Dr Seda Kizilel supervised 2 Postdocs, 20 MS, 10 PhD students in total (2 Postdocs, 18 MS and 5 PhDs completed their research/ thesis, 4 PhDs and 2 MS ongoing) at Koç University since 2008. Nearly all of the former graduate students from Dr Kizilel’s group continued an academic career in well-respected Universities in USA and Europe (UC Berkeley, UC Davis, U Southern California, Humboldt University in Berlin, Max Planck Institutes in Germany).

Graduated Students – Name/graduation year/thesis title

1. Burcu Beyaz, MS 01/2022 “Developing a Novel Recombinant IL-1 Receptor Antagonist to Treat the Cytokine Storm in Covid-19”
2. Syeda Rubab Batool, PhD 06/ 2021 “Design, Fabrication and Characterization of Light Responsive Functionalized Hydrogel for Tissue Engineering Applications”

Rubab received Canadian Biomaterials Society (CBS Merit & travel Award) in the 35th Annual Meeting of CBS, Quebec, 21-24 May 2019.

3. Nihal Olcay Doğan MS 10/2019 “Development of Chitosan-Based Delivery Systems for Biomedical Applications”

Nihal received Koç University Academic Excellence Award – June 2019. Currently, Nihal is PhD student at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Germany.

4. Yasemin İnceoğlu MS 09/2019 “Engineering Beta-Cell Organoids for Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes”
5. Mükrime Birgül Akolpoğlu, MS 09/2018 “Development of Biomimetic Approaches for Immunoisolation of Functional Islets” PhD student at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Germany.
6. Uğur Bozüyük, MS 09/2018 “Design of Chitosan-Based Carriers for Biomedical Engineering Applications”

Uğur received Koç University Academic Excellence Award – June 2018. Currently, Uğur is PhD student at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Germany.

7. Pelin Erkoç, PhD, 09/2017 “Design of Biodegradable Hydrogels for the Development of in vitro Models for Glioblastoma Multiforme”, Postdoctoral scholar at Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Germany. (Currently, Pelin is Assistant Professor at Bahçehir University, İstanbul and Visiting Researcher in Frankfurt, Germany)
8. Tuğba Bal, PhD, 09/2017/ “Design of Biomimetic Extracellular Matrix to Improve Pancreatic Islet Engraftment”

Tuğba received Koç University Academic Excellence PhD Award – June 2017. Currently, Tuğba is Assistant Prof at Üsküdar University, İstanbul.

9. Derya Aydın, PhD, 06/2017 “Design of Functional Materials via Emulsion Templating: Energy and Biomedical Applications”, Currently, Derya is R&D Senior Specialist at AKKIM, Yalova, Turkey.
10. Dilem Ceren Oran, MS, 08/2017 “Design of Local Immune Privileged Microenvironment to Prevent Islet Graft Rejection” PhD student at Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin.
11. M Sadi Gürses, MS, 08/2016 “Characterization of Detergent Residues on Glass Surfaces” (advisor), PhD student at University of California Davis, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
12. Gunce Ezgi Cinay, MS, 08/2015 “Nanogel-incorporating pH Responsive Composite Hydrogels for Controlled Drug Delivery” (advisor)/ Graduate student at University of Southern California, Biomedical Engineering.
13. Aysu Ceren Okur, MS, 09/2015 “Synthesis of PEG-Hydrogel Particles through Water-in-Water Emulsion for Cancer Cell Targeting” (advisor), PhD student at University of California Davis, Material Science and Engineering.
14. Doğan Gidon, BS, 06/2014 “Biomedical Applications of Photocrosslinked Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS) Polymer Gels”/ Graduate student at UC Berkeley, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (advisor)
15. Ozlem Cevik, MS, 09/2014 “Visible-Light-Induced Synthesis of Novel pH Responsive Hybrid Hydrogels for Controlled Drug Delivery”, working at an industrial position (advisor)
16. Burcu Kepsutlu, MS, 09/2013 “Quantification of Interactions Among Circadian Clock Proteins via Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)” (advisor) / Graduate student at Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
17. Tuğba Bal, MS, 08/29/2012 “Characterization of Protein Release from Poly(ethylene glycol) Hydrogels with Permeability Gradients” (advisor) / Graduate student at Koc University
18. Selin Kanyas, MS, 08/10/2012 “Design of a Functional Composite Membrane via Particle Stabilized Emulsion Templating” (advisor)/ Graduate student at UC Berkeley.
19. Enis Demir, MS, 9/2011 / “Investigation of Real Time DNA Repair via Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)” (advisor) / Engineer at Reckitt Banister
20. Caner Nazlı, MS, 09/2011 / “Encapsulation of Pancreatic Islets/Nanoparticles within Biofunctional Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) Hydrogel” (advisor)
21. Selimcan Azizoğlu, MS, 09/19/2011 / “Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Binding of Small Molecular Weight Drugs to Proteins” (advisor)
22. Bilal Çakır, MS, 09/2010 / “Biochemical Characterization of Regulators of Insulin Degrading Enzyme (IDE)” (co-advisor)/ Postdoc at Yale University.
23. Ezgi Dağyıldız, MS, 11/2010/ “Discovery of Small Molecule Regulators of Insulin Degrading Enzyme via Computational Screening Approach” (co-advisor)/ Engineer at Reckitt Banister

In Progress (3 MS, 4 PhD, 1 postdoc)

