School of Engineering

 

Prof Tilahun Workneh

Professor

Professor Tilahun Seyoum Workneh is an academic staff of the discipline of Bioresources (Agricultural) Engineering of the School of Engineering, Pietermaritzburg Campus. He received BSc (Agricultural Engineering) from Alemaya University (Ethiopia), MEngSc in Agricultural and Food Engineering from National University of Ireland (UCD), and PhD from the University of Free State (South Africa). He has over 28 years of experience in multidisciplinary research of Agricultural and Food Engineering. He has published over 130 articles in multidisciplinary research areas of agricultural and food engineering, renewable energy and environmental control. He is a C2 NRF rated researcher. He has developed low-cost appropriate technologies that assist in maintaining food quality. He also developed several anaerobic biogas digesters, solar water heaters for schools and dairy farms. He is a fellow of the South African Institute of Agricultural Engineers, professional member South African Association of Food Science and Technology, and Member American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

Research interests

  • Heat and Mass Transfer
  • Hybrid Drying Technology
  • Non-Thermal Food Processing and Preservation Technologies
  • Optimization and Modeling of Food Processes
  • Postharvest Technology and Process Engineering of Fruit and Vegetables
  • Food Quality and Food Safety Engineering
  • Engineered Systems for Functional Ingredient Production
  • Environmental Modification and Control for Biological Systems

Research profiles