Berhe CV.pdf - Faculty - University of California, Merced

Asmeret Asefaw Berhe
School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced • 4225 N Hospital Rd #47 Castle • Atwater, CA
95301
Phone (209) 228-4712 • Fax (209) 724-4459• E-mail: AABerhe@UCMerced.edu
Web http://faculty.ucmerced.edu/aaberhe/index.html
EDUCATION
University of California, Berkeley 2006
Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy and Management (Biogeochemistry)
Michigan State University. M.Sc. in Resource Development (Political Ecology) 2000
University of Asmara. B.Sc. in Soil and Water Conservation (top 2% of class) 1996
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Assistant Professor, Soil Biogeochemistry, 2009 - Present
School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced
Faculty affiliate, Sierra Nevada Research Institute (SNRI)
Faculty member, California Advanced of Solar Technology Institute (CAST)
Presidents Postdoctoral Fellow, 2006-2008
Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California, Berkeley
Graduate Student Researcher, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and
Management, University of California, Berkeley 2000-2006
Guest Researcher, Geological Division, US Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA 2002-2006
Storage and stabilization of orgnaic carbon in a lacustrine environment
Graduate Student and Guest Researcher, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 2001-2005
Research Assistant, Department of Resource Development Michigan State University 2000
OTHER PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Molecular Geomicrobiology: From Genomes to Ecosystems, UC Berkeley 2005
Use of Radiocarbon in Ecology and Earth System Science, UC Irvine 2005
Institute for Preparing Future Faculty, UC Berkeley 2005
Stable Isotope Ecology summer short course and Laboratory, University of Utah 2004
COMPETITIVE AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND HONORS
Who is Who in America 2010
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society 2009
University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship ($ 80,000) 2006-2008
NASA Earth System Science Graduate Fellowship ($ 72,000) 2003-2006
Young Fellow, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2002-2005
Zayed Environmental Prize (co-recipient of $ 300,000 award for work in the
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) 2005
Fellow, Universirty of California Institute for Preparing Future Faculty 2005
Regents Fellowship, University of California - Travel Grants ($ 3,450) 2001,02,03,05,06
NSF Travel grant, Frontiers in Exploration of the Critical Zone meeting ($ 500) 2005
Carolyn Meek Memorial Fellowship (Soil Science), UC Berkeley ($ 14,000) 2003-2004
Chancellor’s Predoctoral Fellowship, UC Berkeley ($ 84,000) 2000-2003, 2005
College of Agri.& Nat. Resources Scholarship, Michigan State University ($ 1,000) 1999-2000
Graduate Opportunity Fellowship, Michigan State University ($ 3,000) 1999-2001

FUNDED RESEARCH GRANTS
National Science Foundation. The role of soil erosion on soil organic matter dynamics of
fire-prone temperate upland ecosystems. PI AA Berhe, co-PIs Stephen C. Hart, Dale
Johnson (with Carolyn Hunsaker, Caroline Masiello) ($75,000) Selected for funding
UC Merced Graduate Research Council. Impact of Erosion on Carbon Cycling in the
Western Sierra Nevada Mountains, California. PI AA Berhe, co-PI Stephen C. Hart
($10,000) 2012 - Present
UC Merced Sierra Nevada Research Institute. Potential of biochar for recapturing nutrients
from dairy waste and improving carbon sequestration potential of agricultural soils.
PI AA Berhe ($2,000) 2011-Present
Hellman Research Grant, UC Merced. Establishing of baseline pedological conditions for
long-term study on effect of forest management practices on soil organic matter
dynamics. PI AA Berhe ($20,000) 2011-Present
User Grant. Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory. Interactive Effects of Fire and erosion on soil organic matter dynamics.
(Use of 300Hz NMR spectrometer for four weeks). P.I. AA Berhe, Deoyani
Sarkhot co-PI 2011 - 2012
UC Merced Graduate Research Council. The effect of fire on soil aggregation and physical
stability of soil organic matter. PI AA Berhe, co-PI Teamrat A Ghezzehei
($10,000) 2011
Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, University of California. Spatial and temporal
dynamics of deep soil gaseous and soluble element fluxes from new vs. old organic
matter. P.I. Johan Six, co-PI A.A. Berhe ($ 89,950). 2009-2011
University of California, Merced Academic Senate’s Chancellor’s Award Towards a better
understanding of the effects of summer convective precipitation pulses on soil
moisture and carbon dynamics in a high elevation ecosystem, PI. A.A. Berhe
($5,000) 2010
Graduate Research Council, UC Merced . Towards a better understanding of the effects of
summer convective precipitation pulses on soil moisture and carbon dynamics in a
high elevation ecosystem, PI. A.A. Berhe ($4,956) 2010
US Departmetn of Agriculture, CSREES, NRI Soil Processes Program. Reactivity,
Aggregation and Transport of Nanocrystalline Sesquioxides in the Soil System. PI AA
Berhe ($ 123,000). 2007-2009
User Grant. EMSL, Pacific Northwest National Lab. Effect of Increasing rainfall and
temperature on molecular architecture of soil organic matter. (Use of 300Hz NMR
spectrometer for 5 weeks) . P.I. A.A. Berhe, Co-PIs Mark Waldrop and Jillian F.
