Difabachew Belay Kondidie

 

Research Assistant and Ph.D. Student

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Department of Entomology

Lincoln, NE

68583-0816

Phone (402) 472-8692

Fax: (402) 472-4687

E-mail: dbelay@bigred.unl.edu / difabachewbelay@yahoo.com

Website: http://entomology.unl.edu/

 

Education:

  • PhD in Entomology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln - in progress
  • Master in Entomology, University of Hannover, Germany-2003
  • B.Sc. in Plant Sciences, Alemaya University, Ethiopia-2000
  • Diploma in Plant sciences, Jimma College of Agriculture, Ethiopia-1991

 

Professional Responsibilities and Activities:

  • Ph.D. Research:

    • Genetics of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda.

  • Masters Research:

    • Persistence, self-perpetuation, time of application and foraging strategy affecting the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against soil-dwelling life stages of Frankliniella occidentalis

  • Assistant researcher in entomology, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Nov. 2003-August 2007
  • Junior researcher in entomology, EIAR, July 200-Oct. 2001
  • Research assistant, EIAR, February 1992 - Sept. 1997

 

 Other training: 

  1. Biostatistics training workshop, 18-29 Oct. 2004, ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya
  2. Training workshop on planning, and evaluation of projects, 17-21 Sept. 2001 at EARO-Melkassa, Ethiopia
  3. First international Neem training workshop, 18-30 June 1995, ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya
  4. Practical training on plant biotechnology (four weeks), July-August 2003. University of Hannover, Department of Molecular Genetics.
  5. Practical training on molecular biology, August 1-30, 2002. University of Hannover, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding
  6. Participated on research strategy preparation workshop on crops, live stocks, soil and water, forestry, farm implements and post harvest, technology, socio-economics and research extension, for Assossa agricultural research center, in the Benshangul Gumuz Reginal State (BGRS) of Ethiopia, Nov 16-20, 2005.
  7. Gender training workshop organized by Melkassa Agricultural research center, Ethiopia, 13-15 December, 2006.
  8. Habitat management for the management of cereal stems borers (3 weeks training), May 2004, ICIPE, Nairobi, Kenya
  9. I have completed the environmental health and safety training offered by University of Nebrasaka-Lincoln.

 

Awards:

  1.  German academic exchange service (DAAD) scholarship in September 2001 for  M.Sc. study based on international competition.
  2. VLIR scholarship (Government of Belgium)  for M.Sc. in molecular biology. I was unable to accept this scholarship due to work on the German academic exchange service scholarship.

 

Membership in professional societies: 

  1. Regular member of Crop Protection Society of Ethiopia.
  2. Regular member of Biological Society of Ethiopia.
  3. Associate member of Crop Science Society of Ethiopia.
  4. Regular member of Horticultural Society of Ethiopia.
  5. Regular member of Agricultural Professionals’ Society of Ethiopia.

 

Leadership:

  1. Country coordinator of a project on biological control of cereal stem borers, a sustainable solution for small-holder maize and sorghum farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa (31 March 2004 to December 2006)
  2. Country coordinator of a project on Conservation of Gramineae and Associated Arthropods for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Africa (31 March 2004 to December 2004).
  3. Acting division head, Department of Crop Protection, Melkassa research center (several times).

 

Publications:

  • Belay, D. 2003. Persistence, self-perpetuation, time of application and foraging strategy affecting the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against soil-dwelling life stages of Frankliniella occidentalis. M. Sc. thesis, University of Hannover, Germany.
  • Difabachew BELAY, Lemma EBSSA and Christian BORGEMEISTER.2005. Time and frequency of applications of entomopathogenic nematodes and their persistence for control of western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis. Nematology 7 (4): 611-622.
  • BP.LeRU,  Go. Ong’amo, P. Moyal , L.  Ngala, B.  Musyoka, Z. Abdullah , D.Cugala, B. Defabachew, T.  Haile*, T. Kauma Matama ,V. Ylada, B. Negassi, K. Pallangyo, J.Ravolonandrianina*, A. Sidumo, C. Omwega*, F.Schulthess, P. Calatayud and J.F. Silvain. 2006. Diversity of lepidopteran stem borers in eastern Africa revisited.  Bulletin of Entomological Research 96:1-9.

Paper presented on a conference:

Belay, D., F. Schulthess, and C. Omwega. 2005. Studies on habitat management for the control of stem borers on maize in the central rift valley and Western part of Ethiopia. Paper presented on International Conference on Lepidopterous Cereal stem and cob Borers in Africa, 24-28 October 2005, Nairobi, Kenya.

Professional expertise (experience):

  • Designing and conducting field and laboratory experiments on the management of insect pests of vegetables, fruits, lowland pulses, and large cereals
  • Data collection, analysis and report writing
  • Research strategy and action plant preparation
  • Giving training on management of insect pests of various crops to subject matter specialists and development agents of governmental and non- governmental organizations
  • Training junior researchers and technical assistants (Jijiga Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia) on identification of major insect pets in the area, managing entomological experiments and data collection
  • Advisory and consultancy service to governmental and no-governmental organizations (farms) and individual growers
  • Survey data collection for research as well as policy purposes
  • Laboratory rearing of storage pests, cereal stem bores and their parasitoids (Cotesia flavipes and Xanthopimpla stemmator)
  • Dossier preparation for importation of natural enemies, field releases and post release assessment of biocontrol agents (e.g. Xanthopimpla stemmator)
  • Efficacy test of various insecticides for registration purpose and recommendation
  • Basic computer skills on Microsoft word, Excel, PowerPoint, Sigma plot and SAS.