Molecular technologies in wine production
2023-12-18 11:00 - 12:30 (Europe/Moscow)
Irina Mitina
Technical University of Moldova

Molecular technologies in wine production
Viticulture and winemaking in Moldova have a history of many centuries and are an inseparable part of life and culture of Moldovan people. The country is located between latitude 46-47˚, similar to other renowned wine regions in Europe, and has a climate favorable for the production of quality wine. In spite of the country’s small size (the area is ~33.8 km²), Moldova is among the top 20 largest wine producers and ranks 13th in terms of wine exports in the world. Essentially, wine production is a microbiological process where yeasts and bacteria play the key role. For example, Saccharomyces yeast convert grape sugars to ethanol during alcoholic fermentation, while lactic acid bacteria convert malic acid into lactic acid during malolactic fermentation. However, there are a lot of yeast and bacteria associated with grapes and wines, and not all of them are beneficial. Some species, even though capable of alcoholic or malolactic fermentations, produce various secondary metabolites with undesirable sensory qualities, thus behaving as ‘wine spoilers’. Early detection of such wine spoilers would allow winemakers to take quick decisions related to wine treatment. Traditionally, the methods of detection of wine spoilers included plating and colony count. Recently, DNA-based methods of detection and quantification of wine spoilage microorganisms have been developed. Some issues related to detection and quantification of the most common wine spoilers will be discussed in this talk.
Konuşmacı hakkında
I am a molecular biology scientist currently working at the Technical University of Moldova on wine microbiology, in the national project “Improving of food quality and safety through biotechnology and food engineering”, bilateral research and innovation project TÜBİTAK- NARD (Türkiye — Moldova) “Detecting Minute Spoilage in Wine through a Handheld Device in the Field” and State University of Moldova on soil and plant associated microorganisms, in the national project “Long-term ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources in the Gene Bank using the methods of molecular biology for plant germplasm health testing”. I completed my PhD in genetics in the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (2002) and had postdoctoral appointments at several universities, including University of California at Berkeley (USA), Seoul National University (South Korea), Universidad Andres Bello (Santiago, Chile). My research interests lie in the field of microbiome research, in particular how the microbiome composition can affect the quality of the final product.

SESAME and Research Opportunities
2024-01-31 11:00 - 12:00
Mustafa Fatih Genişel
SESAME

SESAME and Research Opportunities
Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME) is a “third-generation” synchrotron light source that was officially opened in Allan (Jordan) on 16 May 2017. It is the first synchrotron light source in the Middle East and neighbouring countries, and also the region’s first major international centre of excellence.
The heart of SESAME is a 2.5 GeV synchrotron light source (133m in circumference), providing radiation from the Infrared light to X-rays of unparalleled quality, a unique tool to expand the boundaries of scientific investigations into new materials and living matter.
There are five operational beamline and one under construction. The beamlines are the following:
1.BM02 – IR (Infrared) spectromicroscopy beamline
2.BM08 – XAFS/XRF (X-ray Absorption Fine Structure/X-ray Fluorescence) spectroscopy beamline
3.ID09 – MS/XPD (Materials Science/X-ray Powder Diffraction) beamline
4.ID10 – BEATS (BEAmline for Tomography at SESAME)
5.ID11L – HESEB (HElmholtz-SEsame Beamline)
6.ID11R – TXPES (Turkish soft X-ray PhotoElectron Spectroscopy) beamline – this beamline is being constructed by a Turkish consortium led by TENMAK (Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency);
It is now possible to apply for proposals to the five operational beamlines of SESAME, the deadline is on February 29th 2024, at 23:59 Jordanian time for the user period starting from September 1st to December 31st, 2024.

Picture of SESAME storage ring; Bending Magnet (RED), Beam shifter of BEATS beamline (VIOLET) and HESEB undulator (BLUE)
Konuşmacı hakkında
Dr. Mustafa Fatih Genişel is the HESEB beamline scientist at SESAME. Mustafa Genisel received his BS and PhD degrees in Chemistry from Middle East Technical University and Bilkent University, respectively. He was a faculty member at Dicle University before joining SESAME. His research studies focus on PVD hard coatings and characterization.

Security printing with laser-induced plasmonic colors
2024-02-28 11:00 - 12:30
Nathalie Destouches
University Jean Monnet, Saint Etienne

Security printing with laser-induced plasmonic colors
Plasmonic colors have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their anticipated profound impact on various industrial sectors. These colors, stemming from the resonant interaction between light and metallic nanostructures, offer stability over time and can be fabricated as thin films. The ability to control the shape and organization of metallic nanostructures further provides spectral sensitivity to light polarization, enabling the development of innovative applications.

Laser-induced printing of a color image on a Ag:TiO2 thin film observed in reflection with polarized light for angle 1 (left), or 2 (middle) or in transmission under non-polarized light.
This presentation explores the diverse physical and chemical mechanisms induced by lasers on plasmonic metasurfaces composed of silver nanoparticles embedded in a TiO2 thin film. Under continuous wave (cw), nanosecond, or femtosecond1 laser exposure, silver nanoparticles undergo reshaping, shrinking, or growth, and self-organize along subwavelength gratings. Various laser-induced self-organized nanostructures are identified and their origins are elucidated through optical models. Once formed, these self-organized nanostructures exhibit intriguing dichroic optical properties, whose origin, elucidated through electromagnetic modeling, lies in the hybridization of resonant modes.2 These singular optical properties present opportunities for innovation, particularly in high-end anti-counterfeiting applications. Laser-induced printed image multiplexing emerges as a recently developed inkless technique, providing high flexibility to print multiplexed colored images observable independently under natural light by altering the viewing angle.3
References

Destouches, et al. Laser-empowered metasurfaces for white light image multiplexing Adv. Func. Mater. 2010430 (2021)
D. Le, et al. Understanding and exploiting the optical properties of laser-induced quasi-random plasmonic metasurfaces ACS Appl. Opt. Mater., accepted (2024)
Dalloz, et al. Anti-counterfeiting white light printed image multiplexing by fast nanosecond laser processing Adv. Mater., 34, 2104054 (2022)

Konuşmacı hakkında
Nathalie Destouches is Professor at University Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne, France. She leads projects at the interface between materials science and photonics and she is particularly interested in the interaction of light with plasmonic metasurfaces. She coordinates the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree Photonics for Security Reliability Sustainability and Safety. Her main scientific contributions have led to the development of plasmonic photochromic materials, to the elucidation of different laser-triggered mechanisms in plasmonic films, to the explanation of the electromagnetic response of random plasmonic metasurfaces, to the simulation of metallic nanoparticle growth under dynamic laser irradiation, or to the explanation of special thermal behavior in dynamic laser processes. These fundamental studies led to the development of laser printing of color and multiplexed images in collaboration with a leading security document company.

Multiscale Simulation Approaches to Understanding the Control of Trafficking in Cells
2024-03-06 11:00 - 12:30
Philip Biggin
Biochemistry – University of Oxford

Multiscale Simulation Approaches to Understanding
the Control of Trafficking in Cells
Trafficking receptors control protein localisation through the recognition of specific signal sequences that specify unique cellular locations. Differences in luminal or organellular pH are important for the vectorial trafficking of cargo receptors. The KDEL receptor is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the ER by retrieving luminally localised folding chaperones in a pH-dependent mechanism. Structural studies have revealed the end states of KDEL receptor activation and the mechanism of selective cargo binding. However, precisely how the KDEL receptor responds to changes in luminal pH remains unclear. To address this key question of cell biology, we have used a combination of X-ray crystallography, cell-based assays and multi-scale simulation methods. In this talk I will discuss how we have used a variety of computational techniques including QM, GCMC, MD and coarse-grained MD to explain how this cellular trafficking works at the molecular level.

Konuşmacı hakkında
Philip Biggin is Professor of Computational Biochemistry in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Oxford. He studied Computer-aided Chemistry at the University of Surrey for his undergraduate degree before completing a DPhil (PhD) in molecular biophysics at the University of Oxford. He then obtained a Wellcome Trust International Prize Fellowship that allowed him to undertake post-doctoral work at the Salk Institute, California. He returned to Oxford in 2000 for further post-doctoral work, before being awarded a prestigious RCUK Fellowship (with tenure track) in 2007. In 2012 this post reverted automatically to an Associate Professor (tenured). In 2016 he was made Full Professor at the University of Oxford.
His interests are focussed on the development and application of computational methods with particular respect to membrane proteins and membrane-drug interactions. He has over 150 peer-reviewed publications in this field, and has previously acted as a consultant to BioMedCentral. He served as Chair of the Molecular Graphics and Modelling Society for over 10 years and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) as well as a chartered chemist (CChem). He is a member of the British Biophysical Society and the US Biophysical Society. He was a founder member of CCPBioSim and HECBioSim committees that aim to promote the application of high-performance computing to biological problems. He also chaired allocation panels on PRACE – the European supercomputing facility. He has also served on the REF panel, which is responsible for assessing the quality of UK science every seven years. His group has an excellent record in developing new approaches, from assessing conformational states via normal mode analysis, to a novel way to compare X-ray crystallographic data with molecular dynamics simulations and a way to align protein structures purely on the basis of their dynamics.

