My name is Debebe Ashenafi Bekele from Ethiopia. With a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) background, I am an academic staff at Addis Ababa University College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture. I did my DVM and Master’s degree in this college and graduated with very great distinction at both study levels. With a deep passion and motivation, I completed my DVM study with Gold Medalist with an outstanding performance. My DVM thesis was on "Isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella from milk samples" In this thesis work, I have collected milk samples, cultured them in the laboratory and isolated Salmonella using conventional cultural and biochemical methods. Besides, I have also worked on drug sensitivity testing for the isolates. During my MSc course work, I had a short time training on poultry medicine in which I was able acquire ample knowledge and skill on poultry diseases and their management. After successfully accomplishing the training, I was awarded Post-graduate Diploma in Poultry Medicine. This training together with the motive I had to work on poultry diseases has driven me to conduct my MSc thesis on one of the priority poultry diseases in Ethiopia, Infectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease), which is caused by RNA virus of Birnaviridae family, infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV).

In my MSc thesis work entitled "Outbreak Investigation and Molecular Characterization of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus from Poultry farms in Central Ethiopia'', I have investigated outbreak cases of IBD, did necropsy of infected or recently dead birds and have cultured Gumboro suspected tissues independently. During this MSc thesis work, I have got ample knowledge on poultry diseases, their field investigation and identification, skills on laboratory isolation of the agents including sample processing and cell culture preparation.

I am giving classes for under-and postgraduate students on Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology courses and doing different collaborative research and advising students on their research work which focus is on different pathogens. From my background, teaching and research experience, I have ample knowledge and laboratory skill on infectious diseases ranging from field investigation up to laboratory works in which I can work independently and collaboratively. In addition to theoretical class delivery, I have also involvement in practical class demonstrations to veterinary laboratory technology, DVM and masters students in veterinary microbiology. I have worked on isolation and identification of different bacterial pathogens together with my colleagues and students which has further helped me in advancing my skills on this area. Currently I am doing my PhD in one of leading poultry disease in Ethiopia - infectious bursal disease (Gumboro disease). I have excellent verbal and written English skills (CEFR – B2- IELTS), plus working in an environment, one of Ethiopian higher educational institute, where English is language of instruction. I can be reached at +251-912907953 (Mobile) or at debebe.ashenafi@aau.edu.et (email).