• Food drying system
• Food quality
• Sustainable energy system
• Horticultural product cooling and storage
• Food packaging
• Model based design and optimization
• Heat and mass transfer and reaction
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Fresh produce supply chain

• Academic editor: International Journal of Chemical Engineering (Since 2020)
• Regular paper reviewer: Journal of Food Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, ASABE, Postharvest Biology and Technology, Computer and Electronics in Agriculture, Process,… 
• Student supervision
• Commitee member (Bahir Dar University Senate, Conference chair and Curriculum development)
• Associate Fellow of Ethiopian Academy of sciences
• Member of Ethiopian Chemical Engineering Society
  

Patent

Mulugeta Admasu Delele; Bart Nicolaï; Pieter Verboven; Bert Verlinden. Storage of respiratory produce. US Patent 20,130,013,099, 2013; EP2547213 B1;  EP Patent 2,547,213, 2013; WO Patent 2,011,113,915, 2011.

Recent Peer Reviewed Journal Papers

Habtamu Gebremichael Daba, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Solomon Workneh Fanta, Nigus Gabbiye Habtu, Metadel Kassahun Abera (2024). Mycotoxigenic fungal growth within stored maize (Zea mays L.) at different storage altitudes and durations, Journal of Stored Products Research 108, 102383, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2024.102383

Zelalem M Salehudress, Nigus G Habtu, Bimrew T Admasu, Mulugeta A Delele, Aynadis M Asemu (2024). Performance study of low temperature air heated rock bed thermal energy storage system, Energy Storage 6(4), e621, https://doi.org/10.1002/est2.621

Biadge Kefale, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Solomon Workneh Fanta, Solomon Abate (2024). Optimization of spicy red pepper paste (Awaze) formulation by D‐optimal mixture design, Food Science & Nutrition 12(3), https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3874

Solomon Tekeste Hailemesikel, Mersha Alebachew, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Addisu Negash Ali, Solomon Workneh Fanta, Geta Kidanemariam (2024). Effects of machine-crop parameters on mechanical grain damage in rice threshing, Cogent Food & Agriculture 10(1), https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2024.2367381

Biruk Abate Fenta, Abdella Simegnaw Ahmmed, Mulugeta Admasu Delele (2024). Evaluation of water flow in cotton yarn and fabric assemblies for capillary evaporative cooling, Cogent Engineering 11(1), https://doi.org/10.1080/23311916.2024.2328825

Habtamu Gebremichael Daba, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Solomon Workneh Fanta, Nigus Gabbiye Habtu, Metadel Kassahun Abera (2024). Impact of traditional processing conditions and methods on the aflatoxin content of cooked maize, Cogent Food & Agriculture 10(1), https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2023.2297516

Mekuannt Alefe Adimas, Biresaw Demelash Abera, Zemenu Tadesse Adimas, Henock Woldemichael Woldemariam, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, (2024). Traditional food processing and Acrylamide formation: A review, Heliyon, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30258

Eniyew Eskezia Tiguh, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Addisu Negash Ali, Geta Kidanemariam, Solomon Workineh Fenta, (2024). Assessment of harvest and postharvest losses of teff (Eragrostistef (Zucc.)) and methods of loss reduction: A review, Heliyon, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30398

Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Yabebal Chekole Mihret & Jochen Mellmann (2023). Performance evaluation and improvement of prototype rice husk fueled mixed flow rough rice dryer using CFD model, Drying Technology 41(15), 2447-2463, DOI: 10.1080/07373937.2023.2252056

Yabebal Chekole Mihret, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Solomon Tekeste Hailemesikel (2023). Design, development, and testing of rice-husk fueled mixed-flow rice dryer for small-scale rice producer farmers, Heliyon 9(7).

Tadelle N. Mekonen, Mulugeta A. Delele, Sisay W. Molla, (2023). Optimizing the performance of cotton Bundle-based solar evaporative cooling system using a CFD Model: Model Development, Validation, and optimization. Solar Energy, Volume 264, 111991.

