Asnake Ararsa Irenso

DR ASNAKE ARARSA IRENSO, PhD Public Health Nutrition Researcher and Educator Melbourne, VIC, Australia | - |-| ORCID:- Professional Summary I am a public health researcher with a PhD and 15 years of experience. I bring cross-cultural research experience gained in Ethiopia and Australia. My work focuses on maternal and child nutrition, food security, the health impacts of climate change, and research on indigenous food systems, with hands-on experience in designing studies that work across diverse communities. I am skilled in a mixed methods approach, including RCTs, participatory action research, and large-scale survey analysis using DHS and surveillance data. I have learned to translate complex research findings into practical policy recommendations, secure competitive funding, and publish in peer-reviewed journals, while also working with communities to build trust and maintain research integrity. I am a contributor to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies published in The Lancet. Education • PhD, Public Health Nutrition: Deakin University, Australia | 2023 Thesis: "The Role of Community-Based and Intra-household Social Networks in Supporting Complementary Feeding Practices in Ethiopia" • MPH (Nutrition): Haramaya University, Ethiopia | 2014 Thesis: "Difference in Levels and Predictors of Food Insecurity among Urban and Rural Households of Kombolcha District, Eastern Ethiopia" • PG Diploma in Higher-Education Teaching: Haramaya University, Ethiopia | 2017 • BSc, Public Health: Hawassa University, Ethiopia | 2007 Experience Research Fellow and Adjunct | Implementation Science and Feasibility Studies | Monash University | Northern Territory, Australia Research Fellow (Jun 2023 - Aug 2024) | Adjunct (Aug 2024 – Aug 2025) • Led a feasibility study of the implementation of healthy food retail strategies in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community stores in NT within an RCT framework. • Worked with communities within the framework of participatory action research (PAR). • Analysed interviews in NVIVO guided by the Normalisation Process Theory, then identified what actually works and what doesn’t and why. • Shared findings beyond academia through policy briefs and plain language summaries to make sure that the research reached people who could act on it. Academic (Assistant Lecturer to Lecturer) | Haramaya University | Ethiopia Oct 2009 – May 2019 • Taught nutrition courses to undergraduate and graduate students • Led work-integrated multidisciplinary learning program (The team training program). • Built research projects from the ground up: Secured six competitive grants as principal and co-investigator. • Led the University’s Nutrition Research Theme and mentored five graduate students through their thesis projects. • Managed editorial works for the East Africa Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences. Sessional Lecturer | Charles Darwin University | Darwin, NT, Australia Feb 2023 – Jun 2023 • Led the Nutrition Assessment and Dietary Methodologies Unit; designed lectures and created assessments, and worked directly with students to help them master research methodology. Casual Research Fellow/Assistant | Deakin University | Victoria, Australia Aug 2022 – Jun 2023 • Conducted a systematic review of research on how peer support helps with infant feeding practices. Casual Academic | Deakin University | Victoria, Australia Sep 2020 – Dec 2021 • Marking and detailed constructive personalised feedback for the Obesity Prevention unit. Skills Research Design and Methods: • Mixed-methods research including RCTs, systematic reviews, and participatory action research (PAR) • Implementation science using frameworks like Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) • Nutritional epidemiology and large-scale data analysis (DHS, surveillance systems, GBD collaboration) • Program evaluation • Indigenous research methodologies • Stakeholder engagement and community partnerships Data analysis • Statistical software: STATA (advanced), SPSS (proficient), R (intermediate) • Qualitative analysis platforms: NVivo, Atlas.ti Communication and leadership • Translating research into policy briefs and stakeholder presentations • Grant writing and project management • Academic teaching, curriculum development, and student mentorship Publications (Selected) Complete list: ORCID:- | Google Scholar • Cochrane L, Irenso AA. Ethiopia’s Unsafe Food System: A Systems Perspective… Scientific African (2025). doi:10.1016/j.sciaf.2024.e02777 • Irenso AA, Zheng M, Campbell KJ, Chamberlain D, Laws R. Household structure and timing of introduction of solids… Maternal & Child Nutrition (2023). doi:10.1111/mcn.13429 • Irenso AA, Letta S, Chemeda AS, et al. Maternal time use drives suboptimal complementary feeding practices in El Niño-affected Eastern Ethiopia. Int J Environ Res Public Health (2022). doi:10.3390/ijerph- Grants - Funding • Infant feeding in climate-affected communities - studied feeding practices in drought-impacted areas of Eastern Ethiopia - Haramaya University -). (PI) • Food security and safety net programs - compared nutritional outcomes between households participating and not participating in Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Program - Haramaya University (2015). (PI) • Adolescent Health Study- participated in joint adolescent health research projects with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health collaboration (2016) • Food safety research - examined microbial contamination in locally consumed vegetables, Eastern Ethiopia - Haramaya University (2017) (Co-I). • EPHAM capacity building project - Enhanced Public Health Capacity through Academic Network and Mobility, linking VID, Ambo, and Jimma Universities - Norwegian Agency for International Cooperation (2022) (co-I). Awards • International Travel Award, Kids Brain Health Network (DOHaD World Congress), 2022 • ANH Academy Awards: Attendance (2016, 2017) References available on request.