Curriculum vitae

• Since 10/2024: Scientific Associate (Postdoc) at the Institute of Geological Sciences (Paleontology Section), FU Berlin, Germany
• 04/2024 to 09/2024: Scientific Associate (Postdoc) at the Institute of Geography (Physical Geography), Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany
• 08/2021 to present: Scientific Associate (Postdoc, Adjunct) at Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Soil Biogeochemistry Department, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
• 07/2022 to present: Scientific Associate (Adjunct) at Forest and Rangeland Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• 10/2016 to 07/2021: PhD Fellow at Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Soil Biogeochemistry Department, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
• 10/2014 to 09/2016:  M.Sc. Fellow (Assistant Researcher II) at Addis Ababa University, Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• 12/2011 to 09/2014: Assistant Researcher I at Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• 07/2007 to 11/2011: Teacher, School Principal and Cluster Supervisor at Addis Ababa city administration bureau of education, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Education

PhD in Geo-ecology
Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg
Soil Biogeochemistry
October 2017 to July 2021
Final Grade: magna cum laude

M.Sc. in Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management
Addis Ababa University
Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
October 2014 to July 2016
Final Grade: Course: 4.0 (A+), and Excellent Thesis with honour

B.Ed. in Biology major and chemistry minor
Bahir Dar University
Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
October 2007 to July 2011
Final Grade: 3.55, Great distinct

Diploma in Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Kotebe Collage of Teacher Education
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
September 2004 to July 2007
Final Grade: 3.79, Very great distinct with honour and Cup Winner 

Profile Summary

Bruk Lemma is a researcher specializing in the intricate interplay between climate, ecosystems, and human interactions with the environment. His research spans climate sciences, particularly paleoclimatology, as well as earth and botanical sciences, including biogeochemistry, geoecology, paleoecology, vegetation ecology, agroecology, ethnobotany, and seed biology.

In recent years, Bruk’s work has increasingly utilized biomarkers (such as lignin, and lipids) and stable isotopes (including 2H and 18O) to reconstruct vegetation and climate dynamics. His dissertation critically evaluated the potential and limitations of these biomarkers for the chemotaxonomic characterization of keystone plant species in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia. He investigated lignin-derived phenols, leaf wax-derived n-alkanes, terpenes, compound-specific stable isotopes, and isotopes in precipitation, employing advanced methods such as gas chromatography and isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Key findings from his research include the identification of specific phenol ratios that can distinguish keystone plant species and the significant correlation of isotope data with altitude and precipitation patterns. His work challenges traditional interpretations of paleoclimate isotope records in Eastern Africa, highlighting the importance of source effects.

Currently, Bruk is exploring the foundational role of fire in shaping the ecosystem dynamics of Eastern Africa through the analysis of a 280-meter-long composite sedimentary sequence from Chew Bahir Lake in southern Ethiopia, spanning 620,000 years. This project aims to provide the highest-resolution terrestrial charcoal records from tropical Eastern Africa.
Passionate about translating scientific research into practical applications, Bruk is committed to fostering sustainable environmental interactions. He welcomes collaborations and discussions with fellow researchers, educators, and practitioners across related fields.

Current Project Contributions

2024: The Burning Question: How did fire shape Eastern Africa’s paleo-ecosystem? Funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 537649111 (SPP 1006)

Completed Project Contributions

04-09/2024: Late Quaternary climate and environmental reconstruction based on lake and peat sediments from the central southern Cape region of South Africa. Funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 434918595

2016-2024: Anthrosols of the Bale Mountains: Archives for the reconstruction of the chronology and intensity of human occupation and possible interactions with fire history and the destruction of Erica stands at the Sanetti Plateau. Funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 270995238

2016-2022: Paleoclimatology - Stable oxygen (18O/16O) and hydrogen (2H/1H) isotope signatures from plants, soils and precipitation along elevational transects, and from paleoclimate archives on the Bale Mountains. Funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 270995238

• Lemma, B., Bromm, T., Zech, W., Zech, M., Nemomissa, S., Glaser, B (2024). Terpenoid profiling of keystone plant species of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia: Implications for chemotaxonomy and paleovegetation studies, Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 116 (104865) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bse.2024.104865.

