Overview of the Department
The Department of Biotechnology at Women University Mardan is committed to excellence in biotechnology education, research, and innovation. Offering BS and M.Phil. Biotechnology programs, the department provides rigorous academic training complemented by modern laboratory experience and interdisciplinary research. Research activities focus on probiotics, antimicrobial resistance, industrial and environmental biotechnology, wastewater treatment, molecular and microbial biotechnology, and sustainable bioprocess development. Through strategic collaborations with research institutions, industries, hospitals, and environmental organizations, the department promotes experiential learning, innovation, and commercialization while preparing graduates to address emerging challenges in health, agriculture, industry, and environmental sustainability.
Contact No: 0937 871 416
Email : biotechnology@wumardan.edu.pk
HoD’s Message
Dr. Hina Jabeen
Head Department of Biotechnology
Undergraduate Program
Graduate Program
Vision
Our vision is to produce highly qualified and competent managers in all the selected areas of Microbiology to develop and maintain a strong and supportive research programme to complement our national needs and to rise as centre of excellence, information and knowledge in all fields of biological sciences.
Mission
The mission of Biological Sciences Department is to promote good quality education, research and to provide the most rigorous and inspiring training in the discipline of Microbiology with greater significance of its applications in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Publication Records — Department of Biotechnology
Consolidated list of book chapters, research articles, review articles, and short communications.
| S.No | Name | Category | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hina Jabeen | Book Chapter | Recent Developments in Strigolactone–Heavy Metal Research in Plants |
| 2 | Hina Jabeen | Book Chapter | Transcriptome, Proteome and Metabolome Profiling for Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Maize and Barley |
| 3 | Hina Jabeen | Book Chapter | Genetic Engineering of Rice for Resistance to Insect Pests |
| 4 | Hina Jabeen | Book Chapter | Plant–Microbe Interaction Modulating Enzymatic Response Under Stress Conditions |
| 5 | Hina Jabeen | Book Chapter | Sulfur and Its Influence on Plant Stress Responses |
| 6 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Heterologous Expression and Characterization of a Thermostable MprT Metalloprotease from Thermophilic Bacillus subtilis BSP in Dual Host Systems |
| 7 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Immunoinformatic-Based Designing of an Immune-Boosting and Non-Allergenic Multi-Epitope Subunit Vaccine Against Enterovirus D68 |
| 8 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Driving Forces Behind Depleting Forest Resources and Environmental Degradation in Northern Temperate of Pakistan |
| 9 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Assessment of Water Quality Degradation Due to Waste Dumping and Its Impacts on Ichthyo-Diversity of River Swat |
| 10 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Microbial Remediation of Triphenylmethane Dye-Contaminated Wastewater |
| 11 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Production of Quality Compost from Pennywort Plant Wastes |
| 12 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Application of a Novel Bacterium BDAM for the Bioremediation of Bispyribac Sodium in Wheat-Vegetated Soil |
| 13 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Identification and Analysis of the EPSPS Gene from Glyphosate-Resistant Ochrobactrum intermedium Sq20 |
| 14 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Enhanced Remediation of Chlorpyrifos by Ryegrass and a Chlorpyrifos-Degrading Bacterial Endophyte Mesorhizobium sp. HN3 |
| 15 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Optimization of Profenofos Degradation by a Novel Bacterial Consortium PBAC Using Response Surface Methodology |
| 16 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Biodegradation of Chlorpyrifos and 3,5,6-Trichloro-2-Pyridinol by a Novel Rhizobial Strain Mesorhizobium sp. HN3 |
| 17 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in the Tissues of Schizothorax plagiostomus at River Swat |
| 18 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | PCR-RFLP-Based Genetic Diversity of Plasmodium vivax Genotypes in District Mardan, Pakistan |
| 19 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Effect of Different Protein-Based Feed on the Growth of Mahseer |
| 20 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Biodiversity of Orb-Web Spiders of Buner Valley, Pakistan |
| 21 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Episode of Hepatitis C Viral Infection in the People of Swat, Pakistan |
| 22 | Hina Jabeen | Research/Review Article | Comparative Brain Analysis of Wild and Hatchery-Reared Mahseer (Tor putitora) |
| 23 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Phytochemistry, Vol 3: Marine Sources, Industrial Applications, and Recent Advances |
| 24 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Diverse Functional Roles of Strigolactones in Postharvest Biology |
| 25 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Recent Developments in Strigolactone–Heavy-Metal Research in Plants |
| 26 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Impact of non-coding RNA networks in plant abiotic stress tolerance |
| 27 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Role of chemical nano sensors for alleviation of sustainable agricultural and biomass production |
| 28 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Essential Oils from The Family Rutaceae |
| 29 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Fungal organisms: a check for harmful algal blooms |
| 30 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Heavy metal accumulation potential of aquatic fungi |
| 31 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Biochemical and pharmacotherapeutic potentials of lycopene in drug discovery |
| 32 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Environmental impacts of ethanol production system |
| 33 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Sensors for sorting and grading of fruits and vegetables |
| 34 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Pharmacognosy, nanomedicine, and contemporary issues pharmacognosy |
| 35 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Phytochemicals of marine origin |
| 36 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Extraction of marine phytochemicals |
| 37 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Marine sources, industrial applications, and recent advances |
| 38 | Nadia Sharif | Book Chapter | Origin of algae and their plastids |
| 39 | Nadia Sharif | Research Article | Computational Identification of Potent Multitarget Natural Ligands for Alzheimer’s Disease Therapeutics |
| 40 | Nadia Sharif | Research Article | Potential of Algal Biomass and Their Cultivation for Biofuels Production as Plausible Bio-resource for Economic Sustainability |
| 41 | Nadia Sharif | Research Article | Prevalence, Symptoms and Effective Measures against Novel Covid 19 Virus |
| 42 | Nadia Sharif | Research Article | Impact of biochar amendments on copper mobility, phytotoxicity, photosynthesis and mineral fluxes on (Zea mays L.) in contaminated soils |
| 43 | Nadia Sharif | Research Article | Effect of mutagens on biomass and lipid content of ulothrix sp. and oscillatoria sp. for improved biodiesel production |
| 44 | Nadia Sharif | Research Article | Phytoremediation of Potentially Toxic Elements from Contaminated Saline Soils Using Salvadora persica L.: Seasonal Evaluation |
| 45 | Nadia Sharif | Research Article | Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Extracts from selected Algal Species |
| 46 | Nadia Sharif | Research Article | Efficient lipid extraction and quantification of fatty acids from algal biomass using accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) |
| 47 | Nadia Sharif | Research Article | Optimization of Growth Conditions of Different Algal Strains and Determination of Their Lipid Contents |