Habtamu Gebremichael Daba, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Solomon Workneh Fanta, Neela Satheesh. (2023). The extent of groundnut post-harvest loss in Africa and its implications for food and nutrition security, Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, Volume 14, 100826.

Sisay Wondmagegn Molla, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Tadelle Nigusu Mekonen, Alemayehu Ambaw Tsige. (2023). Model-based design and development of horticultural produce crate from bamboo. Cogent Food & Agriculture 9:1.

Tadelle N. Mekonen, Mulugeta A. Delele & Sissay W. Molla (2023) Development and Testing of Solar Powered Evaporative Air-Cooling System with an Improved Performance, Cogent Engineering, 10:1, DOI: 10.1080/23311916.2023.2178115

Biadge Kefale, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Solomon Workneh Fanta, Solomon Mekonnen Abate, "Nutritional, Physicochemical, Functional, and Textural Properties of Red Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), Red Onion (Allium cepa), Ginger (Zingiber officinale), and Garlic (Allium sativum): Main Ingredients for the Preparation of Spicy Foods in Ethiopia", Journal of Food Quality, vol. 2023, Article ID 3916692, 13 pages, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/3916692

Biadge Kefale, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Solomon Workneh Fanta, Solomon Abate. (2023). Optimization of spicy red pepper paste (Awaze) formulation by D-optimal mixture design, Food Science & Nutrition, https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3874

Moges, G., McDonnell, K., Delele, M.A. et al. Development and comparative analysis of ANN and SVR-based models with conventional regression models for predicting spray drift. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 21927–21944 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-23571-y

Eskindir E. Tadesse, Hirut Assaye, Mulugeta A. Delele, Solomon W. Fanta, Dawit F. Huluka, Melkamu Alemayehu, Getachew Alemayehu and Enyew Adgo. (2022). Assessing tomato postharvest loss through the supply chain using load tracking technique in Northwest Ethiopia. International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation  Vol. 8, No. 4

Zewdie TA, Delele MA, Fanta SW, Vanierschot M, Alemayehu M, Alemayehu G, Adgo E, Assaye H, Verboven P and Nicolai BM (2022) Design and evaluation of a prototype solar energy driven onion curing system using CFD modeling. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 6:1030915. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.1030915

Tewodros A Zewdie, Mulugeta A Delele, Solomon W Fanta, Melkamu Alemayehu, Getachew Alemayehu, Enyew Adgo, Jan Nyssen, Pieter Verboven, Bart M Nicolai. (2022). Optimisation of onion bulb curing using a heat and mass transfer model. Biosystems Engineering 214, 42-57

Girma Moges, Mulugeta A. Delele, Kevin McDonnell, Leul Mengistu. (2022). Optimization of pesticide dose requirements for post-emergence weed control in sugarcane plantation using magnetic spraying. International Journal of Pest Management, 1-12.  https://doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2022.2038399

Girma Moges, Kevin McDonnell, Mulugeta A. Delele. (2021). Magnetic charging of spray droplets in knapsack and backpack sprayers: off-target drift and spray deposition uniformity in a Sugarcane plantation. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering 14(6), 27-36. DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20211406.6282.

E Getahun, N Gabbiye, MA Delele, SW Fanta, M Vanierschot. (2021). Two-stage solar tunnel chili drying: Drying characteristics, performance, product quality, and carbon footprint analysis. Solar Energy 230, 73-90.

Getahun, Eshetu; Delele, Mulugeta A; Gabbiye, Nigus; Fanta, Solomon W; Demissie, Petros; Vanierschot, Maarten. (2021). Importance of integrated CFD and product quality modeling of solar dryers for fruits and vegetables: A review. Solar Energy 220, 88-110

Getahun, Eshetu; Delele, Mulugeta A; Gabbiye, Nigus; Fanta, Solomon W; Vanierschot, Maarten. (2021) Studying the drying characteristics and quality attributes of chili pepper at different maturity stages: Experimental and mechanistic model. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering 26 101052

Solomon, Alamrew B; Fanta, Solomon W; Delele, Mulugeta A; Vanierschot, Maarten.  (2021). Modeling and simulation of heat and mass transfer in an Ethiopian fresh injera drying process. Heliyon 7(2)      e06201

Eshetu Getahun, Nigus Gabbiye, Mulugeta A Delele, Solomon W Fanta, Mekonnen Gebreslasie Gebrehiwot, Maarten Vanierschot. (2020). Effect of maturity on the moisture sorption isotherm of chili pepper (Mareko Fana variety). Heliyon 6(8), e04608.