The path to no-drift sensors with on-chip stress calibration
2024-04-17 11:00 - 14:30
Erdinç Tatar
Bilkent University – Electrical and Electronics Engineering, UNAM

The path to no-drift sensors with on-chip stress calibration
Navigation is vital for the future of autonomous mobility. Data from multiple sensing modalities (GPS, camera, radar, …) are fused in navigation. Among these sensors, inertial navigation is error-proof and can fit into every car and smartphone if a low-cost, no-drift sensor is invented. Drift is a major problem for inertial sensors, limiting their utilization in navigation applications. Inertial sensor data, i.e., acceleration and rotation, is integrated to find the position, and drift leads to unacceptable position error over time. The common drift suppression approach is temperature calibration, but various works have shown that it cannot eliminate the drift. The drift mechanisms are complex and cannot be fully characterized by simple temperature measurements. So, I propose an on-chip stress calibration approach that directly correlates with the drift. We integrate multiple stress sensors and the inertial sensor on the same chip and achieve state of the art drift performance with on-chip stress sensing. Functional calibration requires deep understanding of the device and temperature effects. I will present our drift solution approach, which includes sensor and electronics design, analytical modeling, and combining temperature and stress measurements.

About speaker
Erdinc Tatar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Bilkent University. He is also affiliated with National Nanotechnology Center of Turkey (UNAM). He received B.S. and M.S. degrees (with high honors) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey, and Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, in 2008, 2010, and 2016 respectively.
He was a Graduate Research Assistant with Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems Research and Applications Center, METU, and with Carnegie Mellon University from 2008 to 2011, and 2012 to 2016, respectively. From 2016 to 2019 he worked as a MEMS Design Engineer responsible for the development of next generation gyroscopes in Analog Devices, Inc., Wilmington, MA. His research interests include MEMS sensors (specifically Inertial and Gas sensors), microfabrication and packaging technologies, and readout and control electronics for MEMS sensors.
Dr. Tatar is a recipient of International Fellowship for Outstanding Researchers by TUBITAK, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Fellowship and European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant by the European Union.

The Sound of Music at the Nanoscale – Exploring the Nanoscale World with NEMS Resonators Based on Low Dimensional Nanomaterials
2024-04-17 13:30 - 14:30
Zenghui Wang
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

The Sound of Music at the Nanoscale – Exploring the Nanoscale World with NEMS Resonators Based on Low Dimensional Nanomaterials
The advent of low-dimensional nanostructures has enabled a plethora of new devices and systems. Among them, nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) offers the unique capability of coupling the exquisite material properties found in these atomically-defined nanostructures with their mechanical degree of freedom, opening new opportunities for exploring exotic phenomena at the nanoscale. In particular, as these devices driven into mechanical vibration—just as musical instruments—they become essentially nanoscale guitars, drums, tuning folks, etc. By studying the infinitesimal mechanical vibrations in these nanoscale “music instruments”, i.e., listening to the “sound of music” at the nanoscale, researchers can study a number of fundamental physical processes such as absorption, phase transition, anisotropy, and nonlinear processes.

About speaker
Zenghui Wang is currently a professor in the Institute of Frontier and Fundamental Sciences (IFFS) at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC). His research interests and expertise primarily focus on nanoscale devices and systems, particularly Nanoscale Resonators, and High-Frequency Resonant Sensors & Transducers. Prior to joining Case, during 2010-2012, he worked at Cornell University as a postdoc researcher. He earned a Ph.D. degree (2010) from University of Washington, Seattle, for building an ultra-high frequency NEMS resonant sensor with an individual single-walled carbon nanotube, and using it to detect and study the low-dimensional phase transitions of the atomic layer adsorbed on the nanotube surface. He is an expert on studies of emerging nanoscale devices and sensors based on new materials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, and other low-dimensional nanomaterials, and has published 20+ research articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Science, Nature Physics, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Communications, Science Advances, Nano Letters, ACS Nano, Physical Review Letters, 2D Materials, etc.,. He has given dozens of invited talks and seminars at peer-reviewed conferences and research universities. He is an Associate Editor for Micro and Nano Letters, and has been serving on the Technical Program Committees for IEEE IFCS, IEEE Nano, and the MEMS/NEMS Technical Group at the American Vacuum Society (AVS) International Symposium and Exhibition.

Coherent perfect absorption and transmission of light
2024-05-08 11:00 - 12:30
Stefan Rotter
TU Wien – Vienna University of Technology

Coherent perfect absorption and transmission of light
In my talk I will present two recent works focused on the perfect absorption and transmission of waves through interferometric cancellation of backscattering. In the first case [1], we demonstrate that even a weakly absorbing film can be turned into a “coherent perfect absorber” by building a degenerate cavity around it. This special cavity perfectly couples incoming light fields with arbitrary wavefronts into the absorber – even for the case that light is a dynamically varying speckle pattern. In the second case [2], we demonstrate how to construct an anti-reflection structure for a complex scattering system like a disordered medium. Similar to an anti-reflection coating for conventional eye-glasses, this structure leads to perfect transmission across the scattering system by suppressing back-scattering for any incoming wavefront. If time permits, I will also say a few words about the topological origin of the above effects and how this aspect can be used to engineer thermal radiation [3].
[1] Y. Slobodkin, G. Weinberg, H. Hörner, K. Pichler, S. Rotter, and O. Katz, Science 377, 995 (2022)
[2] M. Horodynski, M. Kühmayer, C. Ferise, S. Rotter, and M. Davy, Nature 607, 281 (2022)
[3] M. S. Ergoktas, A. Kecebas, K. Despotelis, S. Soleymani, G. Bakan, A. Kocabas, A. Principi, S. Rotter, S. K. Özdemir, and C. Kocabas, arXiv:2401.08316

About speaker
Stefan Rotter is professor at TU Wien’s Institute for Theoretical Physics. After studies in Vienna and Lausanne, he obtained his Ph.D. in 2004, followed by a postdoctoral position at Yale University. His group was established in 2011 and focuses on non-Hermitian physics, theoretical quantum optics and on the propagation of classical or quantum waves through complex media. In all of these fields the Rotter group aims at identifying interesting new research directions and at exploring them in close collaboration with the experiment.

NanoDay 2024
2024-05-15 08:30 - 18:30
Bilkent University UNAM has proudly hosted an annual NanoDay event where prominent figures from the global scientific community converge. Researchers, students, and industry representatives from Turkey and beyond come together for this extraordinary occasion. We are thrilled to announce that this year’s NanoDay will take place on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
Since 2014, UNAM has been organizing NanoDay, hosting prominent international figures in the field of science. This year, once again, UNAM is preparing to welcome leading names in science.
As part of NanoDay 2024, we will have the honor of hosting Prof. Monika Ritsch-Marte from the Innsbruck Medical University in Austria, who is renowned for her expertise in biomedical imaging. We will also welcome Prof. Pepijn Pinkse from the University of Twente in the Netherlands to share his recent research on quantum optics in complex systems. Additionally, Prof. Sergey Gaponenko from the Belarusian Academy of Sciences for his significant contributions to the fields of nanophotonics and semiconductor nanocrystals.
Since its inception, UNAM has brought together more than 3,000 individuals through NanoDay in pursuit of scientific inquiry. This remarkable event not only fosters a vibrant atmosphere of discovery but also empowers students from Bilkent University and other esteemed institutions to showcase their talents. Through engaging activities like the NanoArt competition and the NanoPoster competition and exhibition, young innovators find a platform to express their creativity and passions, transforming the event into a celebration of knowledge and expression.
Join us and be a part of this exhilarating event!
NanoDay Web Site

Basic sciences: The mission of homo sapiens in the universe
2024-05-16 08:00 - 17:00
Sergey V. Gaponenko
National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