Banfield 2007-2008
US Dept of Agriculture, NRI Soils and Soil Biology Program . Stability and Loss Potential of
Buried Soil Organic Carbon. P.I. John Harte; co-PIs Margaret S. Torn, Jennifer W.
Harden, Lead Author A.A. Berhe ($ 310,000). 2003-2006
User Grant. Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab, PNNL. Stabilization of soil organic
matter: land use, erosion and burial (Use of 300Hz and 500Hz NMR spectrometers at
EMSL for five weeks). P.I. Margaret S. Torn, Co-PIs A.A. Berhe and Erika Marín-
Spiotta 2004
National Park Service, Coastal Research Grant.. Stability and Loss of Buried Soil Organic
Carbon in a Depositional Toposequence on a Coastal Watershed in Tennessee Valley,
CA.. P.I. A.A. Berhe ($ 1,000) 2003-2004
International Campaign to Ban Landmines, Landmine Monitor Research Grant (Socioeconomic
and Ecological Reprocussions of the Global Landmine Crisis, the Eritrean
Case). P.I. A.A. Berhe ($ 4,200) 1999-2000
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe Curriculum Vitae Page 2 of 10

TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Earth Resources (ESS 10), UC Merced 2012
Dynamics of Organic Matter in Soils and Sediments (ES 292), UC Merced 2011
Guest Lecturer – Physical Geography (Dynamics of soil organic matter), Department of
Geography, University of Basel, Switzerland 2011
Fundamentals of Soil Science (ESS 170, ES 292) , UC Merced 2011
Soil Science Laboratory (ESS 170L) , UC Merced 2011
Advanced topics in Terrestrial Biogeochemistry (ES 292), UC Merced 2011
Guest Lecturer – Sustainability Science (War and Sustainability), ESS 2, UC Merced 2010, 2011
Soil Chemistry (ES 292) 2010
Guest Lecturer – Terrestrial Ecosystem Eco. (Soil Science), ESS 124/ES 224 UC Merced 2010
Terrestrial Biogeochemistry (ES 292) 2009
Soil Foundations of Terrestrial Ecosystems (ESS 70), University of California, Merced 2009
Graduate Student Instructor, UC Berkeley 2002-2004
Biosphere, – Fall ’04, with Profs. Jill Banfield and Andrew Gutierrez
Quantiative Aspects of Global Env’t– Spring ’03, with Prof. John Harte, Dr. Jim
Williams
Environmental Biology – Fall ’03, with Prof. Ignacio Chapella
Oceanography – Fall ’02, with Profs. Lynn Ingrham and Thomas Powell
Instructor, Michigan State University (Tigrigna, Eritrean) 1998-1999
High School Teacher, Barka Comprehensive Secondary School, Asmara (English) 1993-1994
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
(* = student or postdoc author)
18. Kaiser, M.*, A.A. Berhe, M. Sommer, M. Kleber. Application of ultrasound to investigate the
mechanical stability of aggregates. (In Press). Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science
17. Berhe, A. A., Torn, M.S., Harden, J., Kleber, M., Burton, S.D., Harte, J. Stabilization of Soil Organic
Matter in Eroding vs. Depositional Landform Positions. (In Press). Journal of Geophysical Research -
Biogeosciences
16. Lopez-Carr, D., C. Hunsberger, J. Jabbor, C. Chizoba, L. Hislop, H. Masundire., M. T. Abdelhamid, F.
Ayache, J. A. Montoro, A. Guhl, S. M. Borras, A.A. Berhe, T. Evans, J. Melilo, S. Kant, N. G.
Pricope, M. Leach, D. Martino, T. M. Aide, K. A. Crews, T. Devisscher, H. F. del Valle, R. Sanchez-
Rodriguez, T. Timmins, A. F. Barbieri, C. S. Junior, P. Kameri-Mbote, A. Angelsen, L. Zulu, W.