Piovesan, Agnese; Vancauwenberghe, Valérie; Aregawi, Wondwosen,  Delele, Mulugeta A; Bongaers, Evi; de Schipper, Mathijs; van Bommel, Kjeld; Noort, Martijn; Verboven, Pieter; Nicolai, Bart. (2020). Designing mechanical properties of 3D printed cookies through computer aided engineering. Foods 9(12)

Aynadis Molla Asemu, Nigus Gabbiye Habtu, Bhadriraju Subramanyam, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Karta Kaske Kalsa, Sajid Alavi. (2020). Effects of grain drying methods on postharvest insect infestation and physicochemical characteristics of maize grain. Journal of Food Process Engineering 43(7),  e13423.

Aynadis M. Asemu, Nigus G. Habtu, Mulugeta A. Delele, Bhadriraju Subramanyam, Sajid Alavi Drying characteristics of maize grain in solar bubble dryer. (2020). Journal of Food Process Engineering 43(2), e13312. DOI: 10.1111/jfpe.13312.

MA Delele, N Bessemans, W Gruyters, S Rogge, S Janssen, BE Verlinden, B Smeets, H Ramon, P Verboven, BM Nicolai. (2019). Spatial distribution of gas concentrations and RQ in a controlled atmosphere storage container with pear fruit in very low oxygen conditions. Postharvest Biology and Technology 156, 110903.

Mulugeta A Delele, Kumsa D Kuffi, Annemie Geeraerd, Stefaan De Smet, Bart M Nicolai, Pieter Verboven. (2019). Optimizing precooling of large beef carcasses using a comprehensive computational fluid dynamics model.  Journal of Food Process Engineering, e13053.

Valérie Vancauwenberghe, Mulugeta Admasu Delele, Jeroen Vanbiervliet, Wondwosen Aregawi, Pieter Verboven, Jeroen Lammertyn, Bart Nicolaï. (2018). Model-based design and validation of food texture of 3D printed pectin-based food simulants. Journal of Food Engineering 231, 72-82.

Education 

·       Ph.D. in Bioscience Engineering

KU LEUVEN, Leuven, Belgium, October 2004-January 2009

·       M.Sc. (Magna cum laude) in Bioscience Engineering KU LEUVEN, Leuven, Belgium, September 2001-July 2003

·       B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering

Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, September 1990-July 1995

Experience

·       April 2024 - to date: Scientist

Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy eV (ATB), Potsdam, Germany

·       March 2024 - to date: Full professor

Bahir Dar University, Faculty of Chemical and Food Engineering, Ethiopia

·       June 2019-March 2024: Associate professor 

Bahir Dar University, Faculty of Chemical and Food Engineering, Ethiopia

·       March 2015- May 2019, Research associate

KU LEUVEN, Department of Biosystems, Division of Mechatronics, Biostatistics and Sensors (MeBioS), Leuven, Belgium

·       November 2012 – December 2014: Research fellow of Alexander von Humboldt Foundation 

Leibniz-Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Potsdam, Germany 

·       January 2011 – October 2012: Postdoctoral Researcher 

Stellenbosch University, South African Research Chair in Postharvest Technology, Stellenbosch, South Africa 

·       January 2009 – January 2011: Research Associate 

KU LEUVEN, Department of Biosystems, Division of Mechatronics, Biostatistics and Sensors (MeBioS), Leuven, Belgium   

·       January 2000-September 2001: Assistant Lecturer

Bahir Dar University, School of Food and Chemical Engineering, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

·       June 1999-January 2000: Food Products Quality Assurance Expert Quality and Standards Authority of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

