Department of Applied Biology

Overview 

Programs Offered

• BSc degree in:   Applied Biology 

• MSc degree in:  

• Applied Entomology
• Applied Microbiology
• Biotechnology
• Biodiversity conservation 

• PhD degree in:  

• Animal Biotechnology
• Environmental Biotechnology
• Health Biotechnology
• Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
• Plant Biotechnology

 Research Focus

• Theme 1: Manufacturing

•  Agroprocessing 
• Quality control in manufacturing 
• Pharmaceutical 

• Theme 3: Power and energy 

• Energy source, conversion and utilization 

• Theme 7: Applied Science Research 

• Biological science Research
• Chemical science Research

Theme 9: Converging and Emerging theme 

Facilities and Accommodation
• Offices: Over six office spaces across Buildings B-105, B-204, B-520, and B-523 accommodate 30 faculty members and administrative functions. Dedicated research spaces are available for graduate students and research assistants.
• Classrooms: Main instruction occurs in Building B-511 (capacity up to 50 students), with occasional sessions in seminar rooms (B-204, B-531).
• Laboratories: The program operates five specialized teaching and research laboratories in Buildings B-502, B-102, and B-531, supported by a central storage room. Advanced equipment including SEM, UV-visible spectrophotometers, and PCR machines support teaching and learning process and research work.

B. Computing & ICT Resources

• Library Access: 24/7 computing facilities are available in the Central, Applied Natural Science, and Female Libraries. The university library offers physical and digital collections tailored to biological sciences. Faculty can formally request new books and journals, while students and staff access digital repositories via online catalogs. Campus buildings feature a 2 GB/s wired Ethernet backbone, high-speed Wi-Fi across all facilities, and guest Wi-Fi.
• Online Management: there are two types (student and staff) of portal. The student Portal is offering to the students specific usernames for the purpose of course registration, viewing grades, and submitting add/drop or grade change requests while the staff portal is for the course instructors used for submitting grades, managing curricula, section assignments, and academic advising.

C. Orientation & Guidance

• Student Onboarding: Annual orientations cover facility use, safety procedures, and ICT navigation.
• Ongoing Support: Faculty, lab technicians, and research assistants provide hands-on safety and technical guidance during lab practicals, while academic advisors help students utilize academic resources effectively.

D. Overall Safety & Security

• Campus Safety: The ASTU Security Office provides 24/7 surveillance and enforces safety policies introduced during orientation.
• Facility Maintenance: Regular environmental checks address lighting and grounds management.
• Administrative Oversight: Program leadership, faculty, and the General Service Directorate collaborate to ensure all laboratory and office equipment remains operational and safe.

Career Pathways

The rapid growth of the agro-processing sector, national health initiatives, and expanding industrial parks create diverse career opportunities for Applied Biology graduates. Applied biology focuses on practical, real-world solutions, allowing graduates to enter key public and private sectors right after their bachelor's degree or pursue specialized postgraduate tracks. Some of the main career pathways for applied biology graduates are:

1. Education & Academia

• Managing undergraduate biology laboratories, assisting instructors, and pursuing university-sponsored Master's/PhD programs to become full-time lecturers and researchers.
• Teaching in public or private secondary schools across Ethiopia.

2. Agro-Processing & Manufacturing Industry

• With Ethiopia's focus on manufacturing and food security, private factories and state enterprises regularly recruit applied biology graduates for laboratory and quality assurance roles
• Ensuring product compliance in beverage companies (e.g., breweries, soft drinks), dairy processing plants, edible oil factories, and food manufacturers. Overseeing fermentation processes and monitoring hygiene standards in soap, detergent, pharmaceutical, and chemical plants.

3. Public Health & Diagnostic Research Institutions

• Research institutes serve as major employers for applied biology graduates:
• Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) & Regional Public Health Labs: Conducting diagnostic testing, disease surveillance, and environmental health research.
• Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA): Working as inspection officers, laboratory analysts, and regulatory compliance experts for food, cosmetics, and drugs.
• Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI): Joining clinical trials, biomedical studies, and infectious disease research as laboratory technologists or research assistants.

4. Agricultural & Environmental Research Centers

• Agricultural productivity and climate resilience are national priorities in Ethiopia, opening up pathways in research and field management:
• Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) & Regional Institutes: Assisting with crop protection, tissue culture, entomology, plant pathology, and soil biology.
•  International Research Centers (e.g., ILRI, ICIPE..): Serving as research fellows, field coordinators, or laboratory technicians in livestock, pest management, and forage development.
• Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) & Forestry Institutes: Conducting environmental impact assessments (EIAs), ecosystem conservation, and biodiversity monitoring.

5. Emerging Fields & Alternative Careers

• Biotechnology Startups & Bio-Entrepreneurship
• Working as hygiene/sanitation officers, environmental project coordinators, or health program assistants with organizations like USAID, GIZ, and various national NGOs.