Kuang-Yao, J. Kozakova, C. Chizoba, C. Gibbes. Chapter 3 - Land. United Nations Environmet
Programme, Global Environmental Oulook series, GEO-5 Report. In Press - Expected release data, June
2012.
15. Nadeu, E.*, A. A. Berhe, J. de Vente, C. Boix-Fayos. (2012) Erosion, deposition and replacement of soil
organic carbon in Mediterranean catchments: a geomorphical, isotopic and land use change
approach. Biogeosciences 9, 1099–1111, 2012. doi:10.5194/bg-9-1099-2012 (Published online March
27, 2012)
14. Berhe, A.A., Suttle, K.B., Burton, S.D., and J.F. Banfield. (2012). Contingency in the Direction and
Mechanics of Soil Organic Matter Responses to Increased Rainfall. Plant and soil. DOI
10.1007/s11104-012-1156-0 (Published online January 30, 2012)
13. Sarkhot, D. V.*, A.A. Berhe, T. A. Ghezzehei. (2012) Does soil amendment with nutrient-enriched
biochar reduce efflux of carbon and nitrogen? Journal of Environmental Quality.
doi:10.2134/jeq2011.0123 (Published online November 3, 2011)
12. Berhe, A. A. (2012) Decomposition of organic substrates at eroding vs. depositional landform
positions. Plant and Soil. 350:261-280. DOI: 10.1007/s11104-011-0902-z (Published online July 23,
2011)
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe Curriculum Vitae Page 3 of 10

11. Waldrop, M. P., Wickland K., White, R III, Berhe, A.A., Harden, J.W., V. Romanovskys. (2010).
Molecular Investigation into a globally important carbon pool: permafrost-protected carbon in
Alaskan soils. Global Change Biology. 16(9)2543-2554.
10. Berhe, A. A., Harden, J., Torn, M.S., Harte, J. (2008). Role of Landform Position in Erosion-Induced
Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration. Journal of Geophysical Research – Biogeosciences, 13, G04039,
doi:10.1029/2008JG000751
9. Harden, J.W., Berhe, A.A., Torn, M.S., Harte, J., Liu, S., Stallard, R.F. 2008. Soil Erosion: Data Say C Sink
(Technical Comment). Science. 320(5873): 178 – 179.
8. Berhe, A.A., Harte J., Harden, J. W., Torn, M.S. 2007. The Significance of the Erosion Induced
Terrestrial Carbon Sink. Bioscience. 57(4):337-346.
7. Berhe, A.A. 2007. The Contribution of Landmines to Land Degradation. Land Degradation and
Development. 18: 1–15
6. Nelson, G., Bennett, E., Berhe, A.A, Cassman, K., DeFries, R., Dietz, T., Dobermann, A., Dobson, A.,
Janetos, A., Levy, M., Marco, D., Nakicenovic, N., O’Neill, B., Norgaard, R., Petschel-Held, G.,
Ojima, D., Pingali, P., Watson, R., Zurek. M. 2006. Anthropogenic Drivers of Ecosystem Change:
An Overview. Ecology and Society. 11(2): 32. INVITED.
5. Levinson, R., Berdhal, P., Berhe, A.A, Akbari, H.. 2005. Effect of Soiling and Cleaning on the
Reflectance and Solar Heat Gain of a White Roofing Membrane. Atmospheric Environment,
39(40):7807-7824.
4. Berhe, A.A. 2005. Politicizing Indiscriminate Terror: Imagining an Inclusive Framework for the Anti-
Landmines Movement. Journal of Environment and Development, 14: 375-393.
3. Lavelle, P., Dugdale, R., Scholes, R., Berhe, A.A., Carpenter, E., Codispoti, L., Izac, A.-M., Lemoalle, J.,
Luizao, F., Scholes, M., Tréguer, P., Ward, B.. 2005. Chapter 12 - Nutrient Cycling. In R. Hassan, et
al., eds. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Current State and Trends, Volume 1. Findings of the
Condition and Trends Working Group of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Island Press.
2. Nelson, G.C., Bennett, E., Berhe, A.A., Cassman, K.G., DeFries, R., Dietz, T., Dobson, A., Dobermann,
A., Janetos, A., Levy, M., Marco, D., Nakic´enovic´, N., O’Neill, B., Norgaard, R., Petschel-Held, G.,
Ojima, D., Pingali, P., Watson, R., Zurek, M. 2005. Chapter 7 - Drivers of Change in Ecosystem
Condition and Services. In S. R. Carpenter, et al., eds. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Scenarios,
Volume 2. Findings of the Scenarios Working Group of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
Island Press.
