Asmeret Asefaw Berhe is a soil biogeochemist and ecologist whose research explores how soil processes regulate Earth’s climate. She is a Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry and the Ted and Jan Falasco Chair in Earth Sciences and Geology at the University of California, Merced. Her work investigates how environmental changes such as wildfire, drought, and erosion influence carbon and nitrogen cycles.

Asmeret served as Director of the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy from 2022 to 2024, overseeing national research programs, funding initiatives, and 28 scientific user facilities. She has been recognized for her contributions to global environmental assessment, including work on the United Nations Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, and is a passionate advocate for women in STEM, co-leading programs to improve inclusion and equity in the geosciences.