Basic sciences: The mission of homo sapiens in the universe
In spite of high recognition of basic sciences by academic community there is still a need to identify the decisive role of basic sciences in many facets of human life including not only its role in education but also as the root of high technologies, as the cheapest stage of innovations, as the efficient way of people diplomacy. The arguments in favor of these statements are given in the present paper.
Basic sciences do form the basis for innovations and can be viewed as the first, preliminary stage of the general innovation chain. However, the major societal and economical impact of significant discoveries and breakthrough theories cannot be foreseen or predicted in advance. In general the statement is valid that high technologies are born by high science.
Basic sciences represent the most cheap, low-cost stage of innovations. Though certain megaprojects can be thought by common customers and tax payers as money wasteful activity for the sake of education development and scientists’ curiosity only, a brief analysis of spending for research and development shows that basic sciences need much less money than applied research and developments. For example, the cost of joint efforts of EU countries in Large Hadron Collider megaproject is approximately equivalent to annual R&D spending of Intel corporation.
Basic sciences unite intellectual community and represent a bright manifestation of science diplomacy bridging people of different races, religions and cultures. This becomes possible and is promoted owing to fruitfulness of international efforts in basic research and because of non-commercial, non-classified character of results in basic sciences.
Moreover, we suggest to consider the continuous development of scientific worldview (which only basic sciences enable) to be treated as the mission of homo sapiens in the universe. We ought to conceive the structure of the universe from the sub-atomic level to astronomical scale. This responsibility can be viewed as a part of cosmoethics, i. e., internal intrinsic responsibility of humans for their presence in the universe.

About speaker
Sergey Gaponenko is Director of the B. I. Stepanov Institute of Physics of The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. He is an expert in nanophotonics and plasmonics with about 200 published papers and 3 books published by Camridge University, the recent one in 2019 being a joint work with Prof. H. M. Demir. In his early studies he made a contribution to photophysics of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) whereas nowadays he focuses at plasmonically enhanced luminescence and Raman spectroscopies as well as systematic studies of photon density of states effects in complex media from nanoscience to astrophysics.

Repurposing Biomaterials and Its Applications
2024-05-24 15:00 - 16:30
Hojae Bae
Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea

Repurposing Biomaterials and Its Applications
In recent years, numerous studies have been conducted on cultured meat; however, the production of large-sized cultured meat continues to present a challenge. In this regard, 3D bioprinting emerges as a promising approach for generating large cell aggregates to facilitate cultured meat production. Utilizing digital light processing-based (DLP) printing, a hydrogel scaffold is created at the centimeter scale, offering high printing accuracy and the ability to construct complex geometric structures. Successful fabrication of scaffolds incorporating living cells and large microchannels has been achieved. Notably, the cooked cultured meat retains its original size and shape even after being cut, with overall dimensions measuring 3.43 cm x 5.53 cm x 0.96 cm. This study demonstrates the proof-of-concept for utilizing bioinks in the production of 3D cultured meat. Nevertheless, due to substantial disparities between the objectives of muscle tissue engineering for biomedical purposes and food applications, conventional strategies may prove unfeasible or socially unacceptable. Consequently, the pursuit of non-animal materials to foster muscle cell proliferation and alignment, without resorting to potentially toxic chemical modifications, represents an ongoing challenge. To address this, recent studies focusing on culturing and aligning muscle cells solely through plant-based materials will be presented as a potential solution for cultured meat production.

Figure 1. Schematic illustration showcasing the (A) efficient transdifferentiation of bovine fibroblasts into myogenic and adipogenic lineages within a 3D bioprinting system, facilitating the production of steak-like cultured meat. Additionally, we explore the (B) development of a cultured meat production system for large-scale manufacturing employing the wet-spinning technique.

Jeong, J. W. Seo, H. Lee, W. K. Jung, Y. H. Park, and H. Bae, Advanced Science, 2022, 9(31), 2202877
Jeong, G. Jang, W. K. Jung, Y. H. Park, and Hojae Bae*, Stretchable zein-coated alginate fiber for aligning muscle cells to artificially produce cultivated meat, npj science of food, 8(13) doi.org/10.1038/s41538-024-00257-y .

About Speaker
Prof. Bae is a Professor at Konkuk University in Seoul, Korea, specializing in engineered biomaterial technologies for translational applications.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Genetic Engineering and a Master’s degree in Bioengineering from Korea University, as well as a Ph.D. in Food Technology from Clemson University. His doctoral dissertation on Gelatin-nanoclay composite material has been published in several major scientific journals holds an International Patent (World Intellectual Property Organization). He has presented results from his studies related to Ph.D. training at major national conferences.
With expertise in natural polymers, Prof. Bae focuses on developing controlled micro- and nano-architectures for engineered tissue, aiming to guide tissue morphogenesis and cell behavior in tissue engineering applications. He has also pioneered various high-performance biomaterials for medical applications, currently undergoing translational studies. Prof. Bae’s extensive knowledge of biopolymer-based hydrogels has led him to explore interdisciplinary applications and modifications of these materials. He is committed to translating his research findings into commercially viable products. For instance, his recent work on centimeter-scale 3D printed hydrogel constructs for tissue engineering has demonstrated the potential for producing steak-type cultured meat.
Prof. Bae has edited multiple books/journal special issues and is an author of over 100 peer-reviewed journal articles, editorials, and review papers, as well as more than 20 book chapters/edited books and >10 patent/disclosure applications. His work has been published in leading journals and routinely highlighted in international media. He has been cited approximately 16,000 times and has an H-index of 60.

2nd Singapore-Türkiye Workshop on Materials Science and Engineering
2024-06-05 08:30 - 2024-06-07 18:00
2nd Singapore-Türkiye Workshop on Materials Science and Engineering
We are delighted to invite you to a two-day event on material science and engineering with a focus on advanced materials ranging from two-dimensional materials to quantum dots at Bilkent University, organized by NUS, Bilkent University UNAM, NTU Singapore. This second event will bring together researchers and students to share their latest findings in materials science and engineering, as well as related fields. You will have the opportunity to attend lectures, workshops, and poster sessions, as well as network with peers and mentors. Don’t miss this chance to learn from one of the most influential scientists of our time and to explore the potential of advanced materials for the future. The event will have limited space. Register in advance! Visit last year’s event page from here.
More information:
https://unam.bilkent.edu.tr/stmse24/

Uniting Young Generations with Science through the 6th Genetic Engineering School Events Led by UNAM’s Dr. Urartu Şeker
2024-07-08 08:30 - 2024-07-11 17:00
With the vision of Bilkent University National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM) to create high quality and novel knowledge and train qualified human resources, Dr. Urartu Şeker provided the opportunity for high school students to delve into the realms of genetic engineering and synthetic biology at the Genetic Engineering School, for the sixth time.
A group of 23 students partook in a comprehensive program at UNAM from July 8-11, 2024, delving into the realms of genetic engineering and biotechnology. Throughout these four days, they not only received extensive training in these subjects but also actively engaged in hands-on experiments. Throughout the program, students gained knowledge on topics such as DNA replication, ancient DNA research, protein analysis, and synthetic biology. They also had the opportunity to learn advanced laboratory techniques, including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and SDS gel electrophoresis, through hands-on experiments. Additionally, they gained detailed insights into the latest developments and applications in biotechnology and developed skills in reading and interpreting scientific articles.
Program:
July 8, 2024 – Monday
10:00-10:30: Introduction and Opening Remarks
10:30-11:30: Lecture 1.1: Fundamentals of Evolution and Biotechnology Research
11:30-12:00: Lecture 1.2: Basic Bioinformatics Methods (Introduction to Bioinformatics Databases)
12:00-13:00: Lunch Break
13:00-13:30: Lecture 1.3: Life Molecules DNA/RNA and Genetic Code
13:30-14:30: Experiment 1: Amplifying and Copying DNA: Polymerase Chain Reaction
14:30-15:00: Lecture 1.4: Benchling Overview
15:00-16:00: Experiment 2: Visualization of PCR-Amplified DNA in Agarose Gel, Wrap-Up

July 9, 2024 – Tuesday
10:00-10:30: Lecture 2.1: Examining Biological Records of the Past: Ancient DNA Research
10:30-11:00: Lecture 2.2: Cell Structure and Function
11:00-12:00: Lecture 2.3: Heredity and Genetic Information Transfer
12:00-13:00: Lunch Break
13:00-15:00: Experiment 3: Gene Transfer to Bacteria
15:30-16:00: Day Review, Wrap-Up

