Profile
Biochemist, Plant Molecular Biologist and Educator
Dr. Yasmeen holds an M.Phil. and Ph.D. from CEMB, University of the Punjab. Her Ph.D. dissertation was titled "Cas9-mediated gene knockdown of the Vacuolar Invertase (VInv) gene of Solanum tuberosum to reduce tuber sweetening during cold storage," and she conducted part of this research in Turkey under the Mevlana Exchange Program at Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University.
She joined CEMB in April 2008 as a Research Officer, working across the Immunology Lab, HBV/HCV Diagnostics Lab, Medical Genetics Lab, and Plant Biotechnology Lab, before being appointed Assistant Professor at CEMB, University of the Punjab, Lahore, in 2023.
Her research focuses on the genetic improvement of crops, particularly potatoes, targeting disease resistance against fungal, viral and bacterial pathogens, and biofortification to enhance nutritional value and agronomic traits such as post-harvest shelf life, extending to cotton, lentils, alfalfa, and Brassica species. She received a Technology Development Fund (TDF) grant for developing genetically engineered potatoes with extended shelf life, and serves as Co-Principal Investigator or team member on projects funded by the Islamic Development Bank, the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the Pakistan Science Foundation, and Health Security Partners (HSP), USA.
Selected contributions
Science translated into capability
Potato genetic improvement
Leads CRISPR/Cas-based research to reduce cold-induced sweetening in potatoes and improve disease resistance and shelf life.
Crop biofortification
Conducts biofortification research across potato, cotton, lentils, alfalfa and Brassica to enhance nutritional value and agronomic traits.
Technology Development Fund grant
Received a TDF grant to develop genetically engineered potatoes with extended post-harvest shelf life.
International research exchange
Conducted PhD research in Turkey under the Mevlana Exchange Program and attended the Global Young Scientists Summit (GYSS) 2019 in Singapore.
Community and events leadership
Founded the Gulls' Association-Pakistan, chairs the CEMB Journal Club, and has organised over 75 national events including for the Congress of Molecular Biology.