CV

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Positions

• 2024–presentSenior Research Scientist, Georgia Institute of Technology
• 2022–presentAdjunct Instructor, Georgia Institute of Technology
• 2020–2024Research Scientist II, Georgia Institute of Technology
• 2016–2020Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology, with Will Ratcliff
• 2008–2011Research and Teaching Assistant, Izmir Institute of Technology, Turkey

Education

• 2016Ph.D., Evolutionary Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany, with Duncan Greig
• 2010M.Sc., Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir Institute of Technology, Turkey, with Caglar Karakaya
• 2006B.Sc., Biochemistry, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

Grants and awards

• 2025–2030NSF LTREB grant (PI), $596,940
• 2025CIOS Honor Roll: Student Recognition of Excellence in Teaching, Microbiology Lab, Georgia Tech
• 2024CIOS Honor Roll: Student Recognition of Excellence in Teaching, Evolutionary Biology, Georgia Tech
• 2022Center for Microbial Dynamics and Infection Prize for Postdoctoral Research, Georgia Tech
• 2019Best Talk, Evolution of Complex Life Conference
• 2015Best Oral Presentation, EEBST Symposium, Turkey
• 2014Best Talk, EEBST Symposium, Turkey
• 2012–2016Ph.D. Fellowship, Max Planck Research School for Evolutionary Biology

Selected talks

• 2026Astrobiology Science Conference: From microscopic to macroscopic size: long-term experimental evolution of multicellularity in yeast
• 2025Oregon State University, Department of Integrative Biology Seminar: Replaying the evolution of multicellularity in a test tube
• 2025Kennesaw State University Seminar: Replaying the evolution of multicellularity in a test tube
• 2025Darwin Day Talks, Georgia Tech: Predictability of evolution: lessons from a multicellularity evolution experiment
• 2024Suddath Symposium, Georgia Tech: A thousand days of change: snowflake yeast’s path to multicellularity
• 2022Evolution Meeting, Cleveland: Experimental evolution of macroscopic multicellularity
• 2021Gregor Mendel Institute, Vienna Biocenter: De novo evolution of macroscopic multicellularity
• 2021Aykut Kence Evolution Conference, METU: Long-term evolution of multicellularity
• 2019Gordon Research Seminar, New Hampshire: Oxygen and the experimental evolution of macroscopic multicellular size
• 2018Yeast Genetics Meeting, Stanford: Oxygen and the evolution of multicellular size

Service

• 2025–presentAcademic Research Senate, Georgia Tech
• 2025, 2026School of Biological Sciences Promotion Committee, Georgia Tech
• 2025–2026Reviewer, PURA Salary Awards, Georgia Tech (8 proposals per term)
• 2025Reviewer, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Research Fellowship Programme
• 2026Multicellularity session chair, Diversification of Life Meeting, Atlanta
• 2026Judge, W.D. Hamilton Award and ASN Ruth Patrick Award, Evolution Conference
• 2024Co-convener, Microbial Experimental Evolution session, ASM Microbe, Atlanta

Peer reviewer for Science Advances, Nature Communications, Genome Research, eLife, Molecular Biology and Evolution, Genetics, Communications Biology, Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Journal of Molecular Evolution, Plant Communications, and BioEssays.