1. Berhe, A.A. 2004. Of Land and Identity: Territorialization of the Eritrean National Identity.
Eritrean Studies Review, 4 (1): 55-82.
SUBMITTED, IN REVIEW, AND IN PREPARATION MANUSCRIPTS
(* = student or postdoc author)
Berhe, A. A. Effect of Mesh Litterbags on Decomposition of Organic Matter: investigation along depth
and slope gradients.
Kaiser, M.*, A.A. Berhe, M. Kleber. Biogeochemical implications of soil sample pretreatments during
fractionation: effect of air-drying and rewetting.
Berhe, A.A. C.M. Khoi, J. Six. Effect of wetting and drying on soil carbondioxide production and fluxes in
near surface vs. deep soil layers.
Sarkhot, D.V.* T. A. Ghezzehei, A. A. Berhe. Biochar for nutrient recapture from dairy wastewater:
recovery of major nutrients.
Sarkhot, D.V.* T. A. Ghezzehei, A. A. Berhe. Biochar for nutrient recapture from dairy wastewater:
Potential to Improve Soil Quality
Berhe, A. A., T.A. Ghezzehei. Generalized Model for Temporal Evolution of the Erosion-Induced
Terrestrial Carbon Sink.
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe Curriculum Vitae Page 4 of 10

REPORTS, BOOK SECTIONS, AND CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS
(* = student or postdoc author)
5. Shrestha, G*, Berhe, A.A., Swanston, C, Traina, S. J. (2009) Surface soil black carbon in Yosemite,
California: effect of Prescribed forest fires. Proceedings of the North American Biochar
Conference. August 9-12, 2009. University of Colorado, Boulder.
4. Berhe, A.A. and Ghezzehei, T.A. 2008. Biogeochemical Feedbacks. Encyclopedia of Global Warming and
Climate Change. S. G. Philander (Ed). Sage Publishers.
Revised version published in the Second edition (2012, forthcoming)
3. Berhe, A.A. and Ghezzehei, T.A. 2008. Climate Data – Sediment Records. Encyclopedia of Global
Warming and Climate Change. S. G. Philander (Ed). Sage Publishers.
Revised version published in the Second edition (2012, forthcoming)
2. Akbari, H., Berhe, A. A, Levinson, R., Graveline, S., Foley, K., Delgado, A. H., Paroli, R. M..
Aging and weathering of cool roofing membranes. 2006. Proceedings of the First International
Conference on Passive and Low Energy Cooling for the Built Environment. May 17, 2005, Athens,
Greece. Also published as Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Report, LBNL-58055.
1. Berhe, A. A., Harden, J. W., Harte, J., Torn, M.S. 2005. Soil Degradation and Global Change: The role of
soil erosion and deposition in carbon sequestration. University of California International and
Area Studies. Breslauer Symposium. http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/8xv4b77b.
THESES
Berhe, A. A. 2006. Storage, Replacement, Stabilization, and Destabilization of Soil Organic Carbon in
Eroding and Depositional Settings. University of California, Berkeley (Department of Environmental
Science, Policy and Management), Berkeley, California. 242p.
Berhe, A. A. 2000. Landmines and Land Degradation: A Regional Political Ecology Perspective on the
Impacts of Landmines on Environment and Development in the Developing World (Unpublished
Thesis). Michigan State University (Department of Resource Development), East Lansing, Michigan,
2000.
Mesfin, A., Berhe, A. A, Weldezghi, A.. 1996. The Effect of Vegetal Cover on Soil Erosion (Honors Thesis).
University of Asmara (Department of Soil and Water Conservation), Asmara, Eritrea, 1996.
INVITED TALKS
16. Transprot of Black vs. Bulk SOM with soil erosion. European Geosciences Union Annual Meeting.
Vienna, Austria. April 2012 .
15. Mechanisms of Soil Organic Matter Stabilization Along An Eroding Toposequence. ASA-CSSA-SSSA
Annual Meeting. October 2011.
14. Stabilization Mechanisms of Soil Organic Matter in Eroding Watersheds: Implications for Erosioninduced
Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration. Keynote lecture, European Geosciences Union Annual
Meeting. Vienna, Austria. April 6, 2011.
13. Contingency in the Direction and Mechanics of Soil Organic Matter Responses to Increased Rainfall.
Geography Department Seminar, University of Basel, Switzerland. March 30, 2011.
12. Response of Soil organic Matter to Projected Changes in the Amount and Timing of Rainfall.
Department of Plant Sciences. University of California, Davis. January 31, 2011.
