Dr. Yohannes Tesfay
Research Associate
Phone: +49 3834 420 4119
Soldmannstraße 15
Room 1.13
Research interests
- Plant–soil interactions, nutrient dynamics, and belowground ecological processes
- Effects of environmental variability and stress on plant performance
- Experimental ecology using mesocosms, controlled environments, and field systems
- Sensor-based monitoring of soil processes and data-driven ecological analysis
- Integration of ecological research with technical development and software workflows
- Ecology of invasive plant species, including productivity, stress tolerance, and competitive strategies
Publications
2026
Vilizzi, L., et al., including Yohannes B. Tesfay (2026). Global framework for communication of biological invasion risks. Management of Biological Invasions, 17(1). DOI: 10.3391/mbi.2026.17.1.01
2025
Staudigel, H., Dahl, M. B., Tesfay, Y. B., Beil, I., Urich, T. & Kreyling, J. (2025). Tripled plant productivity and soil microbiome restructuring in a greenhouse volcanic ash fertilization experiment. Ecosphere, 16(9), e70406. DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.70406
2023
Tesfay, Y. B., Blaschke, A. & Kreyling, J. (2023). An inferior competitor is a successful invader due to its stress tolerance and productivity. Scientific Reports, 13, 20694. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48152-y
Tesfay, Y. B., Blaschke, A., Ashley, N., Portillo, L., Scalisi, A., Adli, B. & Kreyling, J. (2023). Increased Plasticity in Invasive Populations of a Globally Invasive Cactus. Plants, 12(18), 3287. DOI: 10.3390/plants12183287
2021
Tesfay, Y. B. & Kreyling, J. (2021). The invasive Opuntia ficus-indica homogenizes native plant species compositions in the highlands of Eritrea. Biological Invasions, 23, 433–442. DOI: 10.1007/s10530-020-02373-8
Curriculum Vitae
Professional Positions
Since 03/2026 — Research Associate
University of Greifswald, ArtIFARM subproject ArtINmin
Development and ecological validation of an autonomous soil-nitrate measurement system; further development of rhizotron scanning software and automated root-image analysis.
02/2024–05/2025 — Full-Stack Software Developer
progwise.net, Greifswald
Development of web and database applications and automated tests in agile development processes.
11/2018–03/2024 — Doctoral Researcher and DAAD Scholar
University of Greifswald
Research in plant ecology and biological invasions using greenhouse, laboratory, and field experiments.
09/2015–11/2018 — Lecturer in Biology
Eritrea Institute of Technology, Asmara
Teaching, student supervision, and contributions to curriculum development.
Education and Further Training
2024 — Dr. rer. nat. in Botany
University of Greifswald, magna cum laude
Focus: plant ecology and biological invasions.
2021–2024 — Further Training in Full-Stack Software Development
progwise.net, Greifswald
2015 — Master of Science in Botany
Eritrea Institute of Technology, Asmara
2011 — Bachelor of Science in Biology
Eritrea Institute of Technology, Asmara
Scholarships and Awards
DAAD Doctoral Research Scholarship (2019); State Graduate Scholarship (2019); Short-Term Research Scholarship (2018).