My primary research interest is in the area of improving food safety (particularly aflatoxins and microbial pathogens) and quality for child and maternal nutrition. Improving the nutritional status of mothers’ and under-five children by improving the safety and quality of foods for both mothers and children are the overall goal of my research.  

Current and past research:

Post doctorial research

My general agenda as a post-doctoral fellow was to investigate the impact and validation of innovative community based complementary foods (CFs) safety assurance method in rural Ethiopia. Briefly, I evaluated impact of the CF safety assurance method such as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based standard operating procedures (SOPs) implemented three years back in terms of the nutritional status among under-five children and safety of CFs from the risks of aflatoxin contamination. Further, the HACCP-based SOP was validated in another set up.

PhD thesis

In my PhD thesis, I investigated aflatoxin and microbial contamination of complementary foods and exposure assessment among young children using urinary aflatoxin biomarkers in Ethiopia.

MSc thesis:

In my MSc thesis I also evaluated the stability of micronutrients in fortified food stuffs after processing and storage: Iodine in salt and iron in wheat flour.

Further, I have been supervised a number of PhD and MSc students in different areas: evaluating the nutrient adequacy of the complementary foods found in the Addis Ababa market, evaluating pesticide residues in honey, investigating the nutritional status and nutrient adequacy of adolescents, investigating the role of WASH and dietary factors on the nutritional status of school age children, the effect of nutrition education on nutritional and dietary diversity among pregnant women and others.