11. Using 13C-NMR and Radiocarbon to Determine Mechanisms of Soil Organic Matter Stabilization in
Dynamic Landscapes. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Albequerque, NM. August 4,
2009.
10. Mechanisms of Soil Organic Matter Stabilization in Eroding Landscapes. National Cooperative Soil
Survey National Conference. May 13, 2009 Las Cruces, NM.
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe Curriculum Vitae Page 5 of 10

9. Response of the Soil System to Climate Change: Effect of Anticipated Changes in Amount and Timing
of Rainfall In California to Soil Organic Matter Dynamics. California State University, Stainslaus.
April 10, 2009
8. Effect of anticipated changes in amount and timing of rainfall on soil organic matter dynamics. National
Center for Atmospheric Dynamics. Boulder, CO. March 23, 2009
7. The Upside of Erosion: Global Change Implications of Soil Degradation. School of Natural Sciences,
University of California, Merced. April 3, 2008.
6. Significance of Soil Erosion for Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration. Energy and Resources Group, University
of California, Berkeley. February 20, 2008.
5. Contribution of Soil Erosion to Atmospheric Carbondioxide Balance. School of Natural Sciences,
University of California, Merced. October 31, 2007.
4. Global Climate Change. Science and Math Seminar day, The French American International High School. San
Francisco, California. March 8, 2007.
3. Coupling Geomorphic and Ecosystem Processes: How Soil Erosion Regulates Carbon Sequestration.
Geography Department. University of California, Santa Barbara. March 1, 2007.
2. Decomposition of Soil Organic Matter Along a Toposequence. Department of Earth and Environmental
Sciences. Lehigh University. February 16, 2007.
1. Geomorphic Controls on Soil Organic Carbon Stability and Mechanisms of Stabilization. Department of
Earth Sciences, Rice Univesity. February 1, 2007.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
(* = student or postdoc author)
Stacy, Erin*; Stephen C. Hart; Carolyn T. Hunsaker; Dale Johnson; AA Berhe. Mechanisms of soil organic
matter stabilization in sediments eroded from small Sierra Nevada catchments. AGU annual
meeting. December 2011.
Arnold, CL*, AA Berhe, TA Ghezzehei. Impact of a lowered water table on water holding capacity of high
elevation meadow soils. AGU annual meeting. December 2011.
Berhe, AA; Michael Kaiser*; Teamrat Ghezzehei; David Myrold; Markus Kleber. Role of CaCO3 and
Charcoal Application on Organic Matter Retention in Silt-sized Aggregates. AGU annual meeting.
December 2011.
Arnold, C*, A.A. Berhe, T.A. Ghezzehei. Effect of Desiccation Induced Shrinkage On Meadow Water
Holding Capacity. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX October 2011
Gillabel, J., S. Yanni*, A.A. Berhe, R. Merckx, J. Six. Controlling Factors On Temperature Sensitivity of
Soil Respiration At the Soil Profile Scale. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX
October 2011
Berhe, A. A. and T. A. Ghezzehei. Decomposition of organic substrates at eroding vs. depositional
landform positions. International symposium on Soil Organic Matter, Lueven, Belgium, July 2011
Kaiser, M*, A. A. Berhe, M. Kleber. Effect of ultrasonic energy on dispersion of aggregates and released
amounts of organic matter. International symposium on Soil Organic Matter, Lueven, Belgium,
July 2011
Nadeu, E.* A. A. Berhe, J. de Vente, C. Boix-Fayos. Soil organic carbon mobilization and replacement in
two eroding small catchments: isotopic and geomorphological approach. International symposium
on Soil Organic Matter, Lueven, Belgium, July 2011
Nadeu, E., Berhe, A. A., de Vente, J., Boix-Fayos, C. Organic carbon accumulation and replacement in
eroding slopes by using 14C. (Original title in Spanish - Acumulación y reemplazo de carbono
orgánico en laderas erosioandas utilizando 14C).V Simposio Nacional sobre Control de la
Degradación y Uso Sostenible del Suelo, Murcia, Spain. June, 2011.
Nadeu, E., Berhe, A. A., de Vente, J., Boix-Fayos, C. Organic carbon erosion in two subcatchments:
interpretation of sedimentary profiles with isotopic techniques (Original title in Spanish - Erosión
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe Curriculum Vitae Page 6 of 10

de carbono orgánico en dos subcuencas: interpretación de perfiles sedimentarios mediante
técnicas isotópicas). V Simposio Nacional sobre Control de la Degradación y Uso Sostenible del
Suelo, Murcia, Spain. June, 2011.
