A PhD candidate at the Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management, Yosef Abebe Yimer, has successfully defended his doctoral dissertation

A major academic milestone has been achieved at the Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management as PhD candidate Yosef Abebe Yimer successfully defended his doctoral dissertation, marking a significant contribution to water quality research in Ethiopia.

Yosef’s dissertation, titled “Origins, Pollutions, and Consequences of Heavy Metals in Awash Basin, Ethiopia: As (III) and Mo (VI) Adsorptive Removal Technology and Optimization,” addresses one of the most pressing environmental and public health challenges facing the country—heavy metal contamination in water resources. His research provides an in-depth investigation into the sources and impacts of arsenic (As III) and molybdenum (Mo VI) contamination in the Awash Basin, while also developing and optimizing innovative adsorptive removal technologies to mitigate these pollutants.

The study offers critical scientific insights into the environmental behavior of heavy metals and proposes practical treatment solutions aimed at improving water safety and sustainability in the Awash Basin and beyond. The findings are expected to support policymakers, water resource managers, and environmental protection agencies in strengthening water management strategies across Ethiopia.

The dissertation was primarily supervised by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Esayas Alemayehu of Jimma University, with co-supervision from Dr. Tena Alamirew of Addis Ababa University.

The defense session was chaired by Prof. Feleke Zewge of Addis Ababa University. The examination committee included Prof. Yonas Chebude of Addis Ababa University as internal examiner and Prof. Nigus Gabbiye of Bahir Dar University as external examiner.
Faculty members and attendees commended Yosef for the scientific rigor, practical relevance, and policy implications of his research. His achievement not only reflects personal academic excellence but also reinforces the Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management’s commitment to advancing research that addresses critical water and environmental challenges in Ethiopia and the region.