PI
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Urartu Özgür Şafak ŞEKER
Postdoc : MIT-Massachusetts Institute of Technology Synthetic Biology Center, Research Laboratory of Electronics 2011-2014
Singapore Nanyang Technological University, Electrical-Electronics Engineering, 2010-2011
PhD: Molecular Biology -Genetics and Biotechnology , Istanbul Technical University , 2009
Research Assistant (Visiting Graduate Student): University of Washington, Materials Science and Engineering, 2004-2007
Visiting Scholars
Dr. Burcu Gündüz Ergün
MSc: Biotechnology, Middle East Technical University, 2012
MSc: Biotechnology, University of Edinburgh, 2014
PhD: Biotechnology, Middle East Technical University, 2018
Food Engineer at Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Biotechnology Research Center, 2014-Present
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ceren Özkul Koçak
MSc: Medical Microbiology, Hacettepe University Medical School, 2009
PhD: Medical Microbiology, Gazi University Medical School, 2016
Assoc. Prof. at Hacettepe University, Faculty of Pharmacology, 2021-Present
PhD Students
Recep Erdem Ahan – PhD Candidate
BSc : Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Technical University, 2014
BSc: (Double Major) : Chemistry, Istanbul Technical University, 2015
MSc: Material Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 2018
Recep graduated from the department of Molecular Biology and Genetics in Istanbul Technical University. He also did double major with Chemistry. His main interests focus on bioengineering. He participated the iGEM competition in 2013 with iGEM team of ITU as president of team.In his free time, he likes to watch movies, hangs out with friends, walks the Istiklal Street with a coffee. Also, he is a daydreamer and enjoys to dream that he can fly without wings.
Merve Erden – PhD Candidate
BSc : Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, 2016
MSc: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, 2018
Merve is graduated from the department of Molecular Biology and Genetics in Bilkent University at 2016. Her main research focus is on biochemistry. She is interested in understanding the transcriptomic response of nanoparticle triggered toxicity. She aims to use the clues from transcriptomic data to build genetic circuits to overcome the toxic effects of the nanoparticles. In her free time, she likes to dance, watching movies and hanging around with friends.
Merve Yavuz – PhD Candidate
BSc : Molecular Biology and Genetics, METU, 2016
Merve has graduated from Middle East Technical University, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. Currently, she is working on developing synthetic genetic circuits to produce bacterial magnets within the cell for biomedical applications.
Besides science, she is willing to spend time with special children (with leukemia or Down syndrome). She loves music and enjoys playing violin, painting and reading novels.
Cemile Elif Özçelik – PhD Student
BSc : Molecular Biology and Genetics, Middle East Technical University
MSc: Material Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 2020
Elif has graduated from METU, department of molecular biology and genetics in 2017. She has participated in iGEM team of METU in 2015 as an active member. She has an experience in cell culture applications. Besides them, she likes painting, knitting, fencing, and travelling.
Suat Tüçer – PhD Student
MSc: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, 2019
Suat was graduated from ITU, Molecular Biology and Genetics department. He got his MSc degree in Bilkent University MBG department and his main research focus was on immunology. He is now in UNAM to broaden his knowledge in biology related interdisciplinary fields in his PhD degree.
He loves nature and in his free time he likes to go camping and doing sport.
Senem Şen – PhD Student
BSc: Bioengineering, Ege University, 2018
MSc: Bioengineering, Ege University, 2021
Senem graduated from Ege University, department of bioengineering in 2018. She likes particularly the works that require analytical intelligence. Besides them, she enjoys doing yoga and chatting with her loved ones.
Aslı Semerci – PhD Student
BSc: Molecular Biology and Genetics, İstanbul University, 2015
MSc: Medical Biotechnology, Acıbadem University, 2018
Aslı is graduated from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at İstanbul University in 2015. She has a strong passion to understand the pathologic characteristics of disorders and developing new approaches for diagnosis of treatment. Besides that, she has two startup experiences as a cofounder. Her motivation is using scientific knowledge for improving human life quality. She likes spent time in nature and animals.
Melis Karaca – PhD Student
BSc: Molecular Biology and Genetics, İstanbul Technical University, 2021
Melis has graduated from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Istanbul Technical University, in 2021. She is mainly interested in biotechnological drugs and drug delivery. Her hobbies include singing, listening to Turkish Classical Music, doing yoga, playing tennis and bridge, and spending time with her loved ones.
