Chemistry groups in Ethiopia

ISP Chemistry supports the following research groups in Ethiopia:

• Synthesis and characterisation of conjugated polymers for solar cells, fuel cells, and sensors at Addis Ababa University
• Bioactive secondary metabolites for improving life at Addis Ababa University
• Natural products chemistry at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University

​Synthesis and characterisation of conjugated polymers for solar cells, fuel cells, and sensors

ISP support started in 2002, but was paused 2008-2010 because of conditions in the Sida-ISP agreement. Support was resumed again in 2011.

The research group is led by Professor Wendimagegn Mammo and hosted at the Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Science, Addis Ababa University (AAU).

Objectives

The main objective of this group is to synthesize and characterize new conjugated polymers and polymer/nanomaterial composites and to construct and characterize solar cells devices to improve power conversion efficiency. The materials synthesis efforts will also be further diversified to find conjugated polymer/nanomaterial combinations for designing cheap, stable and effective electro catalysts for fuel cells and sensors technologies.

Read more about the research group and the group leader: Interview with Prof Mammo

Bioactive secondary metabolites for improving life

ISP support to the research group at Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy at Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Health Science, Addis Ababa University (AAU) started in 2013. The group leader is Dr Mariamawit Yonathan Yeshak.

Objectives

The overall objective of the research group is exploring the Ethiopian flora for potential medicinally active plants. The research particularly focuses on isolation and characterization of bioactive circular proteins with anti-protozoal activity. Investigation of traditionally claimed anti-protozoal plants is also one of the goals of the group.

Read more about the research group and the group leader: Interview with Dr Yeshak

Contact

Dr Mariamawit Yonathan Yeshak, Department of Pharmaceutical chemistry and Pharmacognosy, at Addis Ababa University
Email: mariamawit.yonathan@aau.edu.et

Natural products chemistry

ISP supports the research group at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University since 2023. The group leader is Dr Mesfin Getachew Tadesse.

The group is partly based on the achievements of the formerly ISP-supported (1996-2015) regional network "African Laboratory for Natural Products" (ALNAP; http://www.alnapnetwork.com/), coordinated from the Department of Chemistry at Addis Ababa University.

Objectives

To carry out appropriate research reading to the production and marketing of scientifically based natural products.