— According to the first-term evaluation results of the TÜBİTAK 1001 Program for 2026, nine research projects from Gebze Technical University (GTU) have been selected for funding.

The results of the 2026 first-term evaluation of the 1001 – Scientific and Technological Research Projects Funding Program, administered by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) through its Directorate for Research Funding Programs (ARDEB), have been announced.

Following the scientific evaluation process, nine research projects prepared by faculty members of Gebze Technical University (GTU) were found eligible for funding. Covering a wide range of disciplines, these projects aim to generate high-quality scientific outcomes in the fields of engineering, basic sciences, and technology.

Academics and Projects Awarded Funding in the First Term of 2026:

Faculty Member Prof. Bünyemin Coşut of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science at GTU has been awarded TÜBİTAK funding for the project titled "Photocatalytic Water Splitting Using BODIPY-Functionalized MXene Hybrids."

The project aims to develop next-generation hybrid photocatalysts for the production of clean and sustainable hydrogen from water using solar energy. Within the study, BODIPY compounds, known for their strong visible-light absorption and outstanding photochemical properties, will be covalently integrated with MXene nanosheets possessing high electrical conductivity and a large electroactive surface area. The optical absorption, charge separation, electron transfer, and photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of the resulting BODIPY/MXene hybrids will be comprehensively investigated. The project team includes Burcu Toplaoğlu-Aksoy, PhD, from Gebze Technical University, Elif Yıldız-Gül, PhD, from Atatürk University, and Azam Seifi, PhD, from Kocaeli University. This interdisciplinary research is expected to generate new scientific outcomes in the fields of sustainable energy and solar fuels while contributing to the producing of qualified researchers and the development of national and international collaborations.

Faculty Member Prof. Yunus Zorlu of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science at GTU has also received TÜBİTAK funding for the project titled "Design and Development of C₃-Symmetric Triazine-Based Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) Platforms for the Multifunctional Catalytic Conversion of Carbon Dioxide."

The project seeks to utilize carbon dioxide (CO₂), one of the primary drivers of climate change, not only as a greenhouse gas emitted into the atmosphere but also as a valuable carbon source that can be converted into high-value-added chemicals. To achieve this goal, next-generation metal–organic framework (MOF) materials capable of efficiently capturing CO₂ and converting it through various catalytic processes will be developed.

The research will investigate the applicability of the designed triazine-based MOF platforms for both the chemical conversion of CO₂ and its photocatalytic reduction under sunlight. By doing so, the project aims to advance the understanding of multiple CO₂ conversion mechanisms within a single material platform and develop innovative approaches that contribute to sustainable carbon management. Bringing together the fields of chemistry, environmental engineering, and materials science, the interdisciplinary project will be led by Prof. Yunus Zorlu. The research team also includes Elif Özcan, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher at Gebze Technical University from the TÜBİTAK Science High School; Prof. Hüseyin Cengiz Yatmaz from GTU's Department of Environmental Engineering; and Asst. Prof. Aysun Aslan from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Okan University as researchers, while Prof. Uğur Ünal from Koç University will serve as the project advisor. In addition to the research team, two graduate scholarship students will actively contribute to the research and development activities throughout the project.

As is well known, the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, awarded for groundbreaking work in the field of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), once again demonstrated the strategic importance of this class of materials for both the scientific community and the sustainable technologies of the future. The project to be carried out at Gebze Technical University likewise focuses on one of the most current research areas in MOF technologies, the conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals, and aims to contribute to international scientific advancements in this field.

Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. F. İnci Özdemir of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science at GTU has been awarded TÜBİTAK funding for the project titled "Computational Protein Engineering and Polymer-Based Stabilization of Geobacillus kaustophilus-Derived L-Asparaginase for the Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia."

The project aims to enhance the effectiveness of the thermophilic L-asparaginase enzyme used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia under physiological conditions. By combining in silico protein design, protein engineering, PEGylation, and encapsulation approaches, the project seeks to develop next-generation enzyme variants with improved stability and prolonged circulation time. The anticancer potential of the developed enzymes will be comparatively evaluated against commercially available enzymes, with the ultimate goal of introducing an innovative candidate that can contribute to domestic enzyme production.

Faculty Member Asst. Prof. Abuu Bakari Kihero of the Department of Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at GTU has been awarded TÜBİTAK funding for the project titled "Distributed ISAC-Based Physical Layer Design for Collaborative Industrial Wireless Systems."

Led by Gebze Technical University, the project "Distributed ISAC-Based Physical Layer Design for Collaborative Industrial Wireless Systems" has been prepared by a consortium comprising Samsun University, İzmir Bakırçay University, Türk Telekom R&D, and the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan. The project aims to develop next-generation solutions that integrate communication, sensing, and positioning functions for collaborative mobile robots operating in smart factory environments by employing the Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) approach, one of the key enabling technologies of 6G. One of the project's distinguishing features is that it brings together inter-university collaboration, international academic cooperation, and academia–industry collaboration under a single framework.

Over the course of the three-year project, the proposed methods will be implemented and evaluated in laboratory environments through proof-of-concept (PoC) studies, demonstrating their applicability to real-world systems. The project is expected to make significant contributions to the development of 6G-enabled industrial communication systems and smart manufacturing technologies.

The project team consists of Asst. Prof. Abuu Bakari Kihero from Gebze Technical University, Asst. Prof. Ebubekir Memişoğlu from Samsun University, Asst. Prof. Cihat Şeker from İzmir Bakırçay University, Ahmet Yazar, PhD, from Türk Telekom R&D, and Ahmed Naeem, PhD, from the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan.

