Yalemtsehay Mekonnen is a Professor of Cell and Human Physiology. Currently she is a teaching staff of the Department of Biology at the College of Natural Sciences of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.  Her main research focus is on nutritional and medicinal plants and the unwanted side effects of chemicals (pesticides) that affect human health and the environment. She has over 110 publications in different peer reviewed scientific journals on topics of respiratory physiology, medicinal plants and other related topics. She has advised many MSc and PhD students. In leadership positions she was involved and has initiated a number of national and international research networks and collaborations. She has also mentored young professionals specially women over the last three decades. She was awarded research grants and fellowships nationally from Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission and Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization and internationally from the British Council, the International Foundation for Science, Third World of Academy of Sciences, the German Academic Exchange Service and the Alexander von Humboldt foundation. She had a number of short research stays in German universities namely; University of Heidelberg, Martin Luther University Halle, University of Kassel, University of Hohenheim, in England in London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and in Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and in Japan in Primate Research Institute in Inhyoma City. She has presented extensively her research results in national, regional and international scientific and professional meetings and conferences. She received the 2015 the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards for high achievement for women in science. She has been appointed as Ambassador Scientist by Alexander von Humboldt Foundation of Germany as part of a worldwide network for excellence in science since 2016.