July 10, 2024 – Wednesday
10:00-10:30: Lecture 3.1: Life Engineering: Synthetic Biology
10:30-11:30: Evaluation of Gene Transfer Results
11:30-12:00: Experiment 4: Casting SDS Gel for Protein Analysis
12:00-13:00: Lunch Break
13:00-14:00: Experiment 5: Loading Protein Samples onto SDS Gel
14:00-15:00: Lecture 3.2: How Proteins Fold and What They Look Like: Working with Alphafold
15:00-16:00: Experiment 6: Visualization of Protein Samples in SDS Gel

July 11, 2024 – Thursday
10:00-10:30: How to Read a Scientific Article
10:30-11:00: Lecture 4.1: The Central Dogma of Molecular Biology
11:00-12:00: Experiment 7: Production of Fluorescent Proteins in a Cell-Free System
12:00-13:00: Lunch Break
13:00-15:00: Lecture 4.2: How Biological Knowledge is Used in Technology Development: Biotechnology
15:00-16:00: Day Review, Wrap-Up

Thermal Drawing Of Low-Dimensional Material-Integrated Triboelectric Fibers For Healthcare Applications
2024-07-18 14:00 - 15:00 | UNAM Conference Hall (SU-01)
Thermal Drawing Of Low-Dimensional Material-Integrated Triboelectric Fibers For Healthcare Applications
MSc Thesis Defense
Md Sazid Bin Sadeque
Advisor – Mustafa Ordu
Abstract: The potential of flexible wearable devices and sensors to revolutionize healthcare lies in their ability to facilitate real-time monitoring. However, many of these wearable sensors are extensive energy consumers, and the requirement of bulky energy storage devices significantly hampers their acceptability. Currently available sensing devices mostly employ film-based devices, which lack breathability, reducing their applicability in widespread healthcare applications. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) are environmentally sustainable devices that convert mechanical and biomechanical energy into electrical output through the synergetic processes of triboelectrification and electrostatic induction. These devices effectively harvest low-frequency mechanical and biomechanical energy and enable self-powered sensing. TENG performance can be enhanced by incorporating low dimensional materials with high specific surface area into flexible ferroelectric polymers. Ferroelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and its copolymers are particularly advantageous due to their high dielectric constant and abundant highly electronegative fluorine ions. Various low dimensional materials can interact with the polar groups of PVDF and reorient them to conform to electroactive phases. Moreover, they can also form micro-capacitors and modulate the surface properties of nanocomposite. In this thesis, we aim to prepare a triboelectric nanogenerator integrated textile fiber with self-energy generating ability and breathability as textiles. We employed the thermal drawing process as a fabrication platform for preparing continuous triboelectric fibers. Graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) and Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) are added to the PVDF matrix to improve triboelectric properties. β phases of thermally drawn nanocomposite fibers demonstrate significant improvement and were increases to 37.6%, 39.5%, and 43.3% for 1, 3, 5% GNP integration. For the case of MoS2, β phase increases to 47.5% for 3 wt% MoS2; however, β phase decreases beyond 3 wt%. The nanocomposite TENG fibers demonstrate improved triboelectric properties. The fibers show superior sensitivity, flexibility and durability, enabling their applications in critical healthcare applications.
Keywords: Triboelectric nanogenerator, thermal drawing, wearable sensors, respiration monitoring, blinking monitoring.

Polymeric Membranes - in gas- and liquid-phase separation
2024-07-25 11:00 - 12:00
Volkan Filiz
Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon

Polymeric Membranes – in gas- and liquid-phase separations
The main research focus at the Institute of Membrane Research at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon is the development of membranes for liquid and gas phase separation. Water shortages, climate change and energy transition: separation of substances plays a vital role in these challenges. We help provide solutions to these global problems at the Institute of Membrane Research by developing innovative membranes and membrane processes. This involves a holistic, interdisciplinary approach: it includes developing new materials, processing these materials into membranes as well as constructing pilot plants in which these systems are made ready for implementation..
Specifically, the synthesis and characterization of tailor-made polymers for membrane applications is in the foreground, while the use of state of the art methods for fabrication of membranes with outstanding separation performances (e.g., in separation of CO2 in gas streams, or protein separation in liquid phase) is the challenge that our Institute deals with. The focus of the talk will be polymers of intrinsic microporosity.

About Speaker
Volkan Filiz is currently the head of the Department “Microporous Polymers” at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon in the Institute of Membrane Research under the supervision of Prof. Volker Abetz. He has earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry at the University of Hamburg, Germany and received in 2009 from the Institute of Physical Chemistry his Ph.D. in chemistry under the supervision of Prof. Stephan Förster. The research topic was polymersomes for drug delivery and targeting. His research interests now include the synthesis of new monomers and tailor-made polymers for membrane applications in gas- and liquid-phase separation.
He is currently also involved in teaching at the University of Hamburg and is registered for habilitation at the University of Kiel.

Design meets evolution: Theory and practice
2024-10-02 10:30 - 12:30
Víctor de Lorenzo
The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)

Design meets evolution: Theory and practice

The prevailing view of biological evolution is not unlike bricolage/pastiche/tinkering—in sharp contrast with rational engineering. Yet, different paths often lead to solutions that coincide or converge whether they emerge from naturally-occurring evolution or rationally designed. Such a conjunction—often presented as a mere anecdote— in fact reveals the ability of biological systems to physically explore solution spaces and gravitate towards information-rich attractors, which can be found through different routes. This scenario evokes one of heterotic computing, a non-conventional type of data processing in which the solution to a problem is not delivered through numerical calculations but through its embodiment in a material object. Once left to undergo a physical process the object manages a large number of parameters for reaching a multi objective optimum. The course of information is thus a physical flow and the outcome is a physical currency. The consequences of this notion for bioengineering are remarkable, as it enables solutions to multi-objective optimization challenges not yet amenable to all-rational approaches. The ensuing technical question is how to bring about hyper-diversification not only of genomic sequences but also environmental parameters for securing the desired performance of a given synthetic device. This issue will be illustrated with a number of practical cases where naturally-occurring or artificially enhanced variability was key to find ideal outcomes to otherwise intractable design hitches of interest for industrial and environmental biotechnology.
Al-ramahi et al. (2021) ssDNA recombineering boosts in vivo evolution of nanobodies displayed on bacterial surfaces. Comms Biology 4: 1169.
Tas et al. (2020) Contextual dependencies expand the re-usability of genetic inverters. Nature Comms 12: 355.
Espeso et al. (2020) An automated DIY framework for experimental evolution of Pseudomonas putida. Microb Biotechnol. 14: 2679-2685
Hueso-Gil et al. (2023) In vivo sampling of intracellular heterogeneity of Pseudomonas putida enables multiobjective optimization of genetic devices. ACS Synth Biol. 12: 1667-1676.
Akkaya et al. (2019) Evolving metabolism of 2,4-dinitrotoluene triggers SOS-independent diversification of host cells. Env Microbiol 21: 314-326

About speaker
Víctor de Lorenzo (Madrid, 1957) is a Chemist by training and he holds a position of Research Professor in the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), where he currently heads the Laboratory of Environmental Synthetic Biology at the National Center for Biotechnology. After his PhD at the CSIC Institute of Enzymology (1983), he worked at the Pasteur Institute (1984), the University of California at Berkeley (1985-1987), the University of Geneva (1988) and the Federal Center for Biotechnology in Braunschweig until 1991, the year in which he joined the CSIC in Madrid. He specializes in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of soil microorganisms (particularly Pseudomonas putida) as agents for the decontamination of sites damaged by industrial waste. At present, his work explores the interface between Synthetic Biology and Environmental Biotechnology, including global-scale bioremediation interventions for counteracting climate change. In 2001 this work received the National Award Rey Jaime I for Environmental Protection. In June 2008 he was honored with the GSK International Award of the American Society for Microbiology, and in October of the same year he was granted a Grand Prix of the French Academy of Sciences. He is a member of the EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) and the American and European Academies of Microbiology, and he has co-chaired with Anne Glover the President’s Science and Technology Council of the EC during the Barroso Administration. He served as a member of the World Economic Forum Council on Future Biotechnologies (Dubai, 2016-2018) and received a Honorary doctorate of the DTU (Lyngby, Denmark 2022).