Faculty Member Asst. Prof. Seyed Yaser Nabavi Chashmi of the Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Aerospace Faculty at GTU has been awarded TÜBİTAK funding for the project titled "Efficient Post-Disaster Cooperative Search and Survivor Detection Using AI-Assisted Autonomous UAV Swarms."

SmartEyes is an innovative research project that aims to transform post-disaster Search and Rescue (SAR) operations by utilizing AI-powered autonomous UAV swarms. By combining decentralized multi-agent coordination, intelligent path planning, real-time obstacle avoidance, and advanced survivor detection techniques integrating RGB, thermal, and SAR imagery, the project offers a rapid, reliable, and scalable response capability for disaster-affected areas. The developed technologies will be validated through Software-in-the-Loop (SITL), Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), and real-flight testing to verify their practical applicability. In addition to enhancing the effectiveness of search and rescue operations and improving survivor detection performance, SmartEyes aims to contribute to advances in artificial intelligence, autonomous robotics, and aerospace technologies while also offering solutions for a wide range of applications, including environmental monitoring, border security, and precision agriculture. Furthermore, the project seeks to promote scientific innovation and social impact through high-impact scientific publications, international collaborations, and technology transfer activities.

Faculty Member Asst. Prof. Burak Paç of the Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at GTU has been awarded TÜBİTAK funding for the project titled "Modeling Sustainable Retail Competition Through Life Cycle Assessment: A Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning Approach."

The project investigates how environmental costs are reflected in retail pricing by developing an interdisciplinary model that combines game theory, environmental impact assessment, and multi-agent reinforcement learning. Through a utility model encompassing consumption, saving behavior, and environmental awareness, the research evaluates the influence of consumer behavior on the pricing balance between conventional and green products. Environmental impacts, including carbon emissions, water consumption, and toxicit, will be quantified within the framework of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and their effects on public welfare will be considered alongside consumer utility and producer profitability. The model will also incorporate policy interventions such as carbon taxes and subsidies. Ultimately, the project aims to quantify the green price premium, determine appropriate carbon tax rates, and identify the optimal incentive mechanisms for increasing the market share of sustainable products.

Lecturer Assoc. Prof. Sezgin Cengiz of the GTU Institute of Defense Technologies has been awarded TÜBİTAK funding for the project titled "Investigation of the Effects of Different Deformation Ratios and Heat Treatment Conditions on the Mechanical Properties of Al-Cu-Li-Ag Alloys Prepared with Different Compositions."

Lecturer Assoc. Prof. Emin Ender Çelebi of the GTU Institute of Earth and Marine Sciences has been awarded TÜBİTAK funding for the project titled "Lithium Extraction from Synthetic Solutions With High Sodium/Lithium Ratios Using Supercritical CO₂: Determination of Phase Equilibrium Behavior and Investigation of the Stripping Mechanism with Carbonic Acid."

The growing global demand for lithium necessitates the environmentally sustainable utilization of Türkiye's strategic resources with high sodium-to-lithium ratios, including the brines of Lake Tuz and the boron process wastewaters of Kırka. This project aims to develop an alternative lithium recovery process based on Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (ScCO₂) extraction, an environmentally friendly technology that eliminates the use of toxic solvents and corrosive acids associated with conventional extraction methods. The research will be carried out using model solutions representing the challenging sodium–lithium competition, which constitutes the primary thermodynamic barrier to the efficient utilization of these national resources. To overcome mass transfer limitations, reverse micelle structures will be employed during the extraction process. During the recovery stage, a green stripping method based on in situ generated carbonic acid will be implemented without the addition of external mineral acids. Simultaneously, direct lithium carbonate crystals will be produced through thermal shock (flash precipitation), and a preliminary techno-economic analysis (Pre-TEA) will be conducted to demonstrate the process's energy efficiency.

Research Assistant Assoc. Prof. Merve Tuzlakoğlu-Öztürk of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science at GTU has been awarded TÜBİTAK funding for the project titled "Identification of Interaction Partners of the Livin-α Protein and Investigation of Their Effects on Apoptosis."

Under the project, novel intracellular interaction partners of the Livin-α protein, which is highly expressed in cancer cells and suppresses cell death, will be identified, and the effects of these interactions on programmed cell death (apoptosis) will be investigated. Based on preliminary findings from previous studies, candidate proteins will be validated using molecular biology techniques and functionally characterized in different cancer cell models. The findings are expected to provide new insights into the regulation of apoptosis, particularly in skin, liver, and osteosarcoma cancers, while establishing a scientific foundation for the development of future targeted cancer therapies.

The project, led by Assoc. Prof. Merve Tuzlakoğlu-Öztürk, will include Prof. Uygar Halis Tazebay as a researcher and Prof. Tamer Yağcı as the project advisor. The research will be conducted using the infrastructure of the GTU Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics and GTU-MAR. Research Assistant Ferhat İlbasmış and graduate student Gamze Kırtoklu will also take part in the project team.

GTU Rector Prof. Hacı Ali Mantar congratulated the academics, whose projects contribute to the university's Research University vision, and wished them continued success. "I congratulate our academics whose projects have been accepted under the TÜBİTAK 1001 Program and who continue to strengthen our vision as a research university. Through our scientific productivity, we will continue to shape the future. I extend my congratulations to all our academics who have contributed to these achievements and wish them continued success."

Industrial Engineering

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