Doğuş Akboğa – PhD Student
BSc: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, 2021
Doğuş has graduated from the Molecular Biology and Genetics Department of Bilkent University in 2021. He has been working in SynBioLab since February 2019. He was a member of the iGEM team in 2019 and 2020. He has worked on a variety of projects for SynBioLab throughout his undergraduate, his main area of interest now is synthetic biology applications for cancer immunotherapy. He is a bookworm, has experience in playing and coaching professional junior varsity basketball teams of Hacettepe University, Ankara University, and Turk Telekom, and loves making hip-hop music.
Ahmet Hınçer – PhD Student
BSc: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University
MSc: Material Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 2023
Fayiti Fuerkaiti – PhD Student
BSc: Bioengineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 2016
MSc: Bioengineering, Hacettepe University, 2020
Fayiti Fuerkaiti is from China and his mother tongue is Uyghur and he also speak 3 different languages. Graduating from Shanghai Jiaotong University and came to Türkiye through Turkish gavernment scholarship program. After finishing master’s study from Hacettepe University he took a path in professional interpretation in government for two years. His motto is Hard work produces luck and success.
M.Sc. Students
Mehmet Emin Bakar – MSc Student
BSc: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, 2021
Mehmet graduated from Bilkent University Molecular Biology and Genetics Department in 2021, and he is a member of SynBioLab since February 2019. He is currently interested in engineered living biomaterials. He is a cinephile, a music geek, an economics enthusiast, a coffeeholic, and a snake lover. Spending time with his loved ones and pets is meditative to him.
Ece Avcı – MSc. Student
BSc: Biology, Middle East Technical University, 2021
Ece graduated from the Middle East Technical University, Department of Biology with honors. She was a long-term intern at Ankara University, Department of Medicine, In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory. She is now interested in applications of the recently discovered CRISPR tool in combating viral diseases. She enjoys baking and trying out new recipes. She was a classical ballet dancer for 6 years and a professional standard ballroom dancer in the METU dance-sport team.
Cem Dirse Polat – MSc. Student
BSc: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Middle East Technical University, 2022
Cem graduated from the department of Molecular Biology and Genetics of METU. He was fascinated by the complexity of biological systems starting from a young age and thus he decided to pursue a degree in this field. Now he is interested in synthetic biology and creating biotechnological tools to combat problems such as environmental pollution. In his free time he enjoys watching sports and playing video games.
Nazlıcan Tunç – MSc. Student
BSc: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir Institute of Technology, 2022
Nazlıcan graduated from Izmir Institute of Technology, department of Molecular Biology and Genetics in 2022. She is interested in designing biosensors through genetic circuits. She likes playing video games, watching anime and folk dancing.
Abdurahman Atilla – MSc. Student
BSc: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul University, 2022
I graduated from the department of Molecular Biology and Genetics of Istanbul University. I did internship in Synthetic Biosystems Lab in Bilkent University. I was fascinated synthetic biology when I was a third grade student in university. My hobbies include playing video games and watching movies and tv series.
Damla Albayrak – MSc. Student
BSc: Biology, Middle East Technical University, 2022
Damla graduated from Middle East Technical University, Department Of Biology in 2022. She was a long-term intern at METU. She is currently interested in engineered living bio-therapeutics. In her free time she enjoys baking, painting, travelling and spending time with her loved ones.
Derin Akman – MSc. Student
BSc: Biology, Middle East Technical University, 2022
Derin graduated from the Department of Biology of Middle East Technical University in 2022 with honors. During her undergraduate studies, she performed three long-term internships in METU and in University of Cologne. Her passion and interest in synthetic biology brought her to UNAM. She is a member of Synthetic Biosystems Lab now, interested in developing living synthetic biosystems for biomedicine. In her free time, she loves to do yoga and trying out new places.
Aslı Doğruer – MSc. Student
BSc: Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bilkent University, 2023
Aslı graduated from Bilkent University with a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics in 2023. She completed an internship at the SynBioLab during her last year of undergraduate studies. She is fascinated by synthetic biology’s immense potential to engineer novel biological systems for therapeutic applications. In her spare time, she enjoys reading books, dancing, and painting.