Bilkent UNAM Presents: Advanced Cancer Biotherapeutics Symposium (ACTS '24) — Pioneering Innovations in Cancer Treatment
2024-10-04 09:00 - 2024-10-05 17:00
Bilkent UNAM Presents: Advanced Cancer Biotherapeutics Symposium (ACTS ’24) — Pioneering Innovations in Cancer Treatment
Bilkent University UNAM (National Nanotechnology Research Center) is delighted to announce the Advanced Cancer Biotherapeutics Symposium (ACTS ’24) scheduled to take place on October 4-5, 2024. This symposium will bring together clinicians, academics, graduate students and industry partners to explore cutting-edge technologies and therapies in cancer treatment.
ACTS ’24 marks the beginning of an annual platform for sharing knowledge and fostering collaborations in the field of cancer biotherapeutics. This inaugural event brings together leading experts to discuss the latest advancements in cancer treatment and to set the stage for future gatherings dedicated to this vital area of research.
Prof. Roman Jerala from the National Institute of Chemistry in Slovenia will share his expertise in cellular therapies and offer insight into the latest advancements in synthetic biology and immunology.
Prof. Fatih Ezgü from Gazi University’s Faculty of Medicine will present groundbreaking research on gene and cellular therapies.
Prof. Tarkan Karakan from Gazi University’s Faculty of Medicine will share his insights into gastroenterology and its implications for cancer treatment.
Prof. Tunca Doğan from Hacettepe University will present bioinformatic approaches in cancer treatment, focusing on computational strategies to advance therapeutic development.
Assoc. Prof. Sibel Kalyoncu from the Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG) will discuss her innovative research in antibody engineering and its potential in cancer therapies.
Assoc. Prof. Li Tang from the Institute of Bioengineering at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne will delve into the innovative field of cytokine and antibody engineering.
Assoc. Prof. Tamer Önder from Koç University’s Research Center for Translational Medicine will offer his expertise in cellular therapies and their applications in combating cancer.
Asst. Prof. Urartu Şeker from Bilkent University UNAM will present his cutting-edge work in antibody and cellular engineering, exploring new frontiers in cancer treatment.
The two-day program is packed with keynote lectures, invited talks, lightning presentations, and networking opportunities.
To register: https://acts.unam.bilkent.edu.tr/

Nonlinear dynamics and chaos in multimode semiconductor lasers
2024-10-30 11:00 - 12:30
Stefan Bittner
University of Lorraine

Nonlinear dynamics and chaos in multimode semiconductor lasers
Nonlinear dynamics and deterministic chaos are ubiquitous in nature and appear in a large variety of physical, chemical and biological systems. Due to their strong nonlinearities, lasers exhibit a very wide range of different dynamics and are ideal testbeds for studying chaotic dynamics. Interest in laser dynamics has been renewed due to emerging applications of ultrafast chaotic dynamics like chaos cryptography, physical random number generation, sensing applications like chaotic LIDAR or information processing and reservoir computing [1]. Semiconductor lasers are ideal for realizing chaos-based applications thanks to their ultrafast dynamics, compact size and low energy consumption.
In the first part of the talk, we present the experimental investigation of a free-running broad-area VCSEL (vertical cavity surface emitting laser) [2]. We observe mode competition between lasing modes with different spatial patterns and polarizations. Time-domain measurements of the laser emission show irregular fluctuations, and we use methods from time-series analysis to confirm that the VCSEL exhibits chaotic dynamics in certain parameter regimes. Such lasers with intrinsic chaotic dynamics are promising candidates for applications like chaos cryptography.
In the second part of the talk, the detailed investigation of an edge-emitting broad-area laser is presented [3]. Time-domain heterodyning measurements enable us to obtain the spectrum of the laser with ultra-high resolution. In addition to the expected transverse modes of order 1 to 8, we find that multiplets of 1st and 2nd order transverse modes are created by the nonlinear dynamics. We demonstrate that the modes in these multiplets are phase-locked, which is unexpected for a broad-area laser without external perturbation or control. The coexistence of synchronized (phase-locked) modes and unsynchronized ones is similar to so-called chimera states found in networks of coupled oscillators [4] which also exhibit partial synchronization and are found in various physical, chemical and biological systems.

High resolution spatio-spectral image of a broad-area semiconductor laser pumped high above threshold. The frequencies and the spatial profiles of transverse modes of order 1 to 8 are revealed.
[1] Sciamanna & Shore, “Physics and applications of laser diode chaos”, Nature Photonics 9, 151 (2015)
[2] Bittner & Sciamanna, “Complex nonlinear dynamics of polarization and transverse modes in a broad-area VCSEL”, APL Phot. 7, 126108 (2022)
[3] Bittner & Sciamanna, “Spontaneous phase locking in a broad-area semiconductor laser”, arXiv:2405.07268 (2024)
[4] Abrams & Strogatz, “Chimera States for Coupled Oscillators”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 174102 (2004)

Konuşmacı hakkında
PhD thesis 2007-2010 at Technical University Darmstadt (Germany)
Postdoc 2010-2012 at TU Darmstadt
2012-2014 Postdoc at ENS Cachan (France)
2015-2018 Research Scientist at Yale University, Department of Applied Physics
2019-2024 Research Scientist at CentraleSupélec, laboratory LMOPS (laboratory for optical materials, photonics and systems) in Metz, France
Since September 2019: Associate Professor (Maître de Conférences) at University of Lorraine, laboratory LMOPS in Metz, France

Acoustofluidics for ultrafast mixing and personalised drug delivery
2024-11-13 11:00 - 12:30
Tuncay Alan
Monash University

Acoustofluidics for ultrafast mixing and personalised drug delivery
At the Dynamic Micro Devices Laboratory, we study the interaction between nonlinear micro/nanoscale resonators and fluid media, developing acoustically actuated microsystems. This seminar will present recent advances in these technologies, with applications in chemical synthesis, drug delivery, and liquid atomization, and their potential impact in healthcare.
The first part of my talk will focus on ultrafast, high-throughput microfluidic mixers capable of high precision synthesis of nanomaterials. These mixers can homogenize solutions in under milliseconds, at flow rates approaching 10 ml/min. Such rapid mixing enables precise control over the size and composition of the end products, (ranging from organic nanodrugs to perovskites used in optoelectronics) achieved solely through mechanical processes without altering reaction conditions.
The second part will introduce a liquid atomization technology, PALM, and discuss how it can be used for targeted respiratory drug delivery. With its unique design and responsive operation, PALM can precisely dial the size and dose of the aerosolised drug based on the disease, lung capacity and breathing cycle of the patient, using a portable easy to use device offering effective personalised treatment which is not possible with any other device. Unlike its competitors, PALM can also control the strength and duration of the pressure waves during aerosolization and preserving the therapeutic agents.

Konuşmacı hakkında
Tuncay Alan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He received his BSc in Civil Engineering from Middle East Technical University, and his PhD from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Before joining Monash, he completed postdoctoral research at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands and University College London in the UK. He has also held positions as a Visiting Scientist at the Paul Scherrer Institute in 2015 and as a Guest Professor at ETH Zurich in 2023.

Exploring new chloride materials: synthesis, transport, and mechanical properties
2024-11-21 15:00 - 16:30
Akira Miura
Hokkaido University

Exploring new chloride materials: synthesis, transport,
and mechanical properties
Chlorides, such as NaCl, had been considered simple ionic compounds. However, in recent years, chlorides with diverse structures have been actively studied as functional materials such as semiconductors and ionic conductors. In this presentation, I exhibit our recent progress on the synthesis and properties of chlorides. These include the efficient exploration of new chlorides using large-scale DFT calculations and synchrotron X-ray diffraction [1] and the effect of hand mixing on the synthesis of chloride solid electrolytes. Martensitic phase transformation of monoclinic Na3YCl6 with its low Young’s modulus in contrast to high bulk modulus is highlighted [2].
[1] A Miura, M. Aykol, E. D. Cubuk et al., JJ. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 43, 29637–29644 [2] A Miura and K Muraoka et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 36, 25263–25269

About Speaker
Dr. Akira Miura received a Ph.D. in Engineering from Hokkaido University in 2007 and carried out postdoctoral research in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at Cornell University and at the Institut für Anorganische Chemie at RTWH Aachen University in 2008–2010. After being appointed assistant professor at the Center for Crystal Science and Technology at Yamanashi University in 2010, he subsequently moved to the Faculty of Engineering at Hokkaido University in 2014. Dr. Miura’s research interests include the synthesis and characterization of oxides, hydroxides, oxynitrides, nitrides, sulfides and oxychalcogenides for use in novel semiconductors, catalysts, superconductors, and all-solid-state batteries.

