Name: Ceren İskender Tunca, PhD

E-mail: iskenderceren@gmail.com

Education:

PhD Student: 2013 - 2018

Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Boğaziçi University, Suna Kıraç; Fellow

MSc Student: 2010 - 2013

Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Boğaziçi University, İnan Kıraç Fellow

BSc: 2006-2010

Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Sabancı University

Research Interests:

Understanding the molecular basis of familial and sporadic ALS in Turkey using conventional PCR-based methods and next generation sequencing.

Phenotypic heterogeneity within ALS and genotype-phenotype correlations.

Investigation of overlapping genetic features of ALS and other MNDs/neurological disorders to provide differential diagnosis.

Incomplete penetrance in sporadic ALS and discrimination between disease-causing or disease-modifying genetic factors.

MSc Thesis: "Genetically Accurate Models of SOD1-based ALS in Drosophila: Validation and Characterization", 2013, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Boğaziçi University.

PhD Thesis: "The Molecular Landscape of ALS in Turkey: A Multifaceted Approach to The Complex Genetics of ALS", 2018, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Boğaziçi University.

İlknur Yıldız Aydın
Administrative Assistant

E-mail: iyildizaydin@ku.edu.tr

Education / Work Experience:

2005 - 2018, Administrative assistant
NDAL Boğaziçi University

2002 - 2005, Avene Product Manager Assistant
Te-Ha Cosmetics, Galenic Product Trainer

2000 - 2002, Christian Dior Sales Department Assistant,
Arcon Kozmetik

1996 - 2000, BA
Department of French Language and Literature Istanbul University

A.Nazlı Başak, PhD
Director of NDAL

E-mail: nbasak@ku.edu.tr

Positions and Employment
1973 - 1977, Ph. D Student in the laboratory of Prof. Friedrich Cramer, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine in Göttingen. Dissertation: Three dimensional structure of tRNA Phe from yeast: its chemical and biophysical properties.
1977 - 1980, Postdoctoral fellow in the Laboratory of Prof. Friedrich Cramer, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine in Göttingen.
1980 - 1985, Research fellow at the above institute.
1985 - 1986, Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Boğaziçi University.
1986 - 1991, Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Boğaziçi University.
1991 - present, Professor and Senior Faculty Member at the above institution.
2005 -present, Director of Neurodegeneration Research Laboratory

Selda Dağdeviren Dığın
Administrative Assistant

E-mail: sdagdevirendigin@ku.edu.tr

Education/ Work Experience:

2007 - 2018, Administrative Assistant
NDAL, Boğaziçi University

2002 - 2006, BA
Department of Communication Sciences, Anadolu University, Eskişehir.
Minor: Honor in Labor Economics and Industrial Relations, Anadolu University, Eskişehir

Müge Kovancılar Koç
Lab Technician

E-mail: mkvnclr@gmail.com

Education:
2008-2011, MSc Student/Asistant Student (Part time); Department of Oncologic Biology and Immunology, Oncology Institute, Istanbul University
MSc Thesis:
”Investigation of miR-21, miR-141, and miR-221 in blood circulation of patients with prostate cancer. Tumour Biol. 32(3):583-8.”
2003-2007 BSc; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Haliç University

Work Experience:
2018-: Geleceğin Rol Model Lider Kadınları Projesi Sağlık Branşı: KOÇKAM, KOÇ University
2016-2017: Laboratory Technician in Tubitak Project; Hemorheology, Hemodynamics and Vascular Biology Laboratory, Medical School of Koc University
May.2015-Nov.2015: İstanbul Biyoteknoloji ve Laboratuvar Hizm. Ltd. Şti. Laboratory Supervisor of Cell Culture and Molecular Biology Laboratory
2012-2014, Medical Instructor; Haseki Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Genetik Tanı Merkezi

Irmak Şahbaz, BSc
Research Assistant

E-mail: irmaksahbaz@hotmail.com

Work Experience:

2009 - 2018, Technical Assistant
NDAL, Boğaziçi University

Education:

Gülşah Şimşir
MSc Student

E-mail: gulsahsimsir4@gmail.com

Education:
2012-2018, BSc; Middle East Technical University, Department of Biological Sciences, Molecular Biology and Genetics

Ufuk Solmaz
MSc Student

E-mail: ufukcansolmaztl@gmail.com

Education:

2019- MSc Student; Graduate School of Health Sciences, KOÇ University

2013-2018 BSc Student; Department of Biology, Middle East Technical University

Derya Karaarslan
Researcher

E-mail: deryakaraarslan.dk@gmail.com

Education:

2008-2012 BSc Student; Department of Biology, Faculty Of Science, Eskisehir Osmangazi University

2014-2017 MSc Student; Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School Of Science, Anadolu University

Tuğçe Gül, MSc
PhD Student

E-mail: gultugce94@gmail.com

Education:
2016 - 2018, MSc Student; Department of Molecular Medicine, Yeditepe University
2012 - 2016, BSc Student; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Yıldız Technical Univesity

Elif Bayraktar, MSc
PhD Student

E-mail: ebayraktar01@gmail.com

Education:
2013 - 2018, BSc Student; Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, İstanbul Technical Univesity

Alperen Usta
Undergraduate Student

E-mail: ialperenusta@outlook.com

Education:
2015 - , Undergraduate; İstanbul Medicine Faculty, İstanbul University

İnterests:
Understanding  genetic  mechanisms underlying neurological diseases and gaining a genetic aspect on neurons. Also interested in Cognitive Disorders and abnormalities.

Atay Vural, MD, PhD
Neurologist and Neuroscientist

E-mail: atayvural@gmail.com

Education:
2009 - 2013, Neurologist, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Ankara, Turkey
2003 - 2010, Ph.D., Hacettepe University Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey
2001 - 2007, M.D., Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

Professional Experience:
2017 – now, Clinician researcher at KUTTAM and Koç University Hospital Neurology Department
2015 - 2018, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Ludwig-Maximillian University, Munich, Germany
2015, Postdoctoral Clinical Researcher at the Institute of Neurological Sciences and Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
2013 - 2015, Neurologist at Besni State Hospital, Adıyaman, Turkey (Compulsory state service)

Fellowships & Scholarships:
2017-2018, Alexander von Humboldt Georg-Forster Research Fellowship
2015-2016, European Academy of Neurology Research Fellowship
2015-2016, TUBITAK 2219 International Postdoctoral Fellowship
2007-2010, TUBITAK 2211-A National Scholarship Program for PhD Students
2001-2007, Hacettepe University Scholarship for Outstanding Undergraduate Students