Alumni
Postdoc Alumni
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Dr. Ebru Aras Hira (2019-2022) Research with SBL : Engineered Bacterial Therapeutics for Metabolic Diseases Current Position : Scientist at Harvard University Medical School Joslin Diabetes Center |
Dr. Esra Yuca (2018-2020) Research with SBL : Engineered bacterial biofilm proteins for living materials Current Position : Assistant Prof. at Yildiz Technical University Molecular Biology&Genetics |
PhD Graduates of Synthetic Biosystems Laboratory
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Dr. Ebru Şahin Kehribar, 2021 Completed Ph.D. degree with SBL Current Position: CSO at Synbiotik Biotechnology/ CSO Omega Bio Diagnostics Postdoc at SBL |
Dr. Behide Saltepe, 2020 Completed Ph.D. degree with SBL Current Position: Postdoc at University of Edinburgh, School of Biological Sciences, Wang Lab |
Dr. Elif Duman, 2019 Completed Ph.D. degree with SBL Current Position: Senior scientist at Synbiotik Biotechnology |
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Dr. Tolga Tarkan Ölmez, 2017 Completed Ph.D. degree with SBL Current Position: Postdoc at Yale University, Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, ACAR Lab |
Dr. Ebuzer Kalyoncu, 2017 Completed Ph.D. degree with SBL Current Position: Assistant Professor, İstanbul Health Science and Technology University (ISTUN), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics |
Dr. Recep Erdem Ahan, 2023 Completed Ph.D. degree with SBL |
MSc. Graduates of Synthetic Biosystems Laboratory
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Gozeel Binte Shahid, 2024 Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : |
Ahmet Hınçer, 2023 Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : Pursuing PhD with SBL
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Nedim Kurt, 2022 Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : Researcher, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |
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| Anooshay Khan, 2022Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL
Current Position : PhD Student at the University of Cologne, CECAD (Aging Cluster of Excellence) |
Çisil Köksaldı, 2021 Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : PhD Student at ETH-Zürich Control Theory and Systems Biology Laboratory |
Gökçe Özkul, 2021
Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : PhD Student at Eindhoven University of Technology, Lab of Tom de Greef |
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| Sıla Köse, 2021
Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : PhD Student at the University of Konstanz, Hartig Group – Germany |
Büşra Merve Kırpat, 2021 Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : PhD Student at the University of Freiburg, Di Ventura Lab – Germany |
Julian Ostaku, 2021
Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : Phd Student, Medizinische Universität Graz , Austria |
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Eray Ulaş Bozkurt, 2021 Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : PhD Student at Technical University of Denmark |
Cemile Elif Özçelik, 2020 Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : pursuing PhD with SBL |
Özge Beğli, 2019 Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : Radbound University, Netherlands |
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| Musa Efe Işılak, 2019Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : Family Farm (not a joke 🙂 ) |
Nedim Hacıosmanoğlu, 2019
Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position : PhD Student at Bilkent UNAM |
Onur Apaydın, 2017Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL
Current Position : PhD Student Max Delbruck Centrum for Molekular Medicine – Dr. Suphansa Sawamiphak’s Lab – Germany |
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| Tuğçe Önür, 2016Completed Master of Science (MSc) degree with SBL Current Position :PhD Student Queensland University of Technology – Australia |
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH STUDENTS
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Ebru Çüren Undergraduate Student (METU) Current Position: MSc student in Biochemistry at University of Bremen |
irem Niran Çağıl Undergraduate Student (Bilkent Senior) Current Position: MS student at LMU Munich |
Fatma Hilal Üstün
Undergraduate Student (Bilkent Senior) Current Position: MS student at Heidelberg University |
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Azra Atabay Undergraduate Student (Senior) Current Position: MSc student at TU Dresden Regenerative Biology and Medicine |
Simay Ayhan Undergraduate Student (Senior) Current Position: MSc candidate at University of Heidelberg – Department of Infectious Diseases |
Ayşenaz Ozantürk
Undergraduate Student (Senior) |
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Nazlı Kara Undergraduate Student (Senior) Current Position: MSc Student at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) |
Ezgi Dikici Undergraduate Student (Senior) Current Position: MSc Student at TU Dresden Molecular Bioengineering |
Mehmet Ali Hoşkan
Undergraduate Student (Senior) Current Position: MSc Student at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre |
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| Ayşenur Deniz Çayırtepe
Undergraduate Student (Senior) Current Position: MSc Student at Nagoya University |
İlayda Şenyüz
Undergraduate Student (Senior) Current Position: MSc Student at Bonn University |
Tutku Muratoğlu
Undergraduate Student (Senior) Current Position: MSc Student of Biomedical Sciences at KU Leuven |