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
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).
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