Nadue, E., Berhe, A. A., de Vente, J., Boix-Fayos, C. Soil organic carbon replacement and deposition in a
highly eroding Mediterranean catchment. European Geosciences Union Annual Meeting, Vienna
Austrai April 2011.
Berhe, A. A., Harden, J.W., Torn, M.S., Harte, J. Lateral distribution of soil nitrogen in a naturally eroding
zero-order watershed. European Geosciences Union Annual Meeting, Vienna Austrai April 2011.
Nadeu, E.* A. A. Berhe, J. de Vente, C. Boix-Fayos. Soil Organic Carbon Storage and Stability in a highly
eroding La Rogativa, Watershed. AGU annual meeting. December 2010.
Kaiser, M*, A. A. Berhe, M. Kleber. Influence of ultrasonic energy on dispersion of aggregates and
released amounts of organic matter and polyvalent cations. AGU annual meeting. December 2010
Berhe, A. A., Harden, J.W., Torn, M.S., Harte, J. Storage and lateral redistribution of soil nitrogen in a
naturally eroding zero-order watershed. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA
October 2010.
Berhe, A. A. Khoi, C.M., van Asperen, H., Gillabel, J, and Six, J.W. (2009). Effect of wetting and drying on
deep soil CO2 production and fluxes. Eos Trans. AGU, 90(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract B51F-
0369.
Sarkhot, D.*, Ghezzehei, T. A., Berhe, A. A. (2009). Recapturing nutrients from dairy waste using biochar.
Eos Trans. AGU, 90(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract B11A-0469.
Shrestha, G*, Berhe, A.A., Swanston, C, Traina, S. J. (2009) Surface soil black carbon in Yosemite,
California: effect of Prescribed forest fires. The North American Biochar Conference. August 9-12,
2009. University of Colorado, Boulder.
Berhe, A.A. and J. Banfield. Evolution of Mineral-OM associations with changes in amount and temporal
distribution of rainfall . International Symposium on Soil Organic Matter Dynamics: Land Use,
Management and Global Change. Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. July 6-9, 2009
Khoi, C.M., Berhe, A.A. and Six, J. Effect of wetting and drying on deep CO2 production. International
Symposium on Soil Organic Matter Dynamics: Land Use, Management and Global Change.
Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. July 6-9, 2009
Berhe, A. A., and Banfield, J.F. Labile organic carbon stocks and mineral-organic matter associations in
soil: Role of anticipated changes in rainfall pattern. AGU Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA,
December 15-19, 2008
Berhe, A. A., and Banfield, J.F. Effect of changes in amount and seasonality of rainfall on soil carbon and
cation nutrient composition.. ASA-CSSA-SSSA 72 st Annual Meeting, Houston, TX, October 5-9,
2008.
Waldrop, M.P., Wickland, K., Berhe, A. A., Harden, J.W., Striegl, R.G., and Aiken, G. Molecular
investigations into a globally important carbon pool: permafrost-protected carbon in Alaskan soils.
AGU Fall Meeting, December 10-14, 2007.
Berhe, A. A., and Banfield, J.F.. Effect of iron oxide concentration on the amount and quality of sorbed
organic matter. ASA-CSSA-SSSA 71 st Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA. November 4-6, 2007.
Berhe, A. A., and Banfield, J.F. Concentration dependent effects of organic matter storage and
stabilization by iron oxides. Third International Conference on Mechanisms of Organic Matter
Stabilization and Destablization in Soils. September 23-26, 2007. Adelaide, Australia.
K. Cruz, Suttle, K.B., Berhe, A.A., Banfield, J. F. Rainfall variation impact above- and below-ground biota
and soil biogeochemistry in the Eel River watershed. National Center for Earth Surface Dynamics
Site Visit, June 12-13, 2007. Minneapolis, MN
Berhe, A. A., Harden, J. W., Torn, M.S., Burton, S.D., Kleber, M., Harte J. Potentially Labile Soil Organic
Carbon in Erosional and Depositional Settings of an Undisturbed Zero-order Watershed. AGU Fall
Meeting, December 11-15, 2006 .
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe Curriculum Vitae Page 7 of 10

Harden, J.W. van Oost, K., Neff, J., Berhe, A.A., Rosenbloom, N., Schimel, D. Soil Carbon Dynamics in
Relation to Landscape Dynamics. AGU Fall Meeting, December 11-15, 2006 (INVITED) .
