Masresha Fetene is a Professor of Plant Ecophysiology at Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He received his PhD in Plant Ecophysiology in 1990 from the Institute of Botany, University of Darmstadt, Germany. He has several years of teaching experience in both undergraduate and graduate programmes in biological, botanical, environmental and ecological subject areas. He has supervised and mentored numerous Masters and PhD students. Professor Masresha Fetene served as Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at Addis Ababa University. He made landmark contributions to enhance research capacity at Addis Ababa University. He initiated and oversaw the growth and expansion of graduate studies at the University through the introduction of new programmes as well as quality improvement programmes such as visiting scholarship schemes and the formation of research consortia.

Professor Fetene is a Fellow of the African Academy of Sciences and a Founding Fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences. He has made significant contributions to professional and institutional building as co-founder of societies such as the African Forestry Network, the Natural Products Network for East and Central Africa, and the Biological Society of Ethiopia. He spearheaded the establishment of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences and previously served as its Executive Director, making a recognizable mark in nurturing a culture of science and scientific thinking among its members and other citizens of Ethiopia.