Our People
Meet the researchers and students exploring physiology and regenerative biology at Hacettepe University.
Esin Akbay Çetin
Associate Professor · Principal Investigator
Esin Akbay Çetin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Hacettepe University. She received her BSc, MSc, and PhD degrees in Biology from Hacettepe University, where her graduate research focused on mesenchymal stem cells, myocardial regeneration, and the fate and migration of stem-cell-derived cells.
Her research explores the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying tissue injury, repair, and regeneration, with particular emphasis on stem cell biology, tissue engineering, biomaterials, cardiovascular physiology, and neurophysiology. Her work combines advanced in vitro cell-based systems with in vivo experimental models to investigate how cells respond to physiological and pathological stress and how regenerative and biomaterial-based strategies can be harnessed to promote tissue recovery.
Her international research experience includes work at the University of Groningen and a visiting research position at Charles University in Prague. As Principal Investigator, she leads multidisciplinary studies at the interface of cell biology, physiology, and regenerative medicine, with the goal of translating fundamental biological mechanisms into innovative therapeutic approaches.
PhD Students
Teoman Utku Yeğenoğlu
Teoman Utku Yeğenoğlu graduated from the Department of Biology at Hacettepe University. He completed an internship in the Microbiology Department of Gen Pharmaceuticals and Health Products Inc. He is a PhD student in the General Biology program at Hacettepe University.
Join Our Research Team
We are looking for motivated PhD students to join our lab. If you are passionate about physiology and regenerative biology, we would love to hear from you.
Learn How to ApplyMSc Students
Uğur Yılmaz
Uğur Yılmaz graduated from the Department of Biology at Hacettepe University and is pursuing an MSc in General Biology. His interests include animal physiology, neurophysiology, and circulatory physiology. He presented research on the sciatic nerve at the 22nd National Neuroscience Congress and plans to study Parkinson’s disease for his master’s thesis.
Elçin Tank
Elçin Tank graduated from the Department of Biology at Hacettepe University. Her undergraduate work focused on histology and toxicology in zoology, and she completed internships in the Department of General Biology. As an MSc student in Physiology, she studies tumor anti-angiogenesis in liver cancer, participates in in vivo and ex ovo projects, and has presented posters and talks at scientific congresses.
Ceren Kurtaran
Ceren Kurtaran graduated from the Department of Biology at Hacettepe University in 2025. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in the Department of General Biology at Hacettepe University. Her master’s thesis research investigates myocardial infarction and ischemia-reperfusion injury mechanisms, focusing on cellular protection and damage pathways through in vitro experimental models.
Hümeyra Dağdagül
Hümeyra Dağdagül graduated with a double major in Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Psychology from Istanbul Yeni Yüzyıl University. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in cancer biology research within the scope of a TÜBİTAK 2209-A project and presented poster presentations at scientific conferences. She is currently an MSc student in the Department of General Biology at Hacettepe University and a member of Akbay Lab.
Fatih Kısak
Fatih Kısak graduated from the Department of Biology at Hacettepe University. His undergraduate work focused on physiology in zoology and plant, and he completed internships in the Gen Pharmaceuticals and Health Products. As an MSc student in Physiology, he studies plant derived exosome like molecules on cardiac cells, participates in in vivo projects. In addition, he worked as a biology teacher in the private sector for seven years.
Bengüsu Alkan
Bengüsu Alkan graduated from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, at Hacettepe University in 2026. She is currently an MSc student at Hacettepe University and a member of Akbay Lab. Supported by the TÜBİTAK 2209-A program, her research focuses on the effects of melittin, a peptide derived from honeybee venom, on the A549 lung adenocarcinoma cell line.
Research Team
İrem Yağmur Gök
İrem Yağmur Gök graduated from the Department of Biology at Hacettepe University in 2023. She completed internships in Biomedical Engineering at Ankara University, and in Medical Oncology and the Experimental Animal Application and Research Center at Hacettepe University. Her special-project research explored the effects of excitement on the brain. She is pursuing a master’s degree in Bioengineering at Hacettepe University.
Afra Keban
Afra Keban is an undergraduate student in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, at Hacettepe University. Supported by the TÜBİTAK 2209-A program, she studied the effects of circadian rhythm on adipogenic differentiation in UV-treated stem cells.
Doğukan Topal
Doğukan Topal graduated from the Department of Biology at Hacettepe University. His work encompasses bioinformatics analyses, scientific communication, and the development of educational materials for researchers. He is also actively involved in providing training in Python programming for biological data analysis, preparing scientific presentations, and conducting literature-based mechanistic studies.
Alumni
Doğa Yazar
Biology Graduate
Doğa Yazar completed undergraduate research in Akbay Lab as part of a TÜBİTAK 2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Program project. During the project, she gained hands-on experience in experimental design, laboratory techniques, data collection, and scientific reporting within the fields of cellular physiology and regenerative biology.
Berfin Sağlam
Biology Graduate
Berfin Sağlam completed undergraduate research in Akbay Lab as part of a TÜBİTAK 2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Program project. During the project, she gained hands-on experience in experimental design, laboratory techniques, data collection, and scientific reporting within the fields of cellular physiology and regenerative biology.
İbrahim Kamacı
MSc Graduate
İbrahim Kamacı completed his MSc in Biology at Hacettepe University in 2024 under the supervision of Esin Akbay Çetin. His thesis, “Investigation of the Effects of SARS-CoV-2 Spike/S1 Protein, Neuropilin-1 and Toll-Like Receptor 4 Inhibitors on Different Physiological Processes in the Nervous System,” focused on neuronal differentiation, neuroprotection, axonal growth, neuronal migration, and cellular responses associated with SARS-CoV-2-related neural effects.
Hatice Elif Ayten
MSc Graduate
Hatice Elif Ayten completed her MSc in Biology at Hacettepe University in 2023 under the supervision of Esin Akbay Çetin. Her thesis, “Investigation of the Effects of Exosomes Derived from Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Healing in an In Vitro Wound Model,” investigated the regenerative potential of exosomes derived from UV-B-induced mesenchymal stem cells using two- and three-dimensional in vitro wound models.
Şebnem Erfen
MSc Graduate
Şebnem Erfen completed her MSc in Biology at Hacettepe University in 2022 under the supervision of Esin Akbay Çetin. Her graduate research investigated the therapeutic and preventive effects of piperine, curcumin, and their combination against aluminum-induced damage in primary astrocyte cells, with a particular focus on cell viability, apoptosis, necrosis, and inflammatory cytokine responses.
Join Our Team
Interested in physiology and regenerative biology? Contact us to discuss research opportunities at Akbay Lab.