Stochastic Resetting of Diffusive Particles: From Single-Particle Dynamics to Many-Body Phenomena
2024-11-27 11:00 - 12:30
Gregory Schehr
Sorbonne University

Stochastic processes under resetting have garnered increasing attention in recent years. One of the simplest examples involves a diffusive particle whose position is randomly reset to a fixed point, such as its initial position, at a constant rate r. Even this basic system reveals fascinating phenomena: (i) the system reaches a nontrivial nonequilibrium stationary state, and (ii) the mean time for the particle to reach a target becomes finite, with an optimal resetting rate r that minimizes the search time.
After introducing these intriguing features, I will extend the discussion to a one-dimensional gas of N independent Brownian particles, all of which are reset simultaneously to the origin at a constant rate r. Despite the absence of direct interactions between the particles, I will demonstrate that strong correlations emerge in the stationary state at long times, purely driven by the dynamics of resetting itself.

About speaker
I earned my PhD in Theoretical Physics from École Normale Supérieure in 2003, followed by a postdoc at the University of Saarland, Germany. In 2006, I joined CNRS and became a Research Director at Sorbonne Université in 2019. Since 2023, I have also been a Professeur Chargé de Cours at École Polytechnique. My research focuses on statistical mechanics, including non-equilibrium dynamics, random matrices, disordered systems or extreme value statistics. I received the CNRS Bronze Medal in 2010 and the Aniuta Winter-Klein Prize from the Academy of Sciences in 2022.

Optimizing the information content of coherent light
2025-02-26 11:00 - 12:30
Allard P. Mosk
Utrecht University

Random scattering of light, which takes place in paper, paint and biological tissue is an obstacle to imaging and focusing of light and thus hampers many applications. At the same time scattering is a phenomenon of basic physical interest and its relation to the information content of light is subtle [1] and in many cases focusing and imaging are still possible [2]. Here we show shaped light fields that are relevant to imaging and measurements in scattering environments. Firstly, we present maximum information states, which are light states that carry a maximum amount of information about a given observable, enabling the most precise measurements that are possible given a coherent input beam [3]. Conversely, scattering invariant modes are the least sensitive modes to the presence of a scattering sample and they retain the same output profile whether propagated through a scattering material or through air, as visualized in Fig. 1. We demonstrate these states experimentally and show numerically their relevance to imaging and metrology inside scattering media [4].

References:
1. A. P. Mosk, A. Lagendijk, G. Lerosey, and M. Fink, Controlling waves in space and time for imaging and focusing in complex media, Nat. Photon., 6, 283 (2012).
2. I.M. Vellekoop and A.P. Mosk, Universal optimal transmission of light through disordered materials, Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 120601 (2008).
3. D. Bouchet, S. Rotter and A.P. Mosk, Maximum information states for coherent scattering measurements, Nature Physics (2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41567-020-01137-4 4. P. Pai, J. Bosch, M. Kühmayer, S. Rotter and A.P. Mosk, Scattering invariant modes of light in complex media, arXiv:2010.01075 (2020).

About Speaker
Allard Mosk received his Ph.D. in 1999 in the field of ultracold quantum gases. Major results in this field were the first observation of photoassociation of hydrogen and of the Feshbach resonance in lithium, and the original proposal for observation of negative-temperature states in atomic gases. In 2003 he entered the field of optics in complex media, where he developed methods to control diffusive light. In 2007 his team demonstrated the first focusing of light through strongly scattering media. The wavefornt shaping method at the basis of this work has been used in many new imaging and focusing modalities worldwide. In 2012 the team demonstrated fluorescence imaging through scattering media using speckle correlations, a method quickly picked up by other groups worldwide. His present research interests include imaging and industrial metrology using scattered light, and innovations to reduce the impact of the climate crisis.

Inspiring Women in Science: Career Journeys, Experiences, and Achievements
2025-03-14 12:30 - 13:30
Dear Members of the Bilkent Community,
As part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, UNAM is pleased to host a special panel discussion titled “Inspiring Women in Science: Career Journeys, Experiences, and Achievements.”
Four distinguished female scientists who have made significant contributions to their fields will share their career journeys, scientific research, and valuable experiences. This event will provide an opportunity to discuss the impact of women in science and society, as well as how they strengthen their presence in the field and seize new opportunities.
Speakers: Asst. Prof. Wonmi Ahn, Assoc. Prof. Yegan Erdem, Dr. Ayça Arslan Ergül, and Dr. Sezin Galioğlu Özaltuğ
Date: March 14, 2025, Friday
Time: 12:30 – 13:30
Venue: UNAM Conference Hall
We invite you all to join us in celebrating International Women’s Day and recognizing the contributions of women in science through this inspiring discussion.
UNAM | Bilkent University

Functional Materials & Nanotechnology Workshop 2025
2025-03-19 09:00 - 2025-03-20 18:00
Bilkent University UNAM & Twente’s MESA+ Institute Functional Materials & Nanotechnology Workshop 2025

Bilkent University National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM) and the University of Twente’s MESA+ Institute are jointly organizing the “Bilkent University UNAM and University of Twente MESA+: Functional Materials and Nanotechnology Workshop 2025” on March 19-20, 2025. This workshop aims to bring together leading researchers in materials science and nanotechnology, strengthening scientific ties between the two countries and fostering knowledge exchange in nanomaterials, optics/photonics, micro-nanoelectronics, and chip systems.
Over the course of two days, the event will highlight the latest advancements in nanotechnology through keynote presentations, panel discussions, lab visits, and dedicated sessions exploring opportunities for collaboration. A key objective is to leverage the advanced research infrastructures in Türkiye and the Netherlands to facilitate international partnerships, particularly within the European Union’s framework programs.
Following the inaugural meeting held in the Netherlands last year, this second edition at Bilkent University UNAM will provide participants with a dynamic platform to share insights, strengthen scientific collaborations, and explore new research opportunities. We hope that this workshop will inspire groundbreaking discoveries and internationally recognized projects in materials science and nanotechnology.
Click for register and more informotion;
https://unam.bilkent.edu.tr/en/fmnw25

Celebrating 100 Years of Quantum Science at UNAM
2025-05-14 15:30 - 17:30
Bilkent University’ National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM) is hosting “Bilkent UNAM – Quantum Day” as part of a global scientific initiative to honor the 100-year legacy of quantum science.
During the event held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Chair of the Department of Physics at Bilkent University Prof. Ceyhun Bulutay, Assoc. Prof. Serkan Ateş from İzmir Institute of Technology, and Asst. Prof. İbrahim Sarpkaya from UNAM will deliver talks on the fundamentals and future directions of quantum technologies.
In addition, UNAM is one of the stops of QuanTour—a scientific journey across Europe initiated by the Quantum 2025 initiative under the United Nations and UNESCO’s designation of 2025 as the “International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.”
As part of QuanTour, a quantum light source developed by Dr. Tobias Heindel’s research group at the Technical University of Berlin is traveling to select laboratories across more than 12 countries in Europe, including the prestigious Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge.
The project aims to raise awareness in fields such as quantum optics, semiconductor physics, photonic quantum technologies, and quantum metrology, while also promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange among researchers. Its second stop in Turkey, after İzmir Institute of Technology (İYTE), is the Quantum Photonics Laboratory of Asst. Prof. İbrahim Sarpkaya at Bilkent University UNAM.
Asst. Prof. Sarpkaya and his research group will perform g²-correlation experiments using the quantum light source and their Hanbury Brown and Twiss (HBT) interferometer setup at the laboratory.

“Bilkent UNAM – Quantum Day” Program | May 14, 2025, Wednesday:

15:30 – 15:40 | Opening Remarks – Dr. İbrahim Sarpkaya, Bilkent University UNAM
15:40 – 16:10 | Keynote Speech – Assoc. Prof. Serkan Ateş, İzmir Institute of Technology
16:10 – 16:40 | Keynote Speech – Prof. Ceyhun Bulutay, Chair of Physics Department, Bilkent University
16:40 – 17:10 | Keynote Speech – Asst. Prof. İbrahim Sarpkaya, Bilkent University UNAM
17:10 – 17:20 | Closing Remarks

NanoDay 2025
2025-05-23 08:30 - 18:00
NanoDay 2025: The Light of Science Shines at UNAM on May 23
Bilkent University UNAM will be hosting and organizing its annual NanoDay on Friday, May 23, 2005. The event brings together leading figures from the international scientific community, as well as researchers, students, and industry professionals from Turkey and around the world.
As part of NanoDay, which has been held since 2014, UNAM will host Prof. Philip Russell from the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, recognized for his pioneering work in photonic crystals and fiber optic technologies, and Prof. Hans Hilgenkamp from the University of Twente’s MESA+ Institute, who will present his research on superconductivity and quantum devices as well as energy-efficient neuromorphic computing.
To date, NanoDay has brought together more than 3,000 participants through science. The event also provides students from Bilkent University and other institutions the opportunity to express themselves through the NanoArt Competition and the NanoPoster Competition and Exhibition.
We would be delighted to welcome you to this inspiring scientific gathering.
For more information, please visit the NanoDay website: [NanoDay Website]
NanoDay Web Site

