• • PhD in Environmental Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden (2004)

• • MSc in Environmental Science & Technology, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK (1990)

• • BSc in Biology, Addis Ababa University (1986)

• • Certificate in Bio-entrepreneurship Executive Program, Strathmore University, Kenya, 2013

• • Certificate in Good Project Management Practice, CSIR Learning Development and Information Services, South Africa (2006)

• • Certificate in Ecological Methods for Pesticide Assessment: Training of Trainers, Pesticide Network, UK/ Institute of Sustainable development, Ethiopia (2006)

• • Certificate in Project Conceptualization and Preparation, International Science Foundation and Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden (2004)

• • Certificate in Environmental Biosafety, Svalöv Weibül, Sweden (2003)

• • Post graduate Diploma in Risk assessment of genetically modified organisms, Lund University, Sweden (2000)

• Post Graduate Diploma in Policy Analysis in Technology and Sustainable Development, African Centre for Technology Studies, Nairobi, Kenya (1996)

.

·         Director – Horn of Africa Regional Environmental Centre and Network, Addis Ababa University (Sept 2017-Aug.2018)

·         Team Leader- Addis Ababa City rivers and Riversides pollution study and development project for a comprehensive clean-up plans, Addis Ababa Rivers and Riversides and Climate Change Mitigation Office, Addis Ababa City Government of Ethiopia, (Feb.2016- June 2018)

·         Staff Affairs Committee Member, College of Natural and Computational Science, Addis Ababa University (January 2014-Sept. 2019)

• Regional Program Manager-Bioresources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Program based at the International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya (July 2010-March 2014.

·         Graduate Program Director –Environmental Science Program, Faculty of Science, Addis Ababa University (15 September 2008- 15 July 2010)

·         University Registrar-Addis Ababa University (August 13, 2007 –September 14, 2008)

·         Project Coordinator-Hybrid Distance Learning (HDL) on Water Quality and water safety plans and Wastewater Treatment and sanitation modules both for Trainers of Trainees (TOT) and HDL trainees organized by the Environmental Science Program and the Dutch Consortium (LeAF, MetaMeta, and IRC) (2007-2008)

·         Technical Member-Strategic Planning committee of the Environmental Science Program and the Faculty of Science, AAU (2007)

·         Technical member- Biotechnology Graduate Program curriculum design and establishment at the Faculty of Science, Addis Ababa University (2007)

·         Environment Division Head- Ethiopian Science & Technology Commission (ESTC) (1991-1998)

·         Project Coordinator – Sida/Sarec supported bilateral S&T projects at the ESTC (Ethiopia)

·         National focal person -East African Regional Program for Biotechnology, Biosafety and biotechnology Policy Development (BIOEARN) for the inception period (1998-1999).

Recognitions——-

Memberships of international bodies/ journals- editorial roles initiatives etc.

·         Award certificate for appreciation for giving a two-day seminar presentation “Research output Marketing Exhibition” at the College of Natural and Computational Science, Addis Ababa University

·         Project Award from Addis Ababa University for the development of “Innovative Technologies for value addition and sustainable wastewater and watershed resources management in Ethiopia,

·         Project award from Bio-Innovate Program for the establishment of a regional Enterprise to commercialize the integrated technologies for agro/bio-waste conversion in Eastern Africa

·         Project award from Sida for the study and development of integrated process for the sustainable agro-process wastewater treatment and climate change mitigation in Ethiopia,

·         Project award from Sida for the development of efficient technologies for the sustainable treatment of high strength wastewater in Eastern Africa, a regional research program involving Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania, Sida/Sarec through the East African Regional Program and Research Network for Biotechnology, Biosafety and Biotechnology Policy Development (BIOEARN))

·         Award from Assela Malt Factory for development of anaerobic-aerobic systems for the treatment of Assela Malt factory wastewater;

·         Award from IWMI for the study of contamination level of water at collection points and determination of major sources of contaminants in the central highlands of Ethiopia,

Memberships (some of them):

·         Member and chair of the expert team established for the development of Phase II Program (2016-2020) for the Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Program.

·         Member and secretary for Technical Advisory Committee for Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development (Bio-Innovate) Program (2010-2014).

