Professor Dr. Engineer Mihret Dananto Ulsido, from Institute of Technology at Hawassa University, is a prominent Ethiopian scholar, educator, and Professional water resources engineer who has significantly advanced environmental sustainability and water sector development in East Africa. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Professor Ulsido has established himself as an innovator and a leading specialist on subsurface hydrology, wetland treatment systems, and integrated watershed management.
Professor Ulsido’s academic journey is defined by a consistent record of highest honors and international scholarship; DAAD, VLIR, and CSC. He began his higher education with a Diploma from Awassa College of Agriculture (under the auspices of Addis Ababa University) in 1993, followed by a B.Sc. from Debub University (now Hawassa University) in 2001 where he was a Gold Medalist of the Year. He pursued advanced studies in Europe, earning three distinct post-graduate credentials: an M.Sc. in Resources Engineering from Universität Karlsruhe, Germany (2005); a Postgraduate Diploma from the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium (2006); and an M.Sc. in Water Resources Engineering from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium (2008). He completed his PhD in Civil Engineering at the Wuhan University of Technology, China (2016), specializing in Municipal/Environmental engineering, where he graduated and awarded Gold Medalist of the Year. He also holds an International Engineering Educator certification (ING-PAED IGIP) from Vienna (2010).
Professor Ulsido’s research addresses critical environmental challenges in resource-constrained environments. His works heavily focus on the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lake basins, exploring land use dynamics, coffee processing wastewater management, solid waste systems, and contaminant transport. His prolific research output includes over 64 journal articles, four books, and a book chapter. Prof. Ulsido’s academic influence is recognized globally, boasting over 1,300 Google Scholar citations (h-index of 21) and a robust Scopus profile tracking 422 citations across 42 publications. Reflecting his position as a premier researcher, Hawassa University named him the "Best Researcher and Publisher of the Year" for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025).
Beyond personal research, Professor Ulsido has dedicated his career to building institutional capacity in Ethiopian higher education. He has established three PhD, three M.Sc. and two BSc academic programs, directly shaping the next generation of African engineers. As a dedicated mentor, he has guided 11 PhD candidates and over 92 M.Sc. students to completion, while currently managing/co-managing 12 active research projects valued at $1.9 million—earning him the university's "Best Grant Writer" award of 2025.
His administrative leadership includes key appointments such as: Scientific Director of the Institute of Technology with a rank of vice President; Editor-in-Chief of the Ethiopian Journal of Engineering and Technology (EJET); Bio-Physical Cluster Coordinator of the Center for Ethiopian Rift Valley Studies. Project Manager for 11 major infrastructure initiatives, including Dams Design and Supervision Projects.
Professor Ulsido successfully bridges the gap between academic theory and practical engineering application. He has served as a consultant on 47+ national and International projects valued at over $3 million and authored more than 180 technical gray literature reports (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=kQSw53gAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao]. An expert in numerical modeling, his technical proficiency spans complex software ecosystems, including ArcGIS, HEC-RAS, and various specialized hydrological and climate models (such as MODSIM, HYDRUS, and Wetspass).
He maintains active ties to global networks, including the German Association of Water Networks. Fluent in multiple languages, his extensive collaborative network spans research institutions across Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, India, China, and Ethiopia. Through his continuous teaching, high-impact research, and extensive consultancy, Professor Ulsido remains an influential figure dedicated to solving the vital water security and environmental challenges of Ethiopia.
Professor Eng. Mihret Dananto Ulsido is one of the dynamic scholars of Hawassa University promoted to full professorship on June 15, 2026.
Congratulations Professor Mihret!