Professional Summary
Dr. Eng. Aster Tesfaye Hordofa is an Ethiopian hydrologist, climate-resilient water systems specialist, and postdoctoral researcher whose work stands strongly at the intersection of hydrology, remote sensing, drought monitoring, irrigation, water-food security, and climate-change adaptation.
She holds a PhD in Hydrology and Water Resources Management from the Africa Centre of Excellence for Water Management at Addis Ababa University, an MSc in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering from Arba Minch University, and a BSc in Water Resources and Irrigation Engineering from Arba Minch University. Her academic and professional path reflects a powerful rise from water resources engineering training in Ethiopia to advanced international climate and remote-sensing research in Germany.
Her current and recent work as an Alexander von Humboldt International Climate Protection Fellow and Postdoctoral Researcher at the German Aerospace Centre places her among the emerging African women scientists working at the frontier of satellite-based drought monitoring and climate-resilient agricultural water management. She uses Earth observation data, MODIS, Sentinel, CHIRPS, GIS, Python, time-series analysis, and land surface modelling to study agricultural and meteorological drought dynamics and support early warning systems for semi-arid regions.
Her PhD research focused on climate change effects on water balance components and crop productivity in the Ziway Lake Basin, Ethiopia. Through hydrological modelling, SWAT+, AquaCrop, satellite rainfall evaluation, climate trend analysis, and blue-green water assessment, she examined how climate change and land-use pressures affect runoff, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, water availability, crop productivity, and basin-scale resilience.
Aster’s professional contribution is especially valuable because she bridges scientific modelling and practical water-sector needs. She has worked as lecturer, assistant lecturer, program coordinator, researcher, supervisor, international module developer, and capacity-building contributor. She has trained students, supervised research, supported curriculum development, and contributed to international learning through the HydroLearn module on Climate Change Impact on Global Hydrology.
Her publication record demonstrates serious scientific contribution in water resources and climate science, including research on blue and green water, winter wheat under climate change, temperature and rainfall trends, satellite rainfall performance, hydrological extremes, streamflow variability, groundwater systems, and water security. Her recognition as an Exemplary Woman Researcher by the Africa Centre of Excellence for Water Management highlights her outstanding contribution as a young woman scientist advancing climate, water, and agricultural research.
Her profile brings great value to AquaLinked / Water for Africa Experts because she represents the future of African water science: a highly trained woman hydrologist, internationally connected researcher, climate-adaptation specialist, and remote-sensing expert whose work supports drought resilience, food security, water planning, and climate-smart agriculture in Africa.
Expertise
Specialties
Projects & Contributions
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Alexander von Humboldt International Climate Protection Fellowship – German Aerospace Centre
Conducted postdoctoral research as an Alexander von Humboldt International Climate Protection Fellow at the German Aerospace Centre, German Remote Sensing Data Center, focusing on remote-sensing-based agricultural and meteorological drought monitoring. Her work integrates MODIS, Sentinel, CHIRPS, Earth observation data, GIS, Python, time-series analysis, and land surface modelling to support climate-resilient agriculture and early warning systems in semi-arid regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. -
PhD Research on Climate Change, Water Balance and Crop Productivity – Ziway Lake Basin
Completed PhD research on climate change effects on water balance components and crop productivity in the Ziway Lake Basin, Ethiopia. The research examined how climate change affects runoff, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, water availability, crop productivity, and basin-scale water resources using hydrological modelling, climate scenarios, and water-food system analysis. -
Climate Change Impacts on Blue and Green Water – Meki River Sub-Basin
Published research on climate change impacts on blue and green water resources in the Meki River Sub-Basin. This work contributes to better understanding of future water availability, climate stress, and water management options in Ethiopia’s Rift Valley Lakes Basin. -
Hydrological and Land-Use Change Impact Studies – Ethiopian River Basins
Contributed to studies assessing the relative and combined impacts of climate change and land use or land cover change on streamflow variability and hydrological extremes in Ethiopian basins, including the Baro River Basin. Her work supports improved watershed planning, climate adaptation, and water resource risk assessment. -
Satellite Rainfall Dataset Evaluation for Data-Scarce Catchments
Conducted and published research evaluating satellite-derived rainfall datasets over the Ziway Lake Basin and contributed to related work in the Lake Hawassa catchment. This work strengthens hydrological modelling and climate analysis in data-scarce African basins where ground-based rainfall observations are limited. -
Remote Sensing and Earth Observation for Agricultural Drought Monitoring
Presented research on Earth observation for agricultural drought monitoring in Ethiopia, including spatiotemporal analysis of rainfed cropland drought. This contribution supports drought early warning, agricultural planning, and climate-resilient farming strategies. -
Water-Food Security and Crop Water Productivity Research
Contributed to research on crop water productivity, winter wheat response to climate change, and water planning under climate stress. Her work links hydrology, irrigation, agriculture, and food security, helping decision-makers understand how climate variability affects crop production and water demand. -
HydroLearn International Module: Climate Change Impact on Global Hydrology
Co-developed and delivered the international HydroLearn module Climate Change Impact on Global Hydrology through collaboration involving Barnard College, Columbia University, and Arba Minch University. The module trains learners to analyse hydroclimatic variability, temperature and precipitation data, hydrological responses, and climate adaptation strategies. -
Postgraduate and Undergraduate Research Supervision
Co-supervises PhD research at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Water Management on machine learning and remote sensing for climate-induced hydrological change assessment in the Upper Awash Sub-Basin. She has also supervised MSc and BSc research on irrigation suitability, irrigation efficiency, water productivity, and surface irrigation performance evaluation. -
Lecturer, Assistant Lecturer and Program Coordinator – Arba Minch Water Technology Institute
Served at Arba Minch Water Technology Institute, Arba Minch University, as Assistant Lecturer, Program Coordinator, Lecturer, researcher, trainer, and student supervisor. She contributed to teaching, curriculum development, capacity building, irrigation and water resources training, and academic development in Ethiopia. -
Africa Centre of Excellence for Water Management Research Contribution
Conducted PhD-level research and contributed to climate, hydrology, irrigation, and water resources studies at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Water Management, Addis Ababa University. She was recognized as an Exemplary Woman Researcher for outstanding contribution as a young researcher advancing climate change, water resources, and agricultural management. -
Scientific Publications on Hydrology, Climate Change and Water Security
Authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications on blue and green water, climate change impacts on crop production, rainfall and temperature trends, satellite rainfall dataset performance, groundwater modelling, hydrological extremes, streamflow variability, and water security, contributing to international scientific knowledge on African water systems. -
International Conferences on Drought, Climate Change and Water Security
Presented research internationally, including work on agricultural drought impacts on rainfed cropland in Ethiopia, Earth observation for agricultural drought monitoring, crop water productivity under climate change, and climate change impacts on water balance components in Ethiopia’s Rift Valley Lakes Basin. -
Women in Water, Professional Membership and Scientific Leadership
Actively contributes to professional water networks, including the Ethiopian Women in Water Association, International Women Plus Water, International Association of Hydrological Sciences, IWA Africa Young Water Professionals, and International Association of Hydrogeologists. Her profile represents strong African women leadership in hydrology, climate science, and water resources. -
Future Contribution: Climate-Resilient Water and Agricultural Systems for Africa
Aims to strengthen African scientific capacity in climate extremes, water-food systems, drought monitoring, early warning, hydrological modelling, and climate-smart agricultural water management. Her future contribution focuses on developing science-based, practical, and inclusive solutions for climate adaptation, food security, and sustainable water resources management in Africa.