University of the Punjab.

Dr. Aneela Yasmeen is a biochemist and agriculture molecular biologist serving as an Assistant Professor at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore. She joined CEMB in 2008 and has over 18 years of experience in biochemistry, molecular biology, plant biotechnology, and genetic engineering, with research experience spanning Immunology, HBV/HCV Diagnostics, Medical Genetics, and Plant Biotechnology laboratories. She is currently an active member of the Plant Biotechnology Research Group, where her research focuses on the genetic improvement of crops through genome editing and genetic engineering for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.
Her primary research interests include CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing of potatoes and cotton, with particular emphasis on disease resistance, stress tolerance, biofortification, and improvement of agronomic and nutritional traits. In potato, her work focuses on developing resistance against fungal and bacterial pathogens, including late blight and common scab, as well as enhancing nutritional value through biofortification and improving post-harvest quality and shelf life. Her research also extends to cotton, particularly the development of biotic stress resistant and abiotic stress tolerant cotton through genome-editing approaches. She has contributed to research on other crops including lentils, alfalfa etc. Her research portfolio includes several nationally and internationally funded projects, including grants from the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Islamic Development Bank, Pakistan Science Foundation, Punjab University, and international partners.
Dr. Yasmeen completed her Ph.D. in 2022 and M.Phil. in 2014 from CEMB, University of the Punjab. Her doctoral research focused on CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown of the Vacuolar Invertase (VInv) gene in potato to reduce cold-induced sweetening during storage. This work contributed to establishing genome-editing research in plants at CEMB and subsequently resulted in a national patent for a CRISPR/Cas9 construct and method for targeted editing of the VInv gene. During her doctoral studies, she was awarded the Mevlana Exchange Scholarship and conducted research at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Türkiye. She also represented Pakistan at the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) 2019 in Singapore.
Dr. Yasmeen has an active record of research publications, funded projects, student supervision, scientific training, and research dissemination. Her CV records more than 30 international and national research articles, with a reported impact factor of 75, and h-index of 11. She currently supervises Ph.D. and M.Phil. researchers working on CRISPR/Cas-based crop improvement, potato biofortification, disease resistance, processing quality, and nutritional enhancement. She has also served as a trainer/resource person in genome-editing and biosafety-related workshops and has delivered invited and conference presentations on CRISPR/Cas genome editing and sustainable agriculture.
In addition to her research responsibilities, Dr. Yasmeen has extensive academic, administrative, and science-outreach experience. She currently serves as Events Coordinator at CEMB and Chairperson of the CEMB Journal Club, while also contributing to various institutional committees. She previously served for almost a decade as Assistant Superintendent of a Punjab University girls' hostel. She is the Founder of Gull's Association-Pakistan and has held leadership and coordination positions in the National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS) and the Congress of Molecular Biology. Through these roles, she has organized more than 90 scientific events including conferences, seminars, workshops, training programmes, and science-outreach activities across Pakistan.
Her contributions to research and scientific engagement have been recognized through several awards and distinctions, including Best Oral Presenter Awards at RAPS-2023 and RAPS-2025, the Mevlana Exchange Scholarship, multiple performance and incentive awards, and recognition for her contributions to research, scientific events, and technology outreach. She is also professionally certified in BioRisk Management by the International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA).