Biography
My name is Zemenu Birhan Mengist from Ethiopia. I have a strong academic background in biological and zoological sciences. I earned my Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Biology from Debre Markos University, Ethiopia (2011–2014), where I developed a solid foundation in core biological disciplines, including vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, entomology, wildlife ecology and management, fisheries and aquaculture, conservation and natural resource management, mammalian anatomy and physiology, and general biology. My undergraduate academic performance was recognized through a research scholarship award from Bantehun's Research Foundation.
I subsequently completed my Master of Science (MSc) degree in Zoological Sciences in the Department of Biology at Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia (2017–2019). My graduate training provided advanced theoretical knowledge and strong research skills in animal ecology, animal evolution and systematics, advanced aquatic and wetland ecology, wildlife ecotourism and management, applied fisheries and aquaculture, advanced invertebrate zoology, and biological data analysis, with a strong emphasis on field-based and quantitative ecological research.
Currently, I am working as a Lecturer in the Department of Biology at Bonga University, Ethiopia, where I am actively engaged in teaching, supervising undergraduate students, research, and community service. I teach a wide range of undergraduate courses, including General Biology, Vertebrate and Invertebrate Zoology, Applied Entomology, Wildlife Ecology and Management, Mammalian Anatomy and Physiology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Aquatic Science and Wetland Management, and Principles of Taxonomy. I have also participated in several research trainings and capacity-building programs at Bonga University, for which I received certificates of training and recognition, strengthening my skills in research methodology, scientific writing, proposal development, and community-based research.
My research skills were further strengthened through my role as a Research Assistant in the Gelada Conservation Project, a PhD project led by the University of Oxford in collaboration with the University of Oslo and California State University, Fullerton, where I worked for six months starting in February 2016 in various regions of Ethiopia. In this role, I gained hands-on experience in field data collection, behavioral surveys, ecological monitoring, and wildlife research in challenging field conditions, particularly focusing on primate species.
I also received specialized research training and certification from Bantehun's Research Foundation Students Scholarship Award Center at Debre Markos University, Ethiopia (2014), which enhanced my understanding of research design, data collection, and scientific inquiry. I am proficient in quantitative data analysis, particularly using SPSS, and I actively keep up with current scientific literature and participate in academic conferences. I have extensive experience in behavioral surveys of primates, including Gelada baboons and Boutourlini’s blue monkeys, and I am actively involved in scientific writing and publication. In addition to my academic and research responsibilities, I actively contribute to university and community life. I serve as a Member of the DC Committee and the Student Selection Committee (Regular Program) in the Department of Biology at Bonga University. I am also involved in community service programs in the Kaffa Zone, including supporting elderly people, promoting brain awareness, and delivering lectures to high school and preparatory school students.
My certificates and awards include a Certificate of Award from Bantehun's Research Foundation Students Scholarship Award Center (July 2014), a Certificate of Higher Diploma Program (HDP), e-SHE, and recognition for research and community service from Bonga University (June 2022), English Language Improvement Class (ELIC), as well as a Certificate of English Proficiency upon completion of secondary and tertiary education in English from Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia.
