previously led the National Groundnut Research Program in Ethiopia and served as Assistant Professor at Haramaya University. With over two decades of experience in research and teaching, Dr. Tesfamariam specializes in breeding drought‑tolerant groundnut, sorghum, maize, and wheat, integrating genetics, field trials, and advanced statistical tools. He has secured multiple grants and training awards, making him a recognized leader in agricultural innovation, capacity building, and sustainable food systems in Africa.
Professional Profile
ORCID
Education
Dr. Tesfamariam’s academic path combines solid foundational training with rigorous postgraduate specialization. He completed a BSc in Plant Sciences (2003–2006) and an MSc in Plant Breeding (2011–2013) at Haramaya University, Ethiopia, focusing on crop genetics and breeding under local agronomic conditions. He went on to earn a PhD in Plant Breeding from the University of KwaZulu‑Natal, South Africa (2018–2021), supported by an OFID/CGIAR scholarship. His doctoral work employed genome-wide association studies and advanced statistical analysis to dissect drought tolerance traits in groundnut. During this period, he also participated in numerous high‑level trainings—such as ASReml‑R modeling, meta‑analysis of research, and demand‑led variety design—shaping both theory and practice in modern plant breeding.
Professional Experience
Dr. Tesfamariam has more than 17 years of progressive agricultural research and academic experience. From 2007 to 2013, he worked as an Assistant Researcher at the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute, including leading SIMLESA projects at Pawe Research Center. He then transitioned to Haramaya University, serving as Lecturer (2013–2016) and Assistant Professor (2017–2023), where he taught plant breeding, supervised students, conducted field trials, and led local crop improvement initiatives. He coordinated Ethiopia’s National Groundnut Research Program (2015–2017), driving variety development and stakeholder engagement. Since 2023, he has been a Postdoctoral Fellow at the African Centre for Crop Improvement at the University of KwaZulu‑Natal, focusing on enhancing stress resilience in African staple crops. His experience spans applied genomics, extension outreach, and leadership of multi‑institutional research teams.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Tesfamariam has earned recognition through competitive grants and training awards tied to innovation and crop improvement. He received the OFID scholarship under CGIAR to support his doctoral studies. In 2019, he was awarded funding from the International Foundation for Sciences (IFS), Stockholm. In 2021, he secured a Haramaya University research grant on transpiration efficiency in groundnut. In 2023, he received an Africa UniNet award on gender‑inclusive peanut production and aflatoxin mitigation. He has participated in prestigious international training programs—including ACIAR’s ASReml‑R workshop (2024), ICRISAT’s drought‑tolerance breeding initiative (2018–2020), and meta‑analysis and demand‑led variety design courses at KwaZulu‑Natal and Makerere. Professional memberships include the Southern Africa Plant Breeders’ Association and the Crop Science Society of Ethiopia.
Research Focus
Dr. Tesfamariam’s research is centered on breeding climate‑resilient cultivars to improve food security in drought‑prone regions of Africa. He specializes in groundnut, sorghum, maize, and wheat, targeting traits such as drought tolerance, early maturity, water‑use efficiency, harvest index, and carbon storage. His approach integrates genome-wide association studies (GWAS), SNP markers, advanced statistical modeling (e.g. ASReml‑R), and field experimentation across diverse agro‑ecologies. He examines physiological traits—transpiration efficiency, proline accumulation, nitrogen use—and their genetic basis. His work also addresses aflatoxin contamination and gender‑inclusive peanut production strategies. Collaboration with institutions like ICRISAT, Cranfield University, and regional universities has enabled multidisciplinary innovation. His goal is development and deployment of improved varieties that support nutrition, farm resilience, and sustainable intensification under climate stress.
Publication Top Notes
- Breeding for resistance to maize streak virus: Challenges, progress and future directions
Frontiers in Plant Science, 2025. Contributors: Mushayi, Malven; Shimelis, Hussein; Derera, John; Tesfamariam, Seltene Abady.
Summary: A comprehensive review of breeding efforts against maize streak virus, synthesizing progress in genetic resistance and outlining future breeding strategies tailored to African maize systems.
- Genetic diversity and population structure analyses of tropical maize inbred lines using SNP markers
PLOS ONE, 2025. Contributors: Rodreck GununduID; Hussein Shimelis; Seltene Abady Tesfamariam.
Summary: This study uses SNP genotyping to dissect population structure in tropical maize, highlighting key diversity patterns to inform parent selection in breeding programs.
- Progress in Sorghum Improvement for Early Maturity, Harvest Index, and Water‑Use Efficiency
Food and Energy Security, 2025. Contributors: Byamungu Lincoln Zabuloni; Hussein Shimelis; Seltene Abady Tesfamariam; Maryke Labuschagne; Elize Botha.
Summary: Evaluates sorghum genotypes for proxy traits associated with drought tolerance; identifies early‑maturing lines with superior harvest index and water‑use efficiency.
- Genetic Parameters and Trait Associations in Wheat Under Drought and Low Nitrogen Conditions
Nitrogen, 2024. Contributors: Sbongeleni Warren Duma; Hussein Shimelis; Seltene Abady Tesfamariam; Toi Tsilo.
Summary: Examines wheat under water and nitrogen stress, quantifying trait correlations—vital for selection of dual‑stress tolerant lines under resource‑limited settings.
- Genetic variation and association of yield, yield components, and carbon storage in sorghum genotypes
BMC Genomic Data, 2024. Contributors: Asande Ngidi; Hussein Shimelis; Seltene Abady; Vincent Chaplot; Sandiswa Figlan.
Summary: Links yield and biomass traits in sorghum with carbon storage potential, informing breeding for both productivity and soil carbon offset benefits.
- Genome‑wide association analysis for drought tolerance and component traits in groundnut gene pool
Euphytica, 2024. Contributors: Abady, Seltene; Shimelis, Hussein; Janila, Pasupuleti; Wankhade, Ankush; Chimote, Vivek P.
Summary: Identifies marker-trait associations for key drought adaptive traits in groundnut germplasm; supports marker-assisted selection for stress resilience.
- Response of Sorghum bicolor genotypes for yield and carbon storage in shoot and root systems
Scientific Reports, 2024. Contributors: Asande Ngidi; Hussein Shimelis; Seltene Abady; Sandiswa Figlan; Vincent Chaplot.
Summary: Field trial assessment of sorghum varieties for biomass partitioning and organic carbon storage under varying management regimes.
Conclusion
Dr. Seltene Abady Tesfamariam exemplifies the qualities of a Best Researcher Award recipient. His research directly addresses pressing challenges in African agriculture—climate change adaptation, food security, and sustainable crop production. With an exceptional blend of scientific rigor, leadership, training, and international engagement, he has significantly advanced the field of plant breeding and made lasting contributions to the agricultural development of the region. He is, without doubt, a highly deserving candidate for this prestigious recognition.