TÜBİTAK award to TÜBA and TÜBA-GEBİP Members

TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye) has awarded the “TÜBİTAK Science, Special, Service, and Incentive Awards” in 2024 to 21 scientists in recognition of their outstanding contributions to research and development in scientific and technological fields, and their role in training and advancing researchers. Of these, a total of 17 scientists, including TÜBA and TÜBA-GEBİP Members, were honored. 7 Science Awards, 1 Service Award, and 13 Incentive Awards were presented by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at a ceremony held at the Beştepe National Congress and Culture Center.

TÜBİTAK Service Award

• Prof. Dr. Meral Beksaç – Awarded for her pioneering role in establishing the first non-related tissue bank at Ankara University and leading the foundation of TÜRKÖK.
• Discipline: Internal Medicine / Hematology
• Research Areas: Cord Blood & Stem Cell Transplantation, Multiple Myeloma Biology, Experimental Hematology
• Institution: İstinye University Faculty of Medicine

TÜBİTAK Science Awards

Engineering Sciences

• Prof. Dr. Seda Keskin Avcı – Recognized for her work on nano-porous materials for sustainable energy.
• Discipline: Chemical Engineering
• Research Areas: Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Materials, Biomaterials
• Institution: Koç University
• Prof. Dr. Sinem Çöleri – Recognized for research on wireless communication and vehicular networks.
• Discipline: Electrical-Electronic Engineering
• Research Areas: 6G, AI-based Wireless Communications, Vehicular Networks
• Institution: Koç University
• Prof. Dr. Sinan Gezici – Recognized for contributions to positioning in wireless systems.
• Discipline: Electrical-Electronic Engineering
• Research Areas: Signal Processing, Communications
• Institution: Bilkent University

Health Sciences

• Prof. Dr. Ahmet Alanay – Recognized for spinal diseases and surgery research.
• Discipline: Orthopedics and Traumatology
• Research Areas: Medical Informatics, Neurological Sciences, Surgery
• Institution: Acıbadem University
• Prof. Dr. Gülen Hatemi – Recognized for diagnosis and treatment of Behçet’s disease.
• Discipline: Internal Medicine
• Research Areas: Rheumatology
• Institution: Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa

Social and Human Sciences

• Prof. Dr. Bahar Rumelili Sancak – Recognized for conceptualizing liminality and otherness in international relations.
• Discipline: International Relations
• Research Areas: International Relations
• Institution: Koç University

TÜBİTAK Incentive Awards

Basic Sciences

• Assoc. Dr. Ahmet Acar – Work on cellular barcoding and tumor organoid biobanks.
• Discipline: Molecular Biology and Genetics
• Research Areas: Biology, Interdisciplinary
• Institution: METU
• Assoc. Dr. Ogün Adebali – Bioinformatics tools for DNA damage response.
• Discipline: Molecular Biology and Genetics
• Research Areas: Genetics, Evolutionary Biology
• Institution: Sabancı University
• Prof. Dr. Bünyemin Çoşut – Synthesis of BODIPY-based materials.
• Discipline: Chemistry
• Research Areas: Physical Chemistry
• Institution: Gebze Technical University
• Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özkan – 3D gravity theories and non-relativistic limits.
• Discipline: Physics
• Research Areas: Physics, Mathematics, Particles & Fields
• Institution: Istanbul Technical University

Engineering Sciences

• Assoc. Dr. İlknur Eruçar Fındıkçı – MOF materials for energy & biomedical applications.
• Discipline: Chemical Engineering
• Research Areas: Nanoscience, Chemistry, Engineering
• Institution: Özyeğin University
• Prof. Dr. Mustafa Servet Kıran – Metaheuristic optimization algorithms.
• Discipline: Computer Engineering
• Research Areas: Computer Science, AI
• Institution: Konya Technical University
• Assoc. Dr. Cem Tekin – Machine learning, cognitive communications.
• Discipline: Electrical-Electronics Engineering
• Research Areas: AI, Telecom, Statistics
• Institution: Bilkent University

Health Sciences

• Assoc. Dr. Ahmet Eken – Immunology & autoimmune diseases.
• Discipline: Immunology, Medical Biology
• Research Areas: Immunology
• Institution: Erciyes University
• Assoc. Dr. Yavuz Nuri Ertaş – Nanoparticles for cancer treatment.
• Discipline: Biomedical Engineering
• Research Areas: Biomaterials, Nanomedicine, Radiology
• Institution: Erciyes University
• Assoc. Dr. Fatih İnci – Nanotechnology in diagnostics & biosensors.
• Discipline: Biotechnology & Biomedical Engineering
• Research Areas: Biosensors, Nanotechnology
• Institution: Bilkent University UNAM
• Prof. Dr. İpek Süntar – Turkish medicinal plants research.
• Discipline: Pharmacognosy
• Research Areas: Pharmacology, Plant Sciences
• Institution: Gazi University

Social and Human Sciences

• Assoc. Dr. Ali Erken – Work on history of science & education.
• Discipline: History
• Research Areas: History
• Institution: Marmara University
• Asst. Dr. Eren Günseli – Neuropsychological functions.
• Discipline: Psychology
• Research Areas: Cognitive Neuroscience
• Institution: Sabancı University