Research and Teaching Laboratories at the College of Science, Bahir Dar University

At the College of Science, Bahir Dar University, we are committed to advancing both teaching and research through state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. Our laboratories play a crucial role in delivering hands-on education and conducting cutting-edge research across various scientific disciplines.

All departments ( Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Industrial Chemistry, Statistics and Data Science) are equipped with both teaching and research laboratories, enabling students and researchers to engage in practical learning and contribute to high-impact scientific discoveries.

Research Laboratories and Their Focus Areas

 1. Chemistry 

These laboratories support both teaching and advanced research in fields such as:

  1. 1. Synthesis and characterization of inorganic complex molecules for applications like sensor design.
  2. 2. Nanomaterial fabrication and characterization for use in catalysis,  and environmental remediation.
  3. 3. Biosensor development for detecting drug residues and other metabolites.
  4. 4. Plant metabolite analysis for geographical origin classification and pharmaceutical research.
  5. 5.Heavy metal analysis in water food, feed and soil
  6. 6. Testing bioactive compounds in food, and medicinal plants 
  7. 7. Fatty acid analysis in various matrices
  8. 8. Profiling aromatic compounds from various matrices
  9. 9. Analysis of emerging pollutants from various matrices

  10. 10. Testing water quality for drinking and other purposes

    Key Instruments: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Autolab Potentiostats, UV-Vis Spectrophotometers, and more, Photometer

Selected Lab and equipment

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2. Biology Research Laboratories

The Biology research labs are integral to both undergraduate education and postgraduate research, with specializations in:

  1. 1. Microbial load and dynamics analysis for applications in food safety, health, and the environment.
  2. 2. DNA sequencing and genetic studies for research in biotechnology and medical fields.
  3. 3. Plant and fungal metabolite extraction for pharmacological and agricultural applications.
  4. 4. Bioinformatics and computational biology for analyzing genomic data and supporting disease modeling.

Key Equipment: (To be specified)

3. Physics Research Laboratories

The Physics research laboratories at the College of Science are organized into key focus areas:

Nanomaterials and Nanoscience

Nanomaterials have emerged as a fascinating class of materials with high demand in various practical applications. Research in this area focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and application of nanomaterials, including metals, oxides, non-oxide materials, and composites. The primary application areas include:

  1. 1. Energy conversion efficiency – Enhancing performance in solar cells and energy storage systems.
  2. 2. Sensing and imaging – Development of advanced sensor technologies for environmental and biomedical applications.
  3. 3. Optical and electronic applications – Studying the interaction of nanomaterials with light and electronic fields.
  4. 4. Biomedical applications – Investigating nanomaterials for drug delivery and medical diagnostics.
  5. 5. Water treatment and environmental protection – Utilizing nanomaterials for pollutant removal and water purification.

Piezoelectric Ceramics Research

Piezoelectric ceramics play a critical role in energy conversion by transforming mechanical stress into electrical energy (and vice versa). Research in this area focuses on:

  1. Material Development and Composition – Optimizing piezoelectric materials such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT) and lead-free alternatives.
  2. Electromechanical Properties – Studying piezoelectric coefficients, dielectric properties, and elasticity for improved efficiency and durability.
  3. Application Engineering – Developing sensors, actuators, energy harvesters, and ultrasound transducers for medical and industrial use.
  4. Fabrication Techniques – Enhancing sintering, thin-film deposition, and 3D printing processes for better material performance.
  5. Environmental and Thermal Stability – Improving resistance to temperature fluctuations, mechanical stress, and corrosion.
  6. Miniaturization and Integration – Integrating piezoelectric ceramics into MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) and flexible electronics.

Laser and Optics Research Group

The Laser and Optics Research Group at Bahir Dar University specializes in:

  1. 1. Laser-matter interactions – Investigating laser-based material modification and analysis.
  2. 2. Optical and laser development – Designing and optimizing optical instruments.
  3. 3. Advanced spectroscopy techniques – Employing lasers for material characterization at the nanoscale and bulk levels.

Key Optical Facilities:

  1. 1. He-Ne laser systems
  2. 2. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and UV-Vis spectrophotometers
  3. 3. Laser interferometers
  4. 4. Optical components (lenses, mirrors, diffraction gratings, prisms, etc.)

Major Research Projects:

  1. 1. Laser ablation for contamination analysis
  2. 2. Photoinduced absorption spectroscopy for semiconductor materials
  3. 3. Photoconduction studies on perovskite and silicon-based solar cells
  4. 4. Development of laser and optical instruments for medical, agricultural, and defense applications
  5. 5. Nano and bio-photonics

🔹 Key Equipment: (To be specified)

 

4. Computer Laboratories (Mathematics, Statistics & Data Science)

The computer research labs in the Mathematics, Statistics, and Data Science departments support both teaching and research activities, with a focus on:

  1. 1. Mathematical modeling and simulations for physics, engineering, and biological applications.
  2. 2. Statistical data analysis and machine learning for predictive modeling and decision-making.
  3. 3. Big data analytics in health, finance, and environmental studies.
  4. 4. Facilities: High-performance computing clusters, statistical software (R, Python, SPSS, MATLAB), and data visualization tools.

 

5. Industrial Chemistry

The Department of Industrial Chemistry offers practical course for its undergraduate and graduate students. The labs within the department and the college offer practical courses for  applied chemistry and chemical engineering. It provides a hands-on learning for selected topic in Analytical Chemistry, Instrumental Analysis, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Food Science Laboratory, Real Sample Analysis, Mechanical Unit Operations, Computer-Aided Process Design and Simulation, Glass Molding and Blowing, as well as Student Project Work. 

Research & Advanced Studies

The laboratory also supports MSc-level research, particularly in:

🔹 Biopolymer Science and Technology – Preparation, characterization, and applications of bionanocomposites from renewable sources such as cellulose, chitin, and starch.
🔹 Quality Control & Management – Ensuring product safety, consistency, and compliance through microbiological and chemical testing in food, beverages, and industrial products.

 

Our Commitment to Research and Teaching Excellence

Our laboratories are designed to:
✔ Provide hands-on learning experiences for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
✔ Facilitate interdisciplinary research that contributes to scientific, technological, and industrial advancement.
✔ Offer analytical and testing services to industries, governmental organizations, and research institutions.
✔ Foster collaborations to drive innovation and tackle global challenges.

We invite students, researchers, and industry partners to explore our research and teaching laboratories and collaborate with us in advancing science, education, and technology.