I’m Ermias Assefa, from Ethiopia. I’m currently working at the Ethiopian Biotechnology institute (Ebti) under genomics research directorate where I’m in charge of data analysis and experimental design. My research interest is more in-depth bioinformatics data analysis in respect to biomedical, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology data. My vision for Africa agriculture is a wealthy and a food secure Africa. 

Bioinformatics is playing significant role in transforming agricultural productivity in Africa by assisting researchers in associating genetic information with economically important traits. This skill acquired from the bioinformatics Community of Practice training will help me design, conduct and analyse data from genomics experiments. Importantly, the programme will help me to be a good trainer – mentoring and training postgraduate students and other colleagues in their experimental design and analyses of their data.  The programme also offers me the opportunity to create more networks and collaborations with others bioinformatics institutes around the globe and be able to secure funds in bioinformatics and genomics to make a facility/lab for bioinformatics in Ethiopia.