·         Member and chairman of the expert team for the development of program proposal for the Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern African Development (Bio-Innovate Program) supported by Sida (2010-2014)

·         Member of high level per review committee for the Organizational Review of Regional Research Program for Biotechnology, Biosafety and Bi0policy Development (BIO-EARN) Program hosted at Inter University Council for Eastern and central Africa (IUCEA), 2008

·         Worked as a member of Intellectual Property Management Committee (IPMC) for the BIO-EARN Program (2006-2009)

·         Member of the peer-review evaluation panel for the European Water Initiative ERA-NET (SPLASH) Program

·         Environmental Society of Ethiopia

·         Biological Society of Ethiopia

Building name: Post Graduate Building

Floor number: 6th

Office room no.:  604

Office Tel: +251-11-6551910

Mobile: +251-911-684721

University email ID: seyoum.leta@aau.edu.et

Alternative email ID: letaseyoum@yahoo.com

·         wastewater treatment and developing bioprocesses for pollutants removal;

·          bioremediation of contaminated sites by recalcitrant pollutants;

·         Molecular microbial ecological studies;

·          phytoremediation of heavy metals;

·         biodegradation of persistent organic pollutants;

·         Resource recovery from bio-waste (biofuel/bioenergy, organic fertilizer, other value-added products) and climate change and mitigation studies;

·          solid waste bioconversions into value added products;

·         environmental systems analysis and management using various management tools such as EIA, ESIA, LCA , EMS, etc.).

1.      Alemayehu, Y.A., Asfaw, S.L and Tirfie, T.A (2019). Management options for coffee processing wastewater. A review. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-019-00953

2.      AB Kassegne, T Berhanu, JO Okonkwo and S Leta (2019): Assessment of trace metals in water samples and tissues of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from the Akaki River Catchment and the Aba Samuel Reservoir, central Ethiopia, African Journal of Aquatic Science, 44: 389-399.

3.      Risko Assefa, Ramani Bai, Seyoum Leta and Helmut Kloos (2019) Nitrogen removal in integrated anaerobic–aerobic sequencing batch reactors and constructed wetland system: a field experimental study. Applied Water Science 9:136. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-1015-8

4.      Feyisa Girma Erana, Tesfaye Alemu Tenkegna, and Seyoum Leta Asfaw (2019) Effect of agro industrial wastes compost on soil health and onion yields improvements: study at field condition. International Journal of Recycling of Organic Waste in Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40093-019-0286-2

5.      Shifare Berhe and Seyoum Leta (2019) Anaerobic co-digestion of tannery wastes using two stage anaerobic sequencing batch reactor: focus on process performance of hydrolytic–acidogenic step. J Mater Cycles Waste Manag http://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-019-00837-1

6.      Angassa, K., Leta, S., Mulat, W, Kloos, H. and Meers, E (2019) Evaluation of Pilot-Scale Constructed Wetlands with Phragmites karka for Phytoremediation of Municipal Wastewater and Biomass Production in Ethiopia. Environ. Process.  6: 65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-019-00358-x

7.      Kenatu Angassa,·Seyoum Leta, Worku Mulat, Helmut Kloos, and Erik Meers (2019) Effect of hydraulic loading on bioremediation of municipal wastewater using constructed wetland planted with vetiver grass, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Nanotechnology for Environmental Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1007/s41204-018-0053-z

8.      Alemnew Berhanu Kassegne, Tarekegn Berhanu Esho, Jonathan O. Okonkwo and Seyoum Leta Asfaw (2018) Distribution and ecological risk assessment of trace metals in surface sediments from Akaki River catchment and Aba Samuel reservoir, Central Ethiopia. Environ Syst Res.7:24

9.      Mekonnen Birhanie Aregu, Seyoum Leta Asfaw and Mohammed Mazharuddin Khan (2018) Identification of two low‑cost and locally available filter media (pumice and scoria) for removal of hazardous pollutants from tannery wastewater. Environ Syst Res.7:10

10.  Alemnew Berhanu Kassegne, Jonathan O. Okonkwo, Tarekegn Berhanu Esho, Kebede Nigussie Mekonnen, Tshia Malehase and Seyoum Leta Asfaw (2018) Distribution of total mercury in surface sediments and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from Akaki River catchment and Aba Samuel Reservoir, downstream to the mega-city Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Emerging Contaminants 4:32-39

11.  Temesgen Eliku and Seyoum Leta (2018) Spatial and seasonal variation in physicochemical parameters and heavy metals in Awash River, Ethiopia. Applied Water Science 8:177 https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-018-0803-x

12.  Shifare Berhe and Seyoum Leta (2018) Anaerobic co-digestion of tannery waste water and tannery solid waste using two-stage anaerobic sequencing batch reactor: focus on performances of methanogenic step. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 20(3)1468-1482  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-018-0706-9

13.  Tadesse Alemu, Andualem Mekonnen, Seyoum Leta (2018) Post-treatment of tannery wastewater using pilot scale horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (polishing). Water Sci Technol. 77(4): 988-998.