Smart Self-assembly for Sustainable Nanophotonics and Optoelectronics
2025-06-16 15:40 - 17:00
Talha Erdem
Abdullah Gül University

Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions have already been accepted as the straightforward way to limit the environmental effects of the global warming. Toward this aim, significant efforts have been put forward in the field of photonics as well. For example, solar energy became a significant source of energy and light-emitting diodes promising a lower energy consumption became the main devices used lighting applications. However, the widespread use of these technologies has a cost: the dependence on rare earth elements. As part of the efforts to eliminate this dependence, our group works on the utilization of colloidal nanoparticles to produce nanophotonic structures and optoelectronic devices using controllable self-assembly methods, i.e., smart self-assembly.
In this talk, we will first discuss our work where we tailored the electrostatic self-assembly of colloidal quantum dots on 2D surfaces using light [1]. Owing to the local heating due to laser irradiation, the quantum dots gain enough kinetic energy such that they can escape the electrostatic attraction. This approach allowed us to produce patterns having 100s of micrometers by a few centimeters. Next, we will present the opportunities that the light-assisted local heating offers for DNA-driven self-assembly. Within this framework, we will first explain our results on tailoring the optical transmission of the self-assembled networks made of DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles [2]. Subsequently, we will continue with the control of 2D self-assembly of DNA-functionalized quantum dots as part of our efforts towards developing novel fabrication technologies [3]. We will then talk about our novel photodetector application made of the DNA-functionalized metal and semiconductor nanoparticles. Owing to DNA-DNA interaction, these photodetectors exhibit a negative responsivity [4]. Next, we will present our work in which we explored how to customise the optical polarization of magnetic and self-assembled quantum dot supraparticles [5]. We report on our efforts to produce CdSe/ZnS quantum dots, iron oxide nanoparticles, and silver nanoparticle supraparticles. We then demonstrate the magnetic field-dependent optical polarization control of the quantum dot-iron oxide supraparticle network. Finally, we will present the formation of translucent photonic crystals of latex nanoparticles [6]. These particles form 3D photonic crystals when they are concentrated. Their reflection colors can be easily tailored by changing the final concentration of the material as controlling the concentration enables controlling the distance between the particles forming the photonic crystal.
References
[1] Akrema et al., J. Phys. Chem C. 129, 9747 (2025).
[2] Z. Senel et al., J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 129, 153106 (2021).
[3] Z. Senel et al., arXiv:2307.10241 (2023); Z. Senel and E. Taze et al., in submission.
[4] M. Savas et al., in submission.
[5] T. Erdem et al., MRS Bulletin 47, 1084 (2022).
[2] T. Erdem et al., Frontiers in Physics 10, 847142 (2022).

About Speaker
Asst. Prof. Talha Erdem received his BS, MS, and PhD degrees all in Electrical-Electronics Engineering from Bilkent University in Türkiye in 2009, 2011, and 2016, respectively. His graduate studies focused on the development of efficient and stable quantum dot color converters for high-quality light-emitting didoes. His works led to the SPIE’s Scholarship in Optics and Photonics in 2012 and IEEE Photonics Society Graduate Student Fellowship in 2016. After his PhD, he was awarded the Newton International Fellowship by the Royal Society to conduct his research at the Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge. During this period, he focused on the utilization of various self-assembly tools in photonic applications. In 2019, he moved to Abdullah Gül University and established the Smart Nanophotonics Research Group. His current research interests are the development of novel optoelectronic devices and novel fabrication technologies using smart self-assembly of nanoparticles. In 2023, his research was acknowledged by the Science Academy (Bilim Akademisi) with BAGEP Awards and also by the Turkish Academy of Science (TÜBA) with GEBİP young investigator awards.

Smart Biomaterials and Biopreservation to Improve Human Health
2025-07-03 15:40 - 17:00
Ayşe Aslıhan Gökaltun
Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Advancements in biomaterials and biopreservation technologies are critical to overcoming key bottlenecks in clinical care, from wound management to organ transplantation. To highlight the state-of-the-art in these fields and reflect on current challenges and opportunities, this talk will first present our development of stimuli-responsive supramolecular hydrogels to enhance wound healing, deter infection and provide pain-free burn care for patients. These hydrogels are engineered to be tunable, biocompatible, and scalable for translational deployment.
In parallel, I will share our progress in supercooled biopreservation, where we extended the functional viability of primary hepatocyte monolayers up to three days, preserving both morphology and metabolic function. This work opens avenues for long-range transport and banking of engineered tissues, with implications for cell-based therapies and donor organ preservation. Together, these technologies highlight the potential of smart biomaterials and biopreservation strategies to improve clinical applications and expand the reach of next-generation therapies.

About speaker
Dr. Aslihan Gokaltun is a faculty member at the Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. She joined the faculty in 2021 after completing her postdoctoral training in the laboratories of Drs. Martin Yarmush and Berk Usta where she co-led several federally funded initiatives. Dr. Gokaltun received her BSc, MSc, and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Hacettepe University in Türkiye. Her research focuses on engineering next-generation biomaterials and preservation strategies to enhance wound care and therapeutic delivery, bridge preclinical and clinical domains, and address unmet medical needs across diverse patient populations.

Engineering Tissues Layer by Layer: 3D Bioprinting with Bioinspired Nanomaterials
2025-07-10 15:40 - 17:00
Ahmad Rashad Elsebahy
1- Center of Translational Oral Research, Department of Clinical Dentistry,
University of Bergen, Norway.
2- Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame,
Notre Dame, Indiana, United States.
3- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, Los Angeles,
California, United States.

Despite significant advances in science and technology, we are still unable to fully overcome simple medical conditions like tooth cavities and bone fractures, not to mention more serious diseases. To achieve true healing, there is a growing need to shift the current medical paradigm toward regenerative strategies that can restore both the structure and function of native tissues. However, living tissues are inherently sophisticated structures, composed of multiple cell types embedded within multiscale, multi-material composites precisely organized in layers to perform specific biological and mechanical functions. These natural matrices range from the nanoscale, where molecules self-assemble into functional architectures, all the way to centimeter-scale tissues, as seen in human bones or plant structures like trees. Bones and trees have remarkable structural and molecular similarities. At the nanoscale, the helical arrangement of collagen fibrils in bone closely resembles the arrangement of cellulose fibers in wood. Both structures are optimized to withstand mechanical stress. This structural-functional complexity presents both a challenge and blueprint for developing advanced tissue engineering strategies. Achieving such structural and functional fidelity requires advanced fabrication technologies, such as 3D bioprinting, which enables the accurate positioning of bioinks composed of diverse cells, biomaterials, and biologics in layer-by-layer architectures that closely recapitulate the native tissue environment.
This lecture will highlight some of my previous work on the integration of extrusion-based bioprinting with bioinspired nanomaterials, specifically cellulose nanofibers and nanohydroxyapatite, to fabricate scaffolds that replicate the architecture of both compact and spongy bone tissues. Following comprehensive in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility studies, nanocellulose with varied surface chemistries was employed to fine-tune nanostructured, multi-material inks derived from a diverse library of biopolymers, including gelatin, gelatin methacryloyl, alginate, fibrin, polyesters, and polycarbonates. In formulations where human mesenchymal stromal/stem cells were incorporated into hydrogel precursors and printed to mimic bone extracellular matrix, nanocellulose imparted exceptional shear-thinning properties, effectively overcoming the rheological limitations associated with nanoceramic printing. To address the mechanical weakness of printed hydrogels and better emulate the load-bearing nature of compact bone, a modified 3D printing strategy using thermoplastic polymers with bone-inspired designs was employed. These thermoplastic scaffolds were further coated with nanocellulose or magnesium-doped nanohydroxyapatite to enhance cellular integration and biological performance.
Finally, the lecture will discuss opportunities to integrate 3D printing technologies for tissue engineering and personalized medicine into UNAM’s research and entrepreneurial initiatives, with the aim of advancing these innovations toward clinical application and achieving meaningful real-world impact.

