PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

EDUCATION

The University of Chicago, IL ,USA / Surgery, Physics & Chemistry, Postdoc  

Illinois Institute of Technology, IL, USA / Biomedical Engineering,  Ph.D. 

Boğazici University, Istanbul, TR / Chemical Engineering, B.S./M.S.  

HONORS

● Outstanding Patent Application Award, Koç University, May 2023

● Finalist for ERC-Consolidator Grant, 2020.

●Outstanding Faculty Award, Koç University, College of Engineering, 2018.

● Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) Grant Encouragement Award, 2010.
● Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA, PI) Supported “L’ORÉAL Young Women in Science Award”, 2009.
● European Commission Marie Curie Fellowship FP7-PEOPLE-IRG (Reintegration Grant)- 2009-2013.

● Charles Huggins Annual Research Conference, Best Laboratory Research Award, University of Chicago, Department of Surgery, May 13th, 2006.
● Pritzker Research Fellowship, Pritzker Institute of Biomedical Engineering, IIT (2000-2001, Summer 2002).
● Ranked among in the top 100 out of one million, in the university wide entrance exam in Turkey, August 1990.
● Regional Award of The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) in branch of Math, June 1990.

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE 

6/2016-8/2023 : Guest Professor of Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (during summer terms), Stuttgart, Germany.

06/2015-08/2015: The University of Chicago, Institute of Molecular Engineering, KU Visiting Scholar.

01/2008 – present: Professor, Koç University, Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Istanbul, Turkey.

07/2014-08/2014: Koc University Visiting Scholar, The University of Chicago, Chicago, USA.

11/2004 – 11/2007: The University of Chicago, IL, Surgery, Physics and Chemistry, Postdoctoral Fellow (mentors: Prof. Milan Mrksich, Prof. Sidney Nagel, Prof. Marc Garfinkel)

08/1999 – 12/2004: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, Research and Teaching Assistant at the Biomedical Engineering and PhD student (advisors: Prof. F. Teymour & Prof. V.H. Perez-Luna)

08/1998 – 07/1999: Lehigh University (transferred after 1 year), Bethlehem, PA, Research and Teaching Assistant at the Chemical Engineering and PhD student (advisor: Prof. Mohamed S. El-Aasser)

02/1996 – 07/1998: Boğazici University, Istanbul, Turkey, Research Assistant and M.S. student in   Chemical Engineering, (Prof. Z. İlsen Önsan)

FUNDED GRANTS

Total Research Funding: ~3.5 M Euros (as PI) (16 completed projects, 6 projects ongoing as of November 2022)

