Skip To Top NavigationSkip To ContentSkip To Footer
Dr. Fetien Abera
Feline Abera

Senior Scientist and Director, Center for Plant Breeding, Genetics and GenomicsPSA Administration Building803-987-5092

Fetien Abera

Dr. Fetien Abera is the senior scientist and director of the Center for Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (cPBGG) at SC State Public Service & Agriculture (SC State PSA). An internationally recognized plant breeder and geneticist, she leads research focused on developing climate-resilient crop varieties that strengthen food security and promote sustainable agriculture.

Under her leadership, the cPBGG is building a nationally and internationally recognized center of excellence dedicated to developing improved agronomic and horticultural crop cultivars for South Carolina, the United States and farmers around the world. The center advances research through global partnerships, state-of-the-art genomics laboratories and a multidisciplinary team committed to translating scientific discoveries into practical solutions for agriculture.

Education

  • Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Seed Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
  • Master of Science in Rural Resource Management, Bangor University, Wales, United Kingdom
  • Bachelor of Science in Plant Science, Haramaya University, Ethiopia
  • Diploma in Plant Science, Awasso College of Agriculture, Ethiopia

 

Background

Born in Wukro, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia, Dr. Abera began her career as a development agent, working to improve rural livelihoods in the Oromia and Amhara regions. She later joined the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, where she built a distinguished research career in plant breeding.

Before joining SC State PSA, Dr. Abera pioneered participatory barley breeding in Ethiopia, leading the release of five barley varieties adopted by farmers in the Tigray region, including three drought-tolerant varieties. She also made history as Ethiopia's first woman professor of plant breeding and seed science and later served as president of Mekelle University.

Today, she brings decades of international leadership and research experience to SC State PSA, where she continues advancing innovative solutions that address the challenges of climate change, agricultural sustainability and global food security.

Honors and Awards

  • 2014 East African Laureate, African Union Kwame Nkrumah Award for Scientific Excellence
  • 2017 Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) Impact Research and Science in Africa Award, Second Runner-up
  • Ethiopia's first woman professor of plant breeding and seed science

 

Research Interests

  • Plant breeding and genetics
  • Crop improvement for climate resilience
  • Plant genomics
  • Seed science
  • Drought-tolerant crop development
  • Sustainable agriculture
  • Food security
  • Participatory plant breeding
  • Agricultural innovation and international research collaboration