• Mekonnen, B., Bittner, L., Bromm, T., Lemma, B., Glaser, B., Zech, W., Nemomissa, S., Bekele, T., Zech, M (2023). Terrestrial versus aquatic source identification of sedimentary n-alkane and sugar biomarkers: a case study from the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. Journal of Paleolimnology 1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-023-00298-5

• Lemma, B. and Maryo M. (2023). Ethiopia paved the way for the Nagoya Protocol, Nature, 620 (7973), 277, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02497-6.

• Groos, A. R., Niederhauser, J., Lemma, B., Fekadu, M., Zech, W., Hänsel, F., Wraase, L., Akçar, N., and Veit, H. (2022). An hourly ground temperature dataset for 16 high-elevation sites (3493–4377 m a.s.l.) in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia (2017–2020), Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 1043–1062, DOI: 10.5194/essd-14-1043-2022.

• Lemma, B., Bittner, L., Glaser, B., Kebede, S., Nemomissa, S., Zech, W., Zech, M. (2021). δ²H_n-alkaneand δ¹⁸O_sugar biomarker proxies from leaves and topsoils of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia, and implications for paleoclimate reconstructions. Biogeochemistry 153, 135–153.DOI: 10.1007/s10533-021-00773-z

• Bittner, L., Bliedtner, M., Grady, D., Gil-Romera, G., Martin-Jones, C., Lemma, B., Mekonnen, B., Lamb, H., Yang, H., Glaser, B., Szidat, S., Salazar, G., Rose, N., Opgenoorth, L., Miehe, G., Zech, W., Zech, M. (2020). Revisiting afro-alpine Lake Garba Guracha in the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia: rationale, chronology, geochemistry, and paleoenvironmental implications. Journal of Paleolimnology 64, 293-314. DOI: 10.1007/s10933-020-00138-w

• Lemma, B., Kebede, S., Nemomissa, S., Otte, I., Glaser, B., Zech, M., (2020). Spatial and temporal ²H and ¹⁸O isotope variation of contemporary precipitation in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies. 1–14, DOI: 10.1080/10256016.2020.1717487.

• Lemma, B., Mekonnen, B., Glaser, B., Zech, W., Nemomissa, S., Bekele, T., Bittner, L., Zech, M., (2019) Chemotaxonomic patterns of vegetation and soils along altitudinal transects of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia and implications for paleovegetation reconstructions Part II: Lignin–derived phenols and leaf wax–derived n–alkanes. E&G Quaternary Science Journal, 68, 189–200, DOI: 10.5194/egqsj-68-189-2019.

• Mekonnen, B., Glaser, B., Lemma, B., Bromm, T., Zech, M., Nemomissa, S., Bekele, T., Zech, W., (2019) Chemotaxonomic patterns of vegetation and soils along altitudinal transects of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia and implications for paleovegetation reconstructions Part I: Stable isotopes and sugar biomarkers. E&G Quaternary Science Journal. 68, 177–188, DOI: 10.5194/egqsj-68-177-2019.

• Lemma, B., Grehl C., Zech M., Mekonnen B., Zech W., Nemomissa S., Bekele, T., and Glaser, B. (2019). Phenolic Compounds as Unambiguous Chemical Markers for the Identification of Keystone Plant Species in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. Plants, 8, 228. DOI: 10.3390/plants8070228

• Gil-Romera, G., Adolf, C., Benito, B.M., Bittner, L., Johansson, M. U., Grady, D. A., Lamb, H. F., Lemma, B., Fekadu, M., Glaser, B., Mekonnen, B., Callejo, M. S., Zech, M., Zech, W., Miehe, G. (2019). Long-term fire resilience of the Ericaceous Belt, Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. Biology Letters, 15 (7). . DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2019.0357

• Ayenew, A., Mulatu A., Lemma B., Girma D., (2016). An Ethnobotanical Study of Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw) Cheesman) in Angacha Woreda, Kembata-Tembaro Zone, South Region, Ethiopia. American Journal of Life Sciences. 4 (6): 195-204. DOI: 10.11648/j.ajls.20160406.18.

• Lemma B. (2021). Potential and limitations of biomarkers and stable isotopes for chemotaxonomy and (paleo-) climate research in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia [Cumulative Dissertation]. PhD Thesis, Dissertation, Halle (Saale), Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 1–154.

• Lemma, B. (2016). Reconstruction of vegetation dynamics along altitudinal transects in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia using CuO-lignin biomarkers. Master Thesis. Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.