Meseret Tesema Terfa

Dr. Meseret Tesema Terfa is currently a Visiting Researcher at the University of Tuebingen (since June 2023) within the GBI group. Previously, she held academic positions at Hawassa University (Ethiopia): Associate Professor (2021-2023) and Assistant Professor (2015-2020). She earned her PhD in Plant Physiology from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (2009-2013) and completed a postdoc there in 2014.

Her research focuses on plant adaptation to drought stress, particularly the interplay between root traits (e.g., mucilage exudation), rhizosphere microbial communities (e.g., mycorrhizal fungi), and soil moisture dynamics. Key projects include the Agropolis Foundation-funded study examining mucilage's role in mitigating drought impacts on crops like barley and sorghum in sub-Saharan regions.

• Key Projects: Investigating mucilage composition under varying soil moisture conditions, AMF community analysis in rhizosphere biofilms, and soil metabolomics of extractable organic matter.
• Collaborations: Works with Prof. Michaela Dippold and Dr. Callum C. Banfield on drought resilience mechanisms.
• Geographic Focus: Sub-Saharan Africa's agricultural challenges under climate change.

Her work bridges plant physiology, soil science, and microbiology to enhance crop resilience, emphasizing sustainable solutions for water-limited environments.