Amna Mehmood
About me
Dr. Amna Mehmood is a molecular biologist and senior scientist at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany. Having grown up as a refugee in Pakistan, she is committed to advancing science and health equity in resource-limited settings. She has contributed to establishing molecular diagnostic reference laboratories in Afghanistan through Global Fund and WHO projects and has researched breast cancer genes specific to the Pashtun population with Khyber Medical University, Peshawar. Her academic work focuses on engineering fluorescent proteins for non-invasive cancer imaging and translational diagnostics. A DAAD alumna, multilingual in five languages, she actively mentors refugee and international students and supports Afghan women and graduates through capacity-building and advocacy.
Dr. Amna Mehmood is a molecular biologist and senior scientist at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany, with more than ten years of experience in molecular biology, microbiology, and medical physics. Having grown up as a refugee in Pakistan, she developed resilience and a lifelong commitment to advancing education and health equity in resource-limited settings.
Her academic research focuses on developing genetically engineered fluorescent and phytochrome proteins for non-invasive cancer diagnostics using photoacoustic imaging. She has led projects on protein engineering (mNeptune, mCardinal, AGP1), established 3D tumor spheroid models, and explored translational applications for tumor detection. She also researched breast cancer genes specific to the Pashtun population in collaboration with Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, highlighting her dedication to regionally relevant cancer genetics and women’s health.
Beyond academia, Dr. Mehmood played a key role in establishing molecular diagnostic reference laboratories in Afghanistan through Global Fund and WHO projects, strengthening national diagnostic capacity for tuberculosis, influenza, pertussis, HIV, malaria, and other infectious diseases under extremely limited resources.
Alongside her scientific work, she is actively involved in diaspora networking, mentoring international and refugee students, and supporting Afghan women and young graduates in their educational and professional pathways. She has organized capacity-building workshops, advocacy initiatives, and knowledge-sharing platforms that connect diaspora expertise with local needs.
A DAAD alumna and multilingual in English, German, Urdu, Dari, and Pashto, Dr. Mehmood is passionate about bridging science, education, and social impact to strengthen global health and empower vulnerable communities.
Degrees:
Clinico-genomic findings, molecular docking, and mutational spectrum in an understudied population with breast cancer patients from KP, Pakistan. Hilal Ahmad, Asif Ali, Asif Ali*, Ali Talha Khalil, Roshan Ali, Ishaq Khan, Mah Muneer Khan, Ibrar Ahmed, Zarrin Basharat, Mohammed Alorini, Amna Mehmood*. Frontiers in Genetics, 15, Article 123456
Effect of Molecular Dynamics and Internal Water Contact on the Photophysical Properties of Red pH-Sensitive Proteins. Franz-Josef Schmitt*, Amna S. Mehmood, Christian Tüting, Hoang Trong Phan, Judith Reisdorf, Fabian Rieder, Farzin Ghane Golmohamadi, Rajni Verma, Panagiotis L. Kastritis, Jan Laufer* Journal of the American Chemical Society,145(49), 26312–26321.
Metaplastic Meningioma Presenting With Anemia in a Young Boy: Case Report and Review of the Literature. Ayesha Sajjad; Amna Mehmood; Maria Tasneem Khattak; Naveed Zaman Akhunzada; Faryal Javaid; Sana Ullah Khan; Shifa Basharat; Ayesha Safdar. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 8(3), 236–240.
Effects of Letrozole on Trabecular Diameter of Long Bone: Mouse Model. Muhammad Haroon Khan, Nabila Momin, Sarah Javed, Faiqa Mobeen, Amna Mehmood, Sana Ullah Khan * International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 8(3), 231–235.
The Immunohistochemical Expression of P53 and its Role in Grading Urothelial Carcinoma. Faiqa Mubeen; Amna Mehmood; Ayesha Sajjad; Mehreen Mushtaq; Faryal Javaid; Sana Ullah Khan6; Maria Aslam; Usama Rehman. Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International, 34(31A), 18–24.
Marinobacter adhaerens HP15 harbors two CzcCBA efflux pumps involved in zinc detoxification. Antje Stahl, Daniel Pletzer, Amna Mehmood, Matthias S. Ullrich*Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 108(1), 157–168.
Expression of extra-cellular levansucrase in Pseudomonas syringae is controlled by the in planta fitness-promoting metabolic repressor HexR. Amna Mehmood, Khaled Abdallah, Shaunak handekar, Daria Zhurina, Abhishek Srivastava, Nehaya Al-Karablieh, Gabriela Alfaro-Espinoza, Daniel Pletzer & Matthias S Ullrich*. BMC Microbiology, 15, Article 27.