I am Ajmal Khan Manduzai, born and raised as an Afghan refugee in district Mansehra, Kyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. I have completed a Master of Sciences (MS) in Biotechnology from COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Pakistan. I am a highly motivated and analytically skilled researcher, preferring to work in a multi-dynamic and cross-cultural environment to foster my professional and institutional objectives. The core strength of my professional achievements is my ability to manage and train my peers to meet personal and organizational goals.

I am experienced in overseeing all aspects of scientific research and diagnostic laboratory operations, from specimen collection to test analysis. Following my graduation studies, I have passionately been involved in research activities to fill the gap in environmental, anthropological, and ethnobiological literature, focusing on Afghan war refugees and the effects of forced migration on their foraging practices and wild plant use/gastronomy.

I am a highly motivated and detail-oriented person, focusing on cutting-edge, innovative, and cross-disciplinary research activities that enrich respective specialized fields of knowledge and skills. My work collectively explores the deep and complex nature of food concepts. My research highlights the effects of forced migration on foraging practices, wild plant uses, health, and gastronomic values.

• Ethnobotany and Food Heritage of Minorities and Peripheries:
  • Local environmental and gastronomic knowledge and practices (LEK/LGK) among ethnic, linguistic, and religious minorities, as well as peripheral communities (mountains and islands).
  • Cross-cultural comparisons with surrounding majority groups and cultural negotiations affecting LEK/LGK of minorities.
  • Projections: Biocultural heritage, rural development, social inclusion, revitalization of traditional or forgotten food.
• Human Ecology:
  • Foraging traditional weeds and their bitter taste; new foragers and educational platforms.
  • Projections: Healthy diet, new gastronomies based on herbs, environmental education, citizen science, ecological transition.
• Temporal Dynamics of Local Knowledge Systems:
  • Temporal shifts in LEK due to environmental, socio-political, and economic changes.
  • Ethnobiology of migrants and refugees, LEK/LGK changes after migration.
  • Resilience and adaptation strategies.
  • Projections: Environmental history and policies, urban and migrant policies.

As the Director of Research and Publications at MIoHE, it is a great honor and privilege to lead this directorate.

Our research center covers a wide range of studies of different natures. We particularly focus on public health research and conduct other cross-sectional studies in the fields of law and political sciences.

We also facilitate and fund projects to promote quality research. Additionally, we have international support for our research activities, as we have signed MOUs with international organizations and work closely with them.

I strongly encourage you to visit our office, openly share your views, and learn about the services we provide to our students, teachers, and society.

• Master of Science (MS), COMSATS University, Islamabad - 2017–2019
• Bachelor of Science (BS), Hazara University, Mansehra - 2010–2013
• Higher Secondary School Examination Certificate (HSSC), Jinnah Basic School and College, Mansehra - 2008
• Secondary School Examination Certificate, Light Tower Public School and College, Mansehra - 2006

• Head of Research, Translation, and Compilation Department (Current), Mili Institute of Higher Education, Kabul, Afghanistan (2024)
• Independent Field Researcher (2019-2024)
• Laboratory Technologist/Emergency WASH Trainer, Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (DACAAR), Kabul, Afghanistan
• Microbiology Laboratory Supervisor, French Medical Institute for Children (FMIC), Kabul, Afghanistan