  1. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, PI) COST-CA20140, “Investigation of the effect of knockout of HIVEP2 gene in insulin-secreting beta cells with CRISPR/Cas9 on immune acceptance and cell functionality in vivo” (2022-2025, ~$ 55,000), October 2022.
  2. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, PI, 2247-B, ERC Support Program Research Proposal) Organoid Carriers with Light-Triggered Ligand Release, accepted for funding, 500,000 TL (~28,000 USD) June 2022.
  3. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, Supervisor) 2236 Co-Funded Brain Circulation Scheme Fellowship Program, 2022-2024, accepted for funding of Dr Kiyumars Jalili as the visiting faculty of Dr Seda Kizilel’s research group at Koç University (70,200 Euro).
  4. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, PI) 1001 “Design of controlled functional photo-sensitive chitosan microparticles for optimal intravitreal release of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antagonist peptide” (2022-2025, ~$ 80,000), accepted for funding, Feb 2022.
  5. 1004-TBTK-01-2018, High technology Platform Calls, “Development of Biomarkers and Advanced Technology Products for the Follow-up and Treatment of Inflammation-mediated Autoimmune Diseases” (2021-2025, Co-PI: 3,5 Million TL/~437,500 USD)
  6. Ministry of Industry and Technology (Turkey) “Preparation of Interleukin receptor antonist (IL-1RA) for the treatment of Covid-19 Pneumonia-Induced Cytokine Rain” (Co-PI, 2020-2021, 742,000 TL/~100,000 USD)
  7. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, PI) COST-CA18132, “Design and Synthesis of Functional Glyconanomaterials for Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency” (2019-2022, ~$ 150,000).
  8. Koç University Seed Fund “Light-Triggered Molecule Release from Robotic Microswimmers” (2018-2020, ~$ 15,000)
  9. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, PI) COST-CA16122, “Investigation of Angiogenesis in Photo-responsive and Enzymatically Degradable Gels” (2018-2021, ~$ 200,000).
  10. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, PI) COST-CA15216, “Bioadhesive CREKA-PEG-Chitosan Nanoparticles for TRAIL Induced Gene Therapy in Glioblastoma (GBM)” (2017-2020, ~$ 200,000).
  11. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, PI) 1001 “Novel Nanoengineered Biointerfaces to Overcome Immunological Barriers” (2017-2020, ~$ 200,000).
  12. KUTEM (co-PI), “Development of Optofluidic Waveguides based Novel Photoreactors” (2016-2018, Co-PI: Prof Seda Kızılel, ~$15,000)
  13. GENERALI (PI), “Controlled Release of Anti-icing Agents from Polymeric Structures” (2016-2017, $35,000).
  14. AstraZeneca (PI), “Investigation of Immunoprotection Potential of Pancreatic Islets Encapsulated within Purinergic Receptor (P2RX7) Antagonist Incorporating Scaffolds” (2015-2017).
  15. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, PI) 1002, “Investigation of Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogel Encapsulated islets in a Diabetic Mouse Model ”(2015-2016, ~$ 12,000, completed).
  16. Kyoto University-Koç University Mobility fund “Multifunctional Scaffolds Incorporating Nanogels for Coating of Insulin Secreting Cells”, (PI, 5000 $)
  17. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, PI) 1001, “Encapsulation of Insulin Secreting Murine Pancreatic beta-cells (Min-6) within Ligand and Stem Cell Functional PEG Hydrogel” (2013-2015, ~$ 140,000,completed).
  18. Koç University-İstanbul Rotary Club Fundamental Research Seed Fund (PI), “Functionalized PEG Hydrogels as Immunoactive Barriers for Pancreatic Islet Cell Coating” (July 2012-July 2014, ~$ 42,500, completed)
  19. AKSA (sponsor from industry, with Prof. Yaman Arkun, PI), “Development of a Dynamic Model Based Optimization and Control of a Semibatch Acrylonitrile-Vinyl Chloride Copolymerization Reactor” (2011-2013, ~$ 74,700, completed)
  20. TUPRAS (largest petroleum and refinery company in Turkey, PI), “Elimination of Ice Formation on Functional Coatings” (Feb 2011- Feb 2014, ~$ 466,000, completed)
  21. Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, PI) 1001, “Investigation of Protein-protein Interactions between Clock Proteins Using Surface Plasmon Resonance” (2010-2012, ~$ 132,000, completed).
  22. Turkish Academy of Sciences (TUBA, PI) Supported “L’ORÉAL Young Women in Science Award”, “Coating of Pancreatic Islets within Nano-thin Biofunctional PEG” 2009, $12,000 completed.
  23. European Commission Marie Curie Fellowship FP7-PEOPLE-IRG (Reintegration Grant)-2008 “Microencapsulation of Islets within Biofunctional PEG Hydrogel” (2009-2013, €100,000, PI, completed).

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Executive Committee, KUTTAM, since Dec 1st, 2021

Working Group 1,2,4,5 & 6 Member of Cost Action CA20140 – CorEuStem: The European Network for Stem Cell Core Facilities, since March 2022.

Editorial Board Member, PLos One, Physical Science and Engineering Division, Feb 2018

Working Group 2 Leader of COST Action: European Network of Bioadhesion Expertise -CA15216, since Sep 2016.

Management Committee of Turkey in COST Action CA18132.

Management Committee substitute of Turkey in COST Action CA16122.

Management Committee of Turkey in COST Action CA15216.

Associate Professorship, Higher Education Council (YOK), Turkey, March 2014.

Associate Editor, SAGE Publishing, Nanobiomedicine, since 2015

Associate Editor, IST Press, (IST Transactions of Applied Mathematics-Modeling and Simulation AMMS), since 2009

Associate Editor, IST Press, (IST Transactions of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering (BSE), since 2009

Member, The International Polymer Colloids Group (IPCG), since August 2012

Member of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Association in Turkey, (BDMD, since Sept 2011

Marie Curie Fellows Association (MCFA) Membership, since 2009

Member, Biomedical Engineering Society (BME), since 2010

Member, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), since 2003

Member, American Diabetes Association (ADA), 2006