Feseha Abebe-Akele

Dr. Abebe-Akele is an assistant professor of Genetics and Bioinformatics in the Department of Natural Sciences.

Credentials and Educational Background: Dr. Feseha Abebe-Akele has extensive academic and research background. He earned his PhD in Genetics in 2013 from the University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH. His dedication to teaching and science led him to complete an MSC in College Teaching In Science in 2014, also at the University of New Hampshire. In addition to this, he holds an MSc in Bioinformatics Programming from Seneca College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, earned in 2004. Furthermore, he completed an MSc in Molecular Biology from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, in 1994. Dr. Abebe-Akele's diverse educational experiences have prepared him for a career at the forefront of genetic research and education.

Research Highlights: Dr. Abebe-Akele's journey into the world of genetics began with his employment as senior research technician the University Health Network (UHN) at the University of Toronto from 2004 to 2006. During this time, he focused on identifying SARS induced cytokines using a ferret model of the disease and cDNA libraries.

Current research in Dr. Abebe-Akele (AKA: Dr. Akele) is supported by a series of cutting-edge equipment and a modern research lab equipped with two BSL II safety cabinet and the complete set of molecular biology tools required for cloning, PCR electrophoresis and gel documentation as well as culturing bacteria, yeast and nematodes.

Ongoing Research Projects.

1 .Entomopathogenic Nematode Screening: My lab is currently screening entomopathogenic nematodes in local soils around Elizabeth City in North Carolina. This work aims to identify and better understand locally adapted nematodes' for potential mass production and use in pest control and their impact on local ecosystems.

 

2. Yeast Probiotics and Nutraceuticals: Another exciting area of research for Dr. Abebe-Akele is the use of Saccharomyces boulardii, a yeast probiotic, to express nutraceuticals such as Zeaxanthin. We are employing Yeast Gateway kit (Addgene) that contains 285 yeast Gateway destination vectors based on the widely used pRS series of yeast shuttle vectors and contain the two commonly used GPD and GAL1 promoter expression systems that enable expression of ORFs either constitutively or under galactose-inducible conditions. We aim to express crucial nutraceutical proteins of interest. This research has important implications for improving human health and wellness.

 

3. Algae Biofuel Research: My lab is also working on two algae strains, Botryococcus and Synechoccous species in experiments related to algae biofuels. This work focuses on enhancing the algal species to produce engineered oils and increase yield by high expression as well as by reducing the doubling time of algae, a critical step in the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly biofuels.

 

4. Mentoring the Next Generation: Beyond his own research, Dr. Abebe-Akele is passionate about mentoring undergraduate students in the fields of molecular biology and

bioinformatics. His guidance and expertise are helping to shape the future of genetics and related disciplines.