GTU Bioengineering Researcher at the University of Exeter

June 30, 2026 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations
 

— GTU Bioengineering Research Assistant Buse Susamaz has been awarded a visiting researcher position at the University of Exeter.

— As part of her doctoral research on the biological degradation of plastic waste, she will conduct scientific research in the United Kingdom for three months.

GTU Department of Bioengineering Research Assistant Buse Susamaz will conduct doctoral research at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom with the support of a COST Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) grant.

Buse Susamaz, Research Assistant in the Department of Bioengineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Gebze Technical University (GTU), is expanding her doctoral research onto the international stage. Conducting her doctoral studies under the supervision of Prof. Barış Binay, Susamaz has been selected to serve as a visiting researcher at the University of Exeter, one of the United Kingdom's leading higher education institutions.

Enzymatic Solutions for a Sustainable Environment

Through her doctoral research titled "Crystallisation and Structural Characterisation of a Thermophilic PETase Enzyme from the Microorganism Kibdelosporangium aridum", Research Assistant Buse Susamaz aims to contribute to the development of sustainable environmental technologies. Her research focuses on the biological degradation of PET plastic waste, a major global environmental challenge, using thermophilic enzymes as an innovative approach to plastic recycling.

Having been awarded a Short-Term Scientific Mission (STSM) grant under COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), Susamaz will conduct research for three months at the University of Exeter under the supervision of Prof. Jennifer A. Littlechild.

GTU's Vision for International Research

This international collaboration aligns closely with Gebze Technical University's vision of advancing sustainable environmental technologies and producing high-impact biotechnology research with global relevance. Active participation in international research networks and the effective use of prestigious European funding mechanisms such as COST continue to strengthen GTU's position within the global scientific community while supporting the university's commitment to high-quality academic research and innovation.