| 48 | Nadia Sharif | Review Article | Reforming food security and safety: The impact of emerging technologies |
| 49 | Nadia Sharif | Review Article | Development of halophytes as energy feedstock by applying genetic manipulations |
| 50 | Nadia Sharif | Review Article | Microbial Production of Alginate |
| 51 | Nadia Sharif | Review Article | Prolific Anticancer Bioactivity of Algal Extracts |
| 52 | Nadia Sharif | Review Article | Algae: A potent antioxidant source |
| 53 | Nadia Sharif | Review Article | Harvesting and Processing of Microalgae Biomass Fractions for Biodiesel Production |
| 54 | Nadia Sharif | Review Article | Harvesting and Processing of Microalgae Biomass Fractions for Biodiesel Production |
| 55 | Nadia Sharif | Short Communication | Factors Affecting Agrobacterium mediated Transformation of Indigenous Chlorella vulgaris Bayerinck |
| 56 | Nadia Sharif | Short Communication | Heavy Metal Contamination of Drinking Water nearby Hadiara Drain |
| 57 | Nadia Sharif | Short Communication | Mass cultivation of various algal species and their evaluation as a potential candidate for lipid production |
| 58 | Neelam Zeb | Book Chapter | Sulphur and Its Influence on Plant Stress Responses |
| 59 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | Nutritional Status, Knowledge and Adherence to Dietary Advice in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Peshawar: A Case-Control (N-KAD) Study |
| 60 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | Morphology-Controlled Fabrication of Zinc Phosphate Hierarchical Microspheres for Room-Temperature Ammonia Gas Sensor |
| 61 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | A Recent Review on Cotton and Climate Change in Pakistan: Impacts, Mitigation and Adaptations |
| 62 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | Therapeutic Potential of Eucalyptus camaldulensis: An Evidence-Based Review |
| 63 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | Effect of pH and Metal Ions Produced from Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria |
| 64 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | Production of Quality Compost from Pennywort Plant Wastes |
| 65 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | A Review on Strain Development, Purification, Characterization and Their Industrial Applications |
| 66 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | Characterization of Amylase Produced by Thermophilic Bacillus sp. TS9 |
| 67 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | Purification of Amylase Produced by Thermophilic Bacillus sp. TS9 |
| 68 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | Flavonol Biosynthesis by Nonheme Iron Dioxygenases: A Computational Study into the Structure and Mechanism |
| 69 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | Random Mutagenesis of Super Koji (Aspergillus oryzae): Improvement in Production and Thermal Stability of α-Amylases for Maltose Syrup Production |
| 70 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | Hollow Mesoporous Hydroxyapatite Nanostructures: Smart Nanocarriers with High Drug Loading and Controlled Releasing Features |
| 71 | Neelam Zeb | Research/Review Article | Phylogenetic Analysis of Newly Isolated Protease-Producing Salt-Tolerant Psychrophilic Bacteria from Tirich Mir Glacier, Pakistan |
| 72 | Mariam Ahmad Mujtaba | Research Article | Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Analysis Reveals Immune Genes in Tuberculosis with Potential Relevance for Host-Directed Interventions |
| 73 | Mariam Ahmad Mujtaba | Research Article | Immunological and Hematological Characterisation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Infected Patients |
| 74 | Mariam Ahmad Mujtaba | Research Article | Association of Biochemical Parameters of COVID Susceptibility in Interferon Gamma Release Assay Positive Subjects |
| 75 | Mariam Ahmad Mujtaba | Research Article | Demographic and Clinical Determinants of Tuberculosis and TB Recurrence: A Double-Edged Retrospective Study from Pakistan |
| 76 | Mariam Ahmad Mujtaba | Research Article | Bioinformatics Approach to Identifying Potential Cancer-Associated Mutations in CCL2 |
| 77 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Prevalence and Clinical Features of Iodine Deficiency-Induced Hypothyroidism in District Mardan, Pakistan |
| 78 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Computational Identification of Potent Multi-Target Natural Ligands for Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutics |
| 79 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | A Cross-Sectional Study on Anemia Prevalence, Risk Factors, Nutritional Practices and the Efficacy of Iron-Fortified Flour |
| 80 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Prevalence of Malaria in Blood Smears of the Human Population in District Mardan |
| 81 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Nature's Medicine: Probiotics and Prebiotics |
| 82 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Porous Nitrogen-Doped Carbons Derived from Poultry Feathers for Electrochemical Capacitors |
| 83 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Genotoxicity of Aluminium Oxide, Iron Oxide, and Copper Nanoparticles in Mouse Bone Marrow Cells |
| 84 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Influence of Macronutrients, Phytohormones and Organic Manure on Gladiolus grandiflorus Growth, Flowering and Cormels |
| 85 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Detection of Dengue Virus in Suspected Patients of the 2013–2014 Dengue Outbreak in Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| 86 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Production of Quality Compost from Pennywort Plant Wastes |
| 87 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Purification of Amylase Produced by Thermophilic Bacillus sp. TS9 |
| 88 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | In Vitro Toxicological Assessment of Iron Oxide, Aluminium Oxide and Copper Nanoparticles in Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cell Types |
| 89 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity Assessment of Silver Nanoparticles in Mice |
| 90 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | miR-34 Suppresses Mutagenesis by Inducing Apoptosis in Human Lymphoblastoid TK6 Cells |
| 91 | Rakhshinda Sadiq | Research Article | Genotoxicity of TiO₂ Anatase Nanoparticles in B6C3F1 Male Mice Evaluated Using Pig-a and Flow Cytometric Micronucleus Assays |
| 92 | Farzana | Research Article | Role of Clinical Microbiology in Diagnosing Fungal Bloodstream Infections Among Cancer Chemotherapy Patients |
| 93 | Farzana | Research Article | Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors for Osteoporosis in Adults |
| 94 | Farzana | Research Article | Molecular Epidemiology of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Genotypes Prevalent in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |
| 95 | Farzana | Research Article | Circulation of HBV Strains Among Chronic Hepatitis B Patients in District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| 96 | Farzana | Research Article | Molecular Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Genotypes in Peshawar |
| 97 | Farzana | Research Article | Impact of Combination Interferon Therapy on Body Weight, Body Fat and Lean Body Mass of Chronic HCV-Infected Patients |
| 98 | Farzana | Research Article | Seropositivity and Active HCV Infection in Patients from the Peshawar Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| 99 | Farzana | Research Article | Manipulation of Plant Growth Regulators and Non-Inductive Plant Environment to Control Plant Height of Facultative Short-Day Ornamental Annuals |
| 100 | Farzana | Research Article | Dengue Virus Serotypes 2 and 3 Causing High Morbidity and Mortality in Swat, Pakistan |
| 101 | Farzana | Research Article | Prevalence of Active Hepatitis C Infection in the General Population of District Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan |
| 102 | Farzana | Research Article | Increasing Resistance to Combination Therapy Among Chronic HCV Genotype 3a-Infected Patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa |

