Mahder Mekonnen Shumi is an Aquatic ecology researcher specializing in Aquatic ecotoxicology, water quality, and emerging contaminants research. Her recent work focuses on the qualitative and quantitative characterization of metallic nanoparticles in Ethiopian urban rivers, providing foundational insight into nano pollution in developing country contexts. She is affiliated with BOKU University in Vienna, where she contributes to research on freshwater ecosystem health and aquatic ecotoxicology. Mahder has academic training in environmental science and experience in field study, water chemistry analysis and environmental data interpretation and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams addressing water resource challenges. Her long term goal is to support evidence based water bodies management and contribute to sustainable solutions for pollution in rapidly urbanizing regions.
She has presented her first research results at the Africa Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE) Annual meeting held in Kigali, Rwanda from 3-6 February 2026. This study provides the first qualitative and quantitative assessment of metallic nanoparticles in Ethiopian urban rivers, offering new insight into emerging nano pollution challenges. The research focused on identification, characterization, quantification and co occurrence patterns of key metallic nanoparticles in the Little and Greater Akaki Rivers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopian. Water samples from key urban river stretches were analyzed for morphological, size distribution and particle number concentration characterization. The study revealed detectable levels of several metallic nanoparticles, with clear spatial variation across sampling sites of Little and Greater Akaki Rivers. Co occurrence analysis showed that certain nanoparticles consistently appeared together, indicating shared pollution sources or similar environmental transport pathways. These findings highlight nano pollution as an emerging environmental challenge in rapidly urbanizing regions such as Addis Ababa. The work underscores the need for improved monitoring frameworks and targeted pollution control strategies with further study on public and environmental public health risk.
Mahder Mekonnen Shumi holds a BSc in Applied Biology and an MSc in Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Management from Addis Ababa University. She is a faculty member at Addis Ababa University and previously served as a lecturer prior to beginning her PhD study.
