Dr. Merve ÖZTUĞ KILINÇ (Laboratory Head)
Dr. Merve Öztuğ completed her undergraduate education in 2006 at the Department of Chemistry, Boğaziçi University. In 2006, she began a fully funded master’s program at California State University (Long Beach, CA, USA) and completed her thesis titled “Characterization of Apolipophorin III/Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) Complexes” in 2009. During her master’s studies, she worked as a teaching assistant in general chemistry laboratory courses.
From 2009 to 2011, she worked as a researcher in the Differential Proteomics Laboratories at the University of California (Los Angeles, CA, USA). She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology at Istanbul Technical University in 2020 with her thesis titled “Discovery of New Enzymes Through Proteomic Approaches.” Since September 2011, Dr. Öztuğ has been working at TÜBİTAK UME in the Biometrology Laboratories, where she is involved in biometrology projects related to protein biochemistry, molecular biology, and biotechnology. She focuses on the identification, in-depth characterization, and quantitative analysis of proteins from simple and complex matrices, as well as the development and application of innovative chromatographic, electrophoretic, and mass spectrometric methods.
Representing the Bioanalysis Laboratory, she participates in international measurement comparisons organized by PAWG under CCQM and currently serves as the representative of Turkey for PAWG under CCQM. Dr. Öztuğ has 25 publications in international scientific journals in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology.
Dr. Burhanettin YALÇINKAYA (Acting Laboratory Head)
Dr. Burhanettin YALÇINKAYA completed his undergraduate education in Gazi University Biology Department, and his master's degree in Ankara University with his thesis titled "Comparison of Protein Profiles of Microfungi Frequently Encountered in the Atmosphere" in 2012. He completed his doctorate education at Istanbul University Institute of Health Sciences Molecular Medicine program in 2018 with his thesis titled "Biomarker Screening for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Hepatocellular Carcinoma".
Dr. YALÇINKAYA took part in various national and international projects in the TUBITAK UME Bioanalysis Laboratory, which he started as a Researcher in August 2011. In addition to R&D studies for accurate quantitation of nucleic acids, he also carries out studies to identify biomarkers for early diagnosis of diseases and to identify these markers with simple and easy to apply methods. Dr. YALÇINKAYA has participated in various international measurement comparisons in the field of bioetrology. Dr. YALÇINKAYA has publications in journals scanned in national and international indexes in the field of molecular biology and genetics.
Dr. Sema AKYÜREK
Dr. Sema AKYÜREK completed her undergraduate education at Istanbul University, Biology Department in 2002. She completed her master's degree in Istanbul University, Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Clinical Microbiology, and her doctorate in Yeditepe University, Institute of Health Sciences, Molecular Medicine Department.
Between 2005 and 2007, Dr. AKYÜREK worked as the project manager in the project titled "Colorimetric Mycobacterial Culture System" supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) at the Diagnostic Innovative Biotechnology Organization (TİBO), founded by Tanıl KOCAGÖZ. Between 2007 and 2010, she worked as an application specialist at Bio-Rad, an internationally operating biotechnology company. AKYÜREK, who started to work as a researcher in the Bioanalysis Laboratory of TUBITAK UME in 2010, was assigned to the Reference Materials Laboratory between 2012 and 2015. Akyürek, who has been working as an expert researcher in the Bioanalysis Laboratory since 2015, received the title of chief researcher in 2019.
Dr. AKYÜREK, whose areas of interest and expertise are DNA methylation analysis, qPCR, dPCR, GMO quantification, gene expression analysis, bacterial culture and antimicrobial resistance analysis (microbiological and molecular level), two EMRP (European Metrology Research Program) projects, one EMPIR (European Metrology) Program for Innovation and Research) project, (as a researcher in 1001 projects, as a project manager and researcher within the scope of the Bilateral Cooperation Program) in TUBITAK supported projects.
Dr. AKYÜREK takes part in international measurement comparisons organized by NAWG under CCQM, representing the Bioanalysis Laboratory.
Dr. Gonca ALTIN
Dr. Gonca ALTIN completed her undergraduate education in Istanbul Technical University, Molecular Biology and Genetics Department. Cloning of the ATP-dependent protease enzyme HslVU into E.coli, which was previously unqualified in her thesis, and subsequently recombinant Geobacillus kaustophilus HslV-HslU (ClpQ ClpY) ATP She graduated in 2009 by performing purification and biochemical characterization of dependent enzymes.
Dr. ALTIN worked in the SAN-TEZ project called “Developing Hygienic Washing Methods Using Less Detergent and Energy in Washing Machines” at the Genetics and Bioengineering Department of Yeditepe University between 2009-2011 and contributed to the development of an antimicrobial surface that can be used for plastic and metal parts of washing machines. She has an international publication on this project. Simultaneously, in the project titled “Valence of the p53 Gene in St Elevated MI Etiology: Multicenter study”, the related gene was genetically scanned to determine the relationship between the P53 gene and heart attack and whether it could be used as a biomarker.
Dr. ALTIN started PhD program in Biotechnology at Yeditepe University in 2011 and completed thesis titled “Mechanisms in Biomining of Magnesite and Its Scale Up Production” and graduated with honors in 2016. She has an international publication and a patent on her thesis work. Between 2010 and 2016, she worked as a research assistant in the Genetics and Bioengineering Department of Yeditepe University and during this period she gave laboratory courses coded GBE111 (Biology I for Bioengineers) and GBE113 (Biology I for Biomedical Engineers).
Dr. Gonca Altın has experience on Bioinformatics (DNA sequencing, BLAST, Primer design, Vector design), DNA techniques (DNA isolation, Cloning, Western Blot, Southern Blot, PCR), Enzyme-Protein (Enzyme Expression, Enzyme Purification, Biochemical Characterization of Enzymes, Fermentation and Bioprocess).
Dr. Gonca Altın started to work as an expert researcher in the TUBITAK UME Bioanalysis Laboratory in January 2017 and is involved in biometrology projects related to molecular biology, protein and biotechnology.
Dr. Evren SABAN
Dr. Evren SABAN graduated from Bilkent University, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry in 2005. In 2011, Dr. SABAN graduated from the Chemistry Department of the University of Massachusetts (Amherst, MA, USA) under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Michael Knapp. During his doctoral studies, he gained expertise in protein chemistry, enzyme kinetics and mechanism, and bioanalytical methods such as liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy.
In 2011, Dr. SABAN joined TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Chemical Technology Institute as an expert researcher. He took part in strategic and national projects such as TUBITAK 1003 and 1007.
As of 2019, Dr. SABAN has been working as a chief researcher in TUBITAK UME Bioanalysis Laboratory. He carries out studies in the field of biometrology in the Bioanalysis Laboratory and conducts studies to determine the amounts of protein and peptide biomolecules with high accuracy and low uncertainty.
Hümeyra KARADORUK
Hümeyra KARADORUK graduated from Kocaeli University, Department of Chemistry in 2010. As the quality control officer in Beyazpınar Confectionery Company, KARADORUK took part in controlling the conformity of products and production processes with the relevant specification and safety standards. In 2016-2017, KARADORUK worked in Patrol Packaging Company as the quality system responsible for the implementation and follow-up processes of the BRC / IOP standard.
Hümeyra KARADORUK has been working as an R&D technician in the Bioanalysis Laboratory since November 2017.