About speaker
Dr. Ahmad Rashad Elsebahy is a dentist and tissue engineering researcher dedicated to bridging clinical needs with cutting-edge regenerative medicine. He is currently a Senior Researcher at the University of Bergen’s Tissue Engineering Group in Norway, and also holds research affiliations with the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (USA) and the University of Notre Dame’s Bioengineering Program (USA). Dr. Ahmad Rashad is a graduate of Alexandria University’s School of Dentistry in Egypt. He practiced dentistry for six years, including a year-long residency in oral surgery, before transitioning to tissue engineering research. His career has spanned three continents, beginning with a Master’s in Biomaterials Science between Alexandria and Lehigh (USA) Universities, where he engineered nanoporous bioactive glass scaffolds. In Japan at Nagasaki Dental School, he developed regenerative dental nanomaterials, followed by a PhD at the University of Bergen (Norway) focusing on 3D bioprinting stem cells in nanocellulose hydrogels. During his postdoc in Norway, he established the group’s biofabrication platform, secured over €4 million in grants, co-founded Bergen’s first clinical startup for 3D-printed bone implants, and patented several novel bone tissue engineering scaffolds. At the Terasaki Institute and Notre Dame, his research expanded into personalized medicine, shear-thinning nanomaterials, biosensors, microfluidics, bioethics, and stem cell–based bioprinted scaffolds for diabetic wound healing using cell-derived exosomes. With 40+ publications, mentorship of 6 PhD and 3 Master’s students, and co-founding a MedTech startup, Dr. Ahmad Rashad exemplifies the fusion of clinical insight, bioengineering innovation, and translational vision to advance the future of regenerative therapies

Engineering light to hop or walk through photonic nanostructures: Fundamental puzzles to sustainable industrial applications
2025-07-17 15:40 - 17:00
Willem L. Vos
University of Twente

The study of the propagation of light through complex composite materials – e.g., paint, foam, bio-logical tissue – is a topic that has become a field of its own [Nov2012, Car2021]. This may seem surprising: if a material is so opaque that it scrambles images, how can one see through? If a laser beam is scram¬bled, how does optical interference survive? The answer is in essence that interferences survive even millions of scattering events, observable as speckle or enhanced back scattering. Know-how of light scattering serves to address challenges in high-tech industry – from lighting, CMOS metrology, to atmospheric sensing – for sustainable technology, see Fig. 1 [FFSO].

Figure 1. Schematic illustrating how the joint engineering of broadband light waves by nanostructure and wavefront shaping optimizes light on a target, for sustainable high-tech appli¬cations.
Three complementary tools are crucial to control light interference in complex materials: nanostructure, shape (freeform), wavefront shaping. (1) Much progress is made to realize nanostructures: periodic [Goo2023], cav¬ity superlattices [Adh2024], or chiral [Ota2019]. The chal-lenge to get calibrated densities is met by using in situ X-ray imaging. Since X-ray methods are non-destructive, devices are available for further study or integration [Sch2024]. (2) External sample shape, long neglected, is remarkably crucial, as known in industry, and now also in wavefront shaping [Rat2023a]. (3) Wavefronts shaped with SLMs offer many control parameters to meet a desi¬red goal like a highly optimized focus (Fig. 1). This is used to send light deep into a forbidden gap [Upp2021], or do secure optical communication [Rat2023b]. A new topic is mutual scattering where extinction (shadow) is control¬led to make objects more transparent or darker, or sense particle displacement in opaque materials [Rat2024, Tru2022].
Finally, even the transport of light intensity without interference – at the basis of most scattering optics – still holds puzzles, notably when well-known models like diffusion break down [Akd2024].

[Akd2024] O. Akdemir, M. D. Truong, A. Rates, A. Lagendijk & WLV, Phys. Rev. A 110 (2024) 033520
[Car2021] R. Carminati & J. Schotland, Principles of scattering and transport of light (Cambridge, 2021)
[FFSO] See www.freeformscatteringoptics.com; research program of 3 TUs and 6 hi-tech companies
[Goo2023] M.J. Goodwin, C.A.M. Harteveld, M.J. de Boer, et al., Nanotechnology 34 (2023) 225301
[Koz2022] M. Kozoň, A. Lagendijk, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 129 (2022) 176401; Opt. Express (2023)
[Nov2012] L. Novotny & B. Hecht, Principles of Nano-optics (Cambridge, 2012)
[Ota2019] Y. Ota, F. Liu, R. Katsumi, et al., Y. Arakawa & S. Iwamoto, Optica 6 (2019) 786
[Rat2023a] A. Rates, A. Lagendijk, A. J. L. Adam, W. L. Ijzerman & WLV, Opt. Express 31 (2023) 43351
[Rat2023b] A. Rates, J. Vrehen, L. Mulder, W. L. Ijzerman & WLV, Opt. Express 31 (2023) 23897
[Rat2024] A. Rates, A. Lagendijk, M. D. Truong & WLV, Phys. Rev. A 110 (2024) 063518
[Sch2024] A. S. Schulz, M. Kozoň, G. J. Vancso, J. Huskens & WLV, J. Phys. Chem. C 128 (2024) 9142
[Tru2022] M.D. Truong, A. Lagendijk & W.L. Vos, Opt. Express 31, 15058 (2023)
[Upp2021] R. Uppu, M. Adhikary, C.A.M. Harteveld & W.L. Vos, Phys. Rev. Lett. 126 (2021) 177402
About speaker
Willem Vos obtained a Ph.D. in physics at the University of Amsterdam with highest honors (cum laude, top 5%) for his thesis “Phase behavior of simple systems at high pressure”. He held a prestigious Fellowship from the Carnegie Institution for Science (USA) where he discovered a novel class of “van der Waals compounds” at very high pressures in the Geophysical Laboratory (Nature 1992).
He then became one of the first to study photonic crystals at optical frequencies, niftily combining colloid physics and synchrotron X-ray methods. His team developed powerful “inverse opal” photonic crystals, reported in an influential Science paper (~2400 Google citations). Since 2002 Vos is professor of Complex Photonic Systems (COPS) at the University of Twente. His team demonstrated the first ever control of spontaneous emission of light with photonic crystals (Nature 2004), and with a complete 3D photonic band gap (PRL 2011).
His COPS team pioneered optical wavefront shaping, a revolution in optics to “unscatter” scattered light, leading to novel applications in imaging, microscopy, and optical communication using opaque materials. Vos leads major multi-million-euro-consortia that closely collaborate with major high-tech industries and SMEs (with 30 BEUR annual turnover), to solve practical high-tech problems with advanced nanophotonics.
Vos was elected Fellow of the APS and of Optica (formerly: OSA), and awarded the Snellius medal and the Descartes-Huygens prize by the French Académie des Sciences. He has been guest professor at leading institutions (LPMMC, CNRS, Grenoble, and Langevin Institute, ESPCI, PSL, Paris). His papers are on average cited >40x. Willem Vos takes much pride in his students who have become faculty members at leading institutes, or pursue careers in major industries as well as in non-profit organizations.

Spatially coherent exciton ensembles in two-dimensional heterostructures
2025-10-08 11:00 - 13:00
Alexander Holleitner
Technical University of Munich

Heterostructures made from two-dimensional (2D) transition-metal dichalcogenides exhibit a very large light-matter interaction [1], and they are ideal platforms to explore excitonic phenomena ranging from correlated moiré excitons to degenerate interlayer exciton ensembles with a spatially extended coherence at cryogenic temperatures [1-4]. I will highlight the experimental signatures of quantum mechanically degenerate and coherent exciton ensembles in 2D heterostructures. Moreover, I will discuss how the real-space wave function of the excitons can be understood in reconstructed heterostructures with a Moiré potential [5].

Figueiredo/Technical University of Munich, www.physics.aps.org

[1] M. Brotons-Gisbert, B.D. Gerardot, A.W. Holleitner, U. Wurstbauer, MRS bulletin 49 (9), 914-931 (2024).
[2] L. Sigl et al., Phys. Rev. Research 2, 042044(R) (2020).
[3] M. Troue and J. Figueiredo et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 036902 (2023).
[4] C. Qian, M. Troue, J. Figueiredo et al. Science Adv. 0 (2), eadk6359 (2024).
[5] J. Figueiredo, M. Richter et al. NPJ Quantum Materials 10 (1), 96, September 16th (2025).

About speaker
Alexander W. Holleitner is an experimental physicist working on fundamental aspects of optics and electronics in quantum matter, ranging from many-body exciton ensembles to topological aspects of atomistic materials. After his postdoctoral stay at the University of California, Santa Barbara, from 2003 to 2005, he was junior professor at the Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU), Germany. In 2007, he got promoted to professor in physics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Since 2020, he is director of the Walter Schottky Institute and heading the Chair for Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials. Moreover, he is member of the excellence clusters Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology, e-conversion, and the Munich Quantum Valley. He is co-founder and spokesperson of the MSc degree program on quantum science and technology, as it is jointly offered by LMU and TUM in Munich.