14.  Tadesse Alemu, Andualem Mekonnen, Seyoum Leta (2017) Integrated tannery wastewater treatment for effluent reuse for irrigation: Encouraging water efficiency and sustainable development in developing countries. Journal of Water Process Engineering. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2017.10.014

15.  Kenatu Angassa, Seyoum Leta, Worku Mulat, Helmut Kloos and Erik Meers (2017) Organic Matter and Nutrient Removal Performance of Horizontal Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands Planted with Phragmite karka and Vetiveria zizanioide for Treating Municipal Wastewater. Environ. Process. (2018) 5:115–130

16.  Zemene Worku and Seyoum Leta (2017) Anaerobic Digestion of Slaughterhouse Wastewater for Methane Recovery and Treatability. International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy. 6(5): 84-92

17.  Andualem Mekonnen, Seyoum Leta, Karoli Nicholas Njau (2017) Anaerobic treatment of tannery wastewater using ASBR for methane recovery and greenhouse gas emission mitigation. Journal of Water Process Engineering 19:231–238

18.  Andualem Mekonnen, Seyoum Leta and Karoli Nicholas Njau (2017) Kinetic analysis of anaerobic sequencing batch reactor for the treatment of tannery wastewater. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 11(6) 339-348,

19.  Fenta Minas, Bhagwan Singh Chandravanshi and Seyoum Leta (2017). Chemical precipitation method for chromium removal and its recovery from tannery wastewater in Ethiopia. Chemistry International: 3(4) 291-305.

20.  Shifare Berhe and Seyoum Leta (2017). Two Phase Anaerobic Co Digestion of Tannery Wastewater and Dairy Wastewater: Effect of Operational Parameters on Performance of Hydrolytic–Acidogenic Step. International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy. 6(1) 1-9.

21.  Temesgen Elik and Seyoum Leta (2017) Heavy metals bioconcentration from soil to vegetables and appraisal of health risk in Koka and Wonji farms, Ethiopia. Environ Sci Pollut Res. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8843-6 , Springer

22.  Temesgen Eliku and Seyoum Leta (2016) Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Vegetables Grown Using Paper Mill Wastewater in Wonji Gefersa, Ethiopia. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 97:714–720

23.  Tadesse Alemu, Eshetu Lemma, Andualem Mekonnen and Seyoum Leta (2016) Performance of Pilot Scale Anaerobic-SBR System Integrated with Constructed Wetlands for the Treatment of Tannery Wastewater. Environ. Process. http://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-016-0171-1

24.  Andualem Mekonnen, Seyoum Leta and Karoli Nicholas Njau (2016) Co-digestion of tannery wastewater and phragmites karka using laboratory scale anaerobic sequencing batch reactor. New York Science Journal; 9(1) 9-14.

25.  Tadesse Alemu and Seyoum Leta (2015). Evaluation of selected wetland plants for removal of chromium from tannery wastewater in constructed wetlands, Ethiopia. African J. Environ. Sci. and Technol. 9(5) 420-427.

26.  Andualem Mekonnen, Seyoum Leta and Karoli Nicholas Njau (2015) Wastewater treatment performance efficiency of constructed wetlands in African countries: a review; Water Science & Technology 71(1) 1–8.

27.  Adey Feleke Desta, Fassil Assefa, Seyoum Leta, Francesca Stomeo, Mark Wamalwa, Moses Njahira, Djikeng Appolinaire (2014) Microbial community structure and diversity in an integrated system of anaerobic-aerobic reactors and a constructed wetland for the treatment of tannery wastewater in Modjo, Ethiopia. PLOS ONE | http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0115576

28.  Thewodros Bekele and Seyoum Leta (2014) Bacteriological and physicochemical quality of recreational water bodies:-Case studies from Addis Ababa, and Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia. African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 8(7)435-441.

29.  Andualem Mekonnen and Seyoum Leta (2014) spatial variation of noise pollution level in the main commercial center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Sciences. 3(4)175-182.