Name/graduation year/thesis title

• Mohammad Anwaar Nazeer, postdoc completed on 09/2020
• Ayesha Gulzar PhD expected 09/2024
• Selcan Karaz MS expected 12/2022 (coadvisor with Dr Erkan Şenses)
• Beste Tunalı MS expected 5/2022 (coadvisor with Dr Cem Albayrak)
• Işılay Göktan MS expected 09/2022
• Esra Yalçın PhD expected 09/2024
• İsmail Can Karaoğlu, PhD expected 09/2025
• Prof Dr. Murat Hasanreisoğlu (Ophthalmologist at Koç University Hospital), PhD expected 09/2025

Research for Undergraduates 

• Zeynep Deniz Lal, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, received Tübitak STAR Fellowship with the support of Dr Seda Kizilel
• Ayça Tüter, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, received Tübitak STAR Fellowship with the support of Dr Seda Kizilel
• İlke Gürgan, Fall 2021, Spring 2021, received Tübitak STAR Fellowship with the support of Dr Seda Kizilel
• Betül Karanfil, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, received Tübitak STAR Fellowship with the support of Dr Seda Kizilel
• Demet Tümkaya, Fall 2021, received Tübitak STAR Fellowship with the support of Dr Seda Kizilel
• Ipek Simay Gokulu, Spring and Fall 2017, Spring and Fall 2018

İpek contributed to the experimental research in my lab and has become a co-author in 1 SCI-indexed paper and a book chapter. İpek was accepted to Columbia University Biomedical Engineering PhD program where she received Blavatnik Fellowship at Columbia University during Fall 2019,  due to her undergraduate research experience at Koç University.

• Lale Karataylıoğlu, Spring 2015, Fall 2015, Spring 2016
• Gözde Sultan Demirer, Honor student, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, 2013, 2014

Gözde contributed to the experimental research in my lab, during her undergraduate education and has become a co-author in 2 SCI-indexed papers. She completed her PhD at UC Berkeley and is now an Assistant Prof at California Institute of Technology

• Doğan Gidon, Honor student, Spring 2012, 2013, 2014 and Fall 2012, 2013

Doğan contributed to the experimental research in my lab and has become a co-author in 2 SCI-indexed papers. Doğan was accepted to UC Berkeley PhD program and completed his PhD at UC Berkeley.

• Burcu Kepsutlu, Honor student, Spring 2011.

Burcu contributed to the experimental research in my lab and has become a co-author in 2 SCI-indexed papers and stayed at Koç University for her MS

• Ipek Ergenç, Honor student, Spring 2010, 2011

İpek contributed to the experimental research in my lab and has become a co-author in 2 SCI-indexed papers)

• Ezgi Sarıkaya, Spring 2010
• Hilal F Eryılmaz, Spring 2008/2009

Dr. Muhammad Anwaar Nazeer	Postdoctoral Researcher
Syeda Rubab Batool	PhD Candidate, Biomedical Sciences & Engineering
Esra Yalçın	PhD Student, Biomedical Sciences & Engineering
Ayesha Gulzar	PhD Student, Biomedical Sciences & Engineering
Işılay Göktan	PhD Student, Chemical & Biological Engineering
Burcu Beyaz	MS Student, Biomedical Sciences & Engineering
İsmail Can Karaoğlu	PhD Student, Chemical & Biological Engineering
Prof Dr Murat Hasanreisoğlu
Alumni
Nihal Olcay Doğan	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2019 Current Position: PhD candidate at Max Planck Institute, Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Germany
Yasemin Inceoğlu	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2019
Mohammad Alipour	PhD, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2019 Current Position: Postdoc at KOC University
Uğur Bozüyük	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2018 Current Position: PhD candidate at Max Planck Institute, Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Germany
Birgul Akolpoğlu	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2018 Current Position: PhD candidate at Max Planck Institute, Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart, Germany
Pelin Erkoç	PhD, Biomedical Sciences & Engineering-2017 Current Position: Assistant Professor at Bahçeşehir University, Istanbul
Dilem Ceren Oran	MS, Biomedical Sciences & Engineering-2017 Current Position: PhD candidate at MaxDelbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
Tuğba Bal	PhD, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2017 Current Position: Instructor at Bezmialem University, Istanbul, Turkey
Derya Aydın	PhD, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2017 Current Position: R&D Project Director, Akkim, Yalova, Turkey
Sadi M Gurses	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2016 Current Position: PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis
Gunce Ezgi Cinay	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2015 Current Position: PhD candidate in Biomedical Engineering, University of Southern California
Aysu Ceren Okur	MS, Biomedical Sciences & Engineering-2015 Current Position: PhD Candidate in Materials Science & Engineering, University of California, Davis
Gozde Sultan Demirer	Undergrad, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2015 Current Position: PhD candidate in Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Ozlem Cevik	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2014 Current Position: Researcher position in Industry
Dogan Gidon	Undergrad, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2014 Current Position: PhD candidate in Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Burcu Kepsutlu	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2013 Current Position: PhD candidate at Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
Tugba Bal	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2012 Current Position: Instructor at Bezmialem University, Istanbul, Turkey
Selin Kanyas	MS, Materials Science & Engineering-2012 Current Position: PhD candidate in Materials Science & Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Caner Nazli	MS, Materials Science & Engineering-2011
Selimcan Azizoglu	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2011 Current Position: Graduate Student in Sociology, Sehir University, Istanbul
Enis Demir	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2011 Current Position: Researcher in Industry
T. Ipek Ergenc	Undergrad, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2011 Current Position: Process Engineer at Procter & Gamble
Ezgi Dagyildiz	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2010 Current Position: Reckitt Benckiser
Bilal Cakir	MS, Chemical & Biological Engineering-2010 Current Position: Postdoc at Yale University