I cannot get enough of genetics and cell biology! I spend a lot of time wondering how the world would look like if I was inside a cell. I like to think about biological questions by looking from the point of a single cell myself and imagining what is happening around me. For me, imagination is an essential part of doing science!
I am originally from Ankara, Türkiye, and received my BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the İzmir Institute of Technology. For my master’s research at the Graduate School of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, I investigated the viral-like DNA elements within the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis. At EMBL, I am excited to explore how bacterial cells interact with one another and form structured communities. I am particularly interested in biofilm architecture, antibiotic resistance, and using genetics and microscopy to understand how individual cells within a biofilm contribute to the characteristics of a community.
In the lab, I am happiest doing hands-on experiments and discussing science with others. You can usually find me at my bench or standing in front of the whiteboard with an unreasonable number of colorful markers. If a desk is surrounded by handwritten notes, books, printed gel images, and memes, it’s probably mine! Outside the lab, I enjoy reading, walking outside on rainy days, sipping some Turkish coffee with my friends, and spending time with my dearest cat Ceku!