Vita

Scholarship Page

Program Affiliations

Biology

Biography

Dr. Torben has been productive in Biomedical Research and has authored/co-authored over 34 international high impact Scientific articles (PubMed/Workineh Torben). Most of his articles are related to vaccines against HIV, Schistosomiasis, and other infectious diseases. After he left Tulane University’s Primate Center, his research has been supporting undergraduate students in various Microbiology subjects like COVID-19, Microbial isolation, and identification from different sources. In addition, he has been highly productive in science due to his continued collaborative networks with Tulane and Texas Teck University Health Sciences Center. Several students have been working with Dr. Torben; both graduate and undergraduate students are welcome to work on any Biomedical Research ideas of their own or always Dr. Torben has something for students.

Professional Experience

• 2023: Present, Assistant Professor of Biology (Microbiology & Immunology), Texas A&M University, Texarkana, USA
• 2018-2023: Carolyn Cole Saunders Endowed Professor of Science, Louisiana State University at Alexandria
• 2012 – 2017: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, TNPRC, Tulane University, Covington, Louisiana, USA.
• 2012: Present Vaccine Research Consultant, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Lubbock, TX
• 2007 – 2012: Research Assistant, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
• 2005 – 2007: Lecturer & Researcher, Addis Ababa University, ALIPB, Ethiopia.

Education

Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia | B.Sc. | 1996-1999 | Biology
Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia | M.Sc. | 2002-2005 | Biomedical Sciences
Texas Tech University-HSC, Lubbock TX, USA | Ph.D. | 2007-2012 | Microbiology/Immunology
Tulane University-TNPRC, Covington, LA, USA | post-Doctoral | 2012-2017 | Immunology/Vaccines

Teaching

Dr. Torben primary teaches Microbiology and Immunology, but he is also teaching Virology, General Biology, Seminar and Senior Research courses. He creates strategies to teach practical skills how students can isolate and identify bacteria from their own skins, cellphones, and keys. That approach inspires his students and every one of them start his courses with high enthusiasm to lean about the common microbial friends around human’s daily lives. He is always dedicated to simplifying the Biomedical sciences to equip students with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in the field.

Scholarship & Creative Activity

He was a research fellow in Comparative Pathology and Immunology at Tulane National Primate Research Center where he initiated preliminary background investigations related to the self-curing process in schistosome-infected Rhesus macaques. He has a broad background in infectious disease research, with specific trainings and expertise in Microbiology, Parasitology, Immunology/Immunopathogenesis, vaccines and animal models of several diseases of high public health importance. Dr. Torben’s expertise will provide numerous avenues of research in Parasitology, Immunology and Virology for all Biology, Nursing and Pre-professional students with high passion for the biomedical fields.  His Microbiology classes start with a creative approach where all students jump into the exploration of unknown microbes towards identifying and characterizing a few of their isolates to write scientific abstracts about their findings.

Journal Reviewer

• Vaccine, Acta Tropica, Experimental Parasitology, BMJ Open and Journal of TROPICAL DISEASES & Health

Teaching and Academic Advisory Services

2023: Mentor of TWO Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) students (Maberu and Mohammad), Alexandria, Louisiana, USA.

2023: Mentor of a BIOL3990 student (Caroline Hyde)) for her undergraduate higher-level Research, Alexandria, Louisiana, USA.

2021: Mentor of THREE BIOL3990 students (Monica, Curly and Mar’Krisseanna) for their undergraduate higher-level Research, Alexandria, Louisiana, USA.

2019: Advised Two BIOL3990 students (Ashley and Purifoy) for the undergraduate higher-level courses, Alexandria, Louisiana, USA.

2018-Present: Mentoring undergraduate higher-level courses, Alexandria, Louisiana, USA.

2018-Present Online professor for Virology (BIOL4191 for LSUA), developing more online courses like Immunology

2018- Present teaching Microbiology, Immunology, Virology, General Biology and laboratories, Alexandria, Louisiana, USA.

2008-2011     Undergraduate adviser ‘Mentor Tech’ program of Texas Tech University.

2007: Thesis Advisor, Asaye Birhanu Mekonnen and Zelalem Teklemariam, Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University.