·       September 1995-June 1999: Shift Engineer Zeway Caustic Soda Plant, Zeway, Ethiopia

Leadership

·       October 2023-March 2024

Scientific director, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

·       November 2019- September 2023

Executive dean, School of postgraduate studies, Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia

Industrial consultation 

·       Performance evaluation of newly designed controlled atmosphere storage container using

CFD model, 2023 (Storex Controlled Atmosphere, Netherland)

·       Efficiency of warm loading procedure inside refrigerated reefer vessel holds, 2011 (The

Perishable Products Export Control Board, South Africa)

·       Optimizing banana packaging and ripening cold storage room using CFD model, 2010 (Chiquita, Puurs, Belgium)

·       Performance evaluation of a newly designed air blast food freezing tunnel using CFD model, 2009 (Cryogenic Equipment Service, Bissegem, Belgium)

·       Performance evaluation of newly designed air assisted sprayer using CFD model, 2007  (BAB BAMPS, St. Truiden, Belgium)

·       CFD based optimization of spray cabinet operation and design, 2008 (Procter and Gamble, Brussels, Belgium)

·       Evaluating the airflow characteristics inside hospital room using CFD model, 2008 (Medic clean air, Antwerp, Belgium)

Research Grant

·       BDU-IUC, VLIR-UOS, Belgium (2017-2027)

·       Improving Shelf Life of Injera Using Integrated Preservation, (2021-2022) Techniques, Bahir dar Institute of Technology

·       Model-based design and development of horticultural produce crate from bamboo (20202021), Bahir dar Institute of Technology

·       Multiscale CFD modelling of novel postharvest treatments (2015-2017), Belgian science policy, Brussels, Belgium

·       Coupled CFD-DEM modelling of mixed flow grain dryer (2013-2014), Alexander von

Humboldt foundation, Bonn, Germany, 2 year research Fellowship

·       Model-based quantification of energy utilization and identification of strategies to improve savings and reduce waste in the fruit cold chain (2012-2013) Postharvest innovation program, South Africa

·       Packaging of the Future: Integrated model-based design and performance evaluation of packaging for the SA fruit industry (2011-2013), Postharvest innovation program, South Africa

Student supervision

·       Has been supervising 12 PhD and 18 MSc students

Contributions as a committee member

·       Bahir Dar University, Standing committee member for:

Curriculum and standards

Senate

Research and publication

Promotion 

·       Guideline preparation, Bahir Dar University

Postdoctoral research

Postgraduate study programs

Thesis and dissertation guideline

·       Curriculum development, Bahir Dar University

PhD in Food Engineering 

MSc in Postharvest Engineering and Management

PhD in Postharvest Engineering and Management

·       Conference chair

8^th international conference on the advancement of science and technology (EAI ICAST 2020), October 2-4, 2020, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia 

1^st African Graduate Students Conference-Bahir Dar University (AGSC-BDU2021), May 28-29, 2021, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Other professional Engagements

·       Academic editor: International Journal of Chemical Engineering

·       Regular paper reviewer: Journal of Food Engineering, Biosystems Engineering, ASABE, Computer and Electronics in Agriculture, Process,…

·       Member and Bahir Dar Chapter representative of Ethiopian Chemical Engineering Society

·       Associate fellow of Ethiopian Academy of Sciences

Computer Skills

CFD: ANSYS Fluent, ANSYS CFX, ANSYS DesignModeler, ANSYS Mesher, Gambit, ICEM CFD and COMSOL DEM package: PFC

Programming language: MATLAB, C and LabVIEW

Operating Systems: Microsoft Windows

Publication and Citation Summary

76 peer-reviewed journal papers 

1 Patent

More than 35 conference proceedings

4114 citations, h-index of 38

Scientific editor: International journal of Chemical Engineering

Editor, Advances of Science and Technology: 8th EAI International Conference, ICAST 2020,

Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, October 2-4, 2020, Proceedings

 (GoogleScholar: http://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9L0JegwAAAAJ&hl=en )