I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Genetic and Bioengineering (2021) from Trakya University, where I was awarded a mini-grant to support my thesis on the design and construction of a cloning vector. Although the simplicity of the project, it introduced me to the fundamentals of experimental design and practical experience. I pursued my Master’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics (2024) at the Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute. My thesis was focused on the functional role of linker histone H1E and its pathological variant in EMT and MET.
Although my background is in epigenetics, I was always fascinated by mitochondria and their regulatory mechanisms in health and disease. Joining the MITGEST has allowed me to explore this interest in depth. My current project investigates protein-mtRNA interactions within mitochondria and their influence on mitochondrial and cellular homeostasis – allowing me to explore my longstanding curiosity about investigating the post-transcriptional regulations in mitochondria.
Being part of MITGEST offers an international and collaborative research environment, which I believe is a privilege that ensures exceptional scientific growth and career development. I am excited to contribute to this vibrant network and to evolve as a researcher through interdisciplinary exchange and mentorship.
In this project, we will investigate and elucidate the molecular mechanisms, protein partners and kinetics of mitochondrial messenger RNA (mt-mRNA) degradation processes that are currently unknown. With proteomics-based approaches based on mass spectrometry, we will identify proteins associated with mitochondrial APE1 and damaged mt-mRNAs. We will then investigate their roles and functions by applying biochemical methods.
