Focus Areas:
- Earth System Science
- Sustainability & Global Environmental Change
- Geospatial Analysis and Techniques
Country of Origin: Ethiopia
Degree Program: PhD
Entered Program: Fall 2022
Expected Graduation: Fall 2026
Dissertation Topic: Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Hydrological Models for Hydrological Process Analysis: Case Studies in Stellenbosch, South Africa, and Upper Awash River Basin, Ethiopia
Research Statement: My research interests lie in human-environment interactions, with a focus on understanding both natural and human-induced impacts on environmental systems. I specialize in Geospatial Science, particularly in the areas of Hydrological Sciences, Remote Sensing, Spatial Sciences, Agriculture Science, and Land-Use/Land-Cover (LULC) analysis. My work integrates advanced AI techniques and Physical-based models to analyze and model complex spatial and temporal datasets. Through this interdisciplinary approach, I aim to enhance our understanding of environmental processes and support sustainable management of land and water resources.
Adviser: Dr. Jane Southworth
Recent Publications
- Tefera, B. B., Bayabil, H. K., Tong, Z., Teshome, F. T., Wenbo, P., Li, Y. C., Hailegnaw, N. S., & Gao, B. (2022). Using liquefied biomass hydrogel to mitigate salinity in salt-affected soils. Chemosphere, 309, 136480.
- Southworth, J., Smith, A. C., Safaei, M., Rahaman, M., Alruzuq, A., Tefera, B. B., Muir, C. S., & Herrero, H. V. (2024). Machine Learning versus Deep Learning in Land System Science: A Decision-Making Framework for Effective Land Classification. Frontiers in Remote Sensing, 5.
Educational Background
- M.S. in Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida, 2023
- M.S. in Water Science and Engineering, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, 2016
- B.S. in Agricultural Engineering and Mechanization, Hawassa University, 2010