معرفی
Mussie Habteselassie serves as Professor of Soil Microbiology within the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). Based at the Griffin campus, he is an active member of the Center for Food Safety and teaches courses including Soil Microbiology and Soils and Hydrology. His research laboratory investigates critical intersections of soil health, food safety, and water quality.
Dr. Habteselassie's research program centers on three interconnected domains:
- Microbial Water Quality: Investigating agricultural and urban fecal contamination sources, particularly land application of animal waste and onsite wastewater systems.
- Pathogen Ecology in Soil: Studying survival and transmission of human pathogens (E. coli, Salmonella) to water and produce, focusing on pre-harvest practices.
- Soil Nitrogen Cycling: Examining ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and archaea that mediate nitrification, with implications for nitrate and nitrous oxide emissions.
Analysis of recent publications (2023-2025) reveals consistent emphasis on sustainable soil management practices, particularly microbial inoculants in nutrient cycling and integration of cover crops/organic amendments to enhance soil health across diverse cropping systems including corn, cotton, and carinata.
Dr. Habteselassie actively mentors undergraduate students and leads the Soil Microbiology Laboratory at UGA Griffin. His affiliation with the Center for Food Safety facilitates collaborative research addressing pathogen transmission pathways from soil to food and water systems, addressing national priorities in food safety and sustainable agriculture.