Berhe, A. A., Harden, J.W., Torn, M.S., Harte, J. In situ and ex situ decomposition of organic matter in
eroding slopes vs. depositional settings. ASA-CSSA-SSSA 70 th Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN
November 12-16, 2006.
Berhe, A. A., Harden, J. W., Torn, M.S., Burton, S.D., Kleber, M., Harte J. Geomorphic controls on the
amount and quality of organic matter associated with mineral surfaces. AGU Fall Meeting,
December 5-9, 2005
Berhe, A. A., Harden, J. W. , Harte J., Torn, M.S. Physico-Chemical Controls on Soil Organic Carbon
Stabilization in Eroding and Depositional Settings. NSF Sponsored Workshop "Frontiers in
Exploration of the Critical Zone". Newark, Delaware, October 24-26, 2005.
Berhe, A. A., Torn, M.S. , Harte J., Harden, J. W. Mechanisms of Soil Organic Matter Stabilization in
Erosional and Depositional Systems. Second International Conference on Mechanisms of Organic
Matter Stabilization and Destablization in Soils. October 9-13, 2005. Monterey, California.
Berhe, A. A., Harden, J. W. , Harte J., Torn, M.S. Soil Degradation and Global Change: The role of soil
erosion and deposition in carbon sequestration. Breslauer Graduate Student Symposium on Social and
Scientific Aspects of Global Climate Change. February 25, 2005, University of California at Berkeley.
Berhe, A. A., Harden, J. W. , Harte J., Torn, M.S. The Role of Erosion and Deposition in Soil Carbon
Sequestration in an Undisturbed Watershed. Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 7, 03871, 2005.
European Geosciences Union. Vienna, Austria.
Berhe, A. A., Harden, J. W., Torn, M.S. , Harte J. Erosion and Carbon Sequestration in two types of
Depositional Basins. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Abstracts, Madison WI. (68 th Annual Meeting Seattle,
Washington). 2004.
Berhe, A. A., Harden, J. W., Torn, M.S. , Harte J. Stabilization of eroded soil organic carbon in two types
of depositional basins. EOS Trans. AGU, 85(47), Fall Meeting Supplements, B51C-0971.
Berhe, A. A., Fischer, M., Torn, M.S. Soil Carbon and Nitrogen under different landuses in the Southern
Great Plains. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Abstracts, Madison WI. (67 th Annual Meeting Denver, CO). 2003.
Berhe, A. A. The Impact of Erosion on the Terrestrial Carbon Reservoir: Ecological and Socioeconomic
Implications of Soil Erosion in Eritrea. International Conference Commemorating the 10 th Anniversary
of the Independence of Eritrea: Lessons and Prospects. July 22-26, 2001, Asmara, Eritrea..
Berhe, A. A. Of Land and Identity: Territorialization of the Eritrean Identity in the Land of Pride, as
Delineated with Colonial Maps of Episodic Pain. The 6 th Graduate Conference in African Studies. Reenvisioning
Africa: Multidisciplinary Prespectives in African Studies, March 30 - April 2, 2001.
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 2001.
Berhe, A. A., T. Fries, T.A., Fuller, C.C., Harden, J.W., Miller, L.G., Haughy, R., Young, R. Isotope Based
Inference of Organic Carbon Storage and Turnover Rates in Buried Sediments. EOS Trans. AGU,
83(47), Fall Meeting Supplements, B52A-0751.
Berhe, A. A. The Socio-economic and Environmental Reprcussions of the Eritrean Landmine Crisis,
Landmine Monitor Conference, The Hague, Netherlands. 2000.
GRADUATE STUDENT OR POSTDOC ADVISING, COMMITTEES
Postdoctoral Scholars Supervised
Deoayni Sarkhot
Michael Kaiser
Major advisor for
Chelsea Arnold (Ph D. program in Environmental Systems)
Erin Stacy (M.Sc. program in Environmental Systems)
Samuel Araya (Ph D. program in Environmental Systems)
Dissertation committee (or external advisor)
Ammar Ablamah (UCM, Ph D. program in Environmental Systems)
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe Curriculum Vitae Page 8 of 10

Gyami Shresta (UCM, Ph D. program in Environmental Systems)
Donell Williams (UCM, Ph D. program in World Cultures)
Elisabet Nadeu (Visiting Ph.D. student from University of Murcia, Spain)
Undergraduate research assistants
Matthew McClintock
Steven Ho
Justin Nunes
Jam Jam James
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND SKILLS
Peer reviewer:
Proposals (Review Panels): National Science Foundation, US Department of Agriculture –
Agricultrure and Food Research, US Department of Agriculture ARS Intermural Panel
– Office of Scientific Quality
Proposals (ad-hoc reviewer): National Science Foundation, Department of Energy , NRS
Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Research Grant Program, Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, UC President’s Postdoctoral
Fellowship Program, American Chemical Society, Petroleum Research Fund
Journal Papers: African Journal of Agricultural Research, Agriculture, Ecosystems,and
Environment; Biogeochemistry, Enviornmental Science and Technology; Earth Sciecne
Reviews, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms; Geoderma, European Journal of Soil
Science, Geochemica Cosmochemica Acta, Global Change Biology, Journal of
Agriculture and Human Values; Journal of Environmental Quality; Journal of
Geophysical Research – Biogeoscience; Journal of Soils and Sediments; Nature –
Geosceinces, Plant and Soil, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Quaternary Research; and Soil Science Society of America Journal.