30.   Dessalegn Dadi; Hameed Sulaiman; Seyoum Leta (2012) Evaluation of composting and the quality of compost from the source separated municipal solid waste: J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage 16(1) 5-10

31.  Tesfalem Atnafu, Hailu Kassa,·Chris Keil, Seyoum Leta, Nigus: Fikire and Ian Keil (2012) Presence, viability and determinants of cryptosporidium oocysts and giardia cysts in the Addis Ababa water supply and distribution system: Water Quality, Exposure and Health: 4:55-65.

32.  Yohannes Tesfaye Endale; Biruck Desalegn Yirsaw; Seyoum Leta Asfaw (2012) Pathogen reduction efficiency of on-site treatment processes in eco-sanitation system. Waste management & research: the journal of the International Solid Wastes and Public Cleansing Association, ISWA; 30(7):750-754.

33.  Daniel Fitamo, Seyoum Leta, Gurja Belay, Bekele Lemma & Mats Olsson (2011): Phytoavailability of heavy metals and metalloids in soils irrigated with wastewater, Akaki, Ethiopia: A greenhouse study, Soil and Sediment Contamination: An International Journal. 20:7, 745-766.

34.   Andualem Mekonnen and Seyoum Leta (2011) Effects of cycle and fill period length on the performance of a single sequencing batch reactor in the treatment of composite tannery wastewater. Nature and Science,9(10) 1-8.

35.   S Akalu, S Mengistou, S Leta (2011) Assessing human impacts on the greater Akaki River, Ethiopia using macroinvertebrates: SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science: 34 (1) 89-98.

36.   F Zewge, D Woldemichael, S Leta (2011) Potential of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) for the removal of chromium from tannery effluent in constructed pond system: SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science 34(1) 49-62.

37.  Fitamo, Daniel and Leta, Seyoum (2010) Assessment of plants growing on gold mine wastes for their potential to remove heavy metals from contaminated soils’, International Journal of Environmental Studies, 67: 5, 705 —724.

38.  Dagnew Engdaw, Hameed Sulaiman, Seyoum Leta (2009) Determining the generation rate and composition of solid health care waste at Gondar University Hospital: Ethiop. J. Health Biomed Sci., 2(1)17-22.

39.   Sofia Andersson, Fantahun Misganaw, Seyoum Leta and Gunnel Dalhammar (2006) Evaluation of nitrogen removal in a small-scale system for biological treatment of tannery wastewater. Water Science & Technology: Water Supply, 7(5-6):19–25.

40.   Seyoum Leta, Fassil Assefa, and Gunnel Dalhammar (2005) Enhancing biological nitrogen removal from tannery wastewaters by using the efficient Brachymonas denitrificans in pilot plant operations. World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology. 21 (4): 445-552.

41.  S. Leta, L. Gumaelius, F. Assefa and G. Dalhammar (2004) Identification of efficient denitrifying bacteria from tannery wastewaters in Ethiopia and a study of the effects of chromium III and sulphide on their denitrification rate. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 20(4):405-411.

42.   S. Leta, F. Assefa, L. Gumaelius and G. Dalhammar (2004) Biological nitrogen and organic matter removal from tannery wastewaters in pilot plant operations in Ethiopia. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol.. 66(3): 333-339.

43.   S. Leta, F. Assefa and G. Dalhammar (2003) Characterization of tannery wastewater and downstream assessment of pollution profiles along Modjo River in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Biological sciences. 2(2): 157-168.

Book Chapter

44.  Alma Lopez-Aviles, Seyoum Leta, and Wubalem Tadessse (2019) Multistakeholder engagement in innovation for sustainability science in Ethiopia. In: Auguirre-Bastos, Carols, Chaves-chappro, Juliana and Arico, Salvatore (eds). Co-design Science in Africa: First step in assessing the sustainability science approach on the ground. UNESCO. ISBN 978-92-3-1000319-6. 246pages.

·         Teaching graduate courses (MSc and PhD) such as environmental microbiology; environmental biotechnology, wastewater treatment, solid waste management, biodegradation and bioremediation, advanced wastewater treatment, advanced environmental biotechnology, etc.

·         Supervised over 50 MSc graduates and 20 PhD students in the areas of wastewater treatment and water quality, waste to energy (resource recovery and climate change mitigation and adaptation studies), bioremediation, phytoremediation, microbial ecological studies, environmental sanitation, etc.