Dr. Hina Jabeen
Head of Department
Assistant Professor
Post-doctorate (Fulbright)
Email : dr.hinajabeen@wumardan.edu.pk
Specialization: Microbial Biodegradation, Bacterial Chemotaxis, Wastewater Remediation
Qualification : PhD Biotechnology

Dr. Rakhshinda Sadiq
Assistant Professor
Email: rakhshinda_sadiq@wumardan.edu.pk
Specialization: Environmental Toxicology
Qualification : PhD Biotechnology

Dr. Komal Aman
Lecturer
Email: komal.shah855@gmail.com
Email: dr.komalaman@wumardan.edu.pk
Specialization:Molecular Diagnostics & Medical Microbiology
Qualification : Ph.D.(Biotechnology)

Dr. Mariam Ahmad Mujtaba
Lecturer
Email: mariam_mujtaba@wumardan.edu.pk
Specialization: Molecular Biotechnology/Medical Biotechnology
Qualification: PhD Biotechnology

Dr. Neelam Zeb
Assistant Professor
Email:neelamzeb@wumardan.edu.pk
Specialization: Industrial Biotechnology/Microbial Enzyme Technology
Qualification : PhD Biotechnology

Dr. Nadia Sharif
Assistant Professor
Email : dnadiasharif@wumardan.edu.pk
Specialization: Environmental Biotechnology/Molecular Biotechnology
Qualification : PhD Biotechnology

Dr. Farzana
Lecturer
Email: drfarzana@wumardan.edu.pk
Specialization: Molecular Biology & Biotechnology
Qualification:PhD Biotechnology