Book Proposal Reviewer: Yale University Press
Member, Standing committee - Soil Science, The National Academy of Science 2011 - Present
Faculty Welfare Committee, UC Merced Academic Senate 2012 - Present
Admission committee member, Environmental Systems Graduate Group, UC Merced 2010 – Present
(Chair, March 2012 - Present)
School of Natural Sciences SE1 Space Committee, UC Merced 2012 - Present
Head, Sierra Nevada Research Institute, Environmental Analytical Lab users group 2010 - Present
Coordinator, Castle Envrionmental Systems Seminar Series 2010- Present
New member welcoming committee, Earth Science Women’s Network 2008 - Present
Mentor, Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success (MSPHD’s) in Earth
System Science Initiative 2007 - Present
Search Committee Member, Ecology – UC Merced School of Natural Sciences 2011 - 2012
ESS Program Review working group 2009 - 2011
Speaker, UC Merced International Womens Day celebration 2011
Judge, Student best poster presentation competion, AGU annual meeting 2009, 2010, 2011
Speaker, Women in Science and Engineering speakers series, UC Merced 2010
Mentor, undergradate student researcher throug the NSF- Yosemite REU program 2010
Mentor, undergradate student researcher throug the COINS program 2010
Lead coordinator, Development of the Environmental Science and Sustainability Minor 2010
Liason, UC Merced Castle campus Transportation and Parking Improvements 2010
Speaker, UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Annaul Retreat (The Academic Job search) 2010
Coordinator, Evironmental Systems Seminar Series 2009
UC AGEP Ambassador to NSF, selected 2009
UC Merced Graduate Recruitment at UC Davis Graduate fair 2008
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe Curriculum Vitae Page 9 of 10

Convener and Session Organizer, Soils: Mechanisms of Carbon Stabilization and Response
to Climate Change. American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, September 10-14, 2007.
San Francisco, CA 2007
Session chair, Carbon Cycling and Soil Processes. Ecological Society of America Annual
Meeting, August, 2007. San Jose, CA 2007
Judge for student presentation, Society for Ecological Restoration Neering Award, ESA 2007
Panelist and Session chair, From Student to Scientist; Finding a Postdoc & Life as a
Postdoctoral Scientist . 2 nd and 3 rd Annual Retreat of Berkeley Edge (a recruitment,
retention and advancement program for traditionally underrepresented minority
graduate students in science, mathematics and engineering, UC Berkeley) 2007, 2008
Coordinator, Berkeley NanoGeoChemistry meeting series, UC Berkeley 2006 - 2007
Project leader for Soil Erosion and Carbon Cycling study. University of California, Berkeley
(Hired, trained and supervised five undergraduate work study students, laboratry
and field research asistants) 2002-2006
Model Scientist for Lawrence Hall of Science’s Roots of Knowledge Project “Walk in the
Woods” [ K-12 teaching guide] 2003-2006
Mentor (two students) and Freshman Welcome Program volunteer, UC Berkeley 2005
Student representative, Ecosystem Sciences Division, UC Berkeley 2003-2004
Graduate Assembly delegate for student in the Department of Environmental Science,
Policy and Management, UC, Berkeley 2001-2002
Co-founder and President of Eritrean Students Union, Michigan State University 1999-2000
Application and some Programming in MathCAD®, Arc View, MADONA, JMP IN®,
SPSS® and Macromedia.
Languages: English – Fluent
Tigrigna (Eritrean) – mother tongue, fluent
Amharic (Ethiopian) – fluent
French – basic spoken and written.
Freelance translor for English to and from Tigrigna and Amharic from 1999 – 2005.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Geophysical Union
Soil Science Society of America
Association of Women Soil Scientists
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe Curriculum Vitae Page 10 of 10