Ilgaz Cakin 

Thurso, Scotland, United Kingdom, KW14 8BB

+44 (0) 7762836452- ilgaz.cakin@uhi.ac.uk - linkedin.com/in/ilgazcakin

Education

PhD in Microbial Ecology, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Thurso, UK (09.2020 – Present)

MSc in Industrial Biotechnology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne (09.2016 – 09.2017)

BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey (09.2010 – 06.2015)

Dissertations

PhD: Understanding microbial and geochemical factors contributing to the wastewater treatment performance in constructed wetlands; a case study within scotch whisky distilleries (PhD Adviser: Dr Mark Taggart, Dr Barbara Morrissey, Dr Lucio Marcello, Dr Paul Gaffney)

The dissertation focuses on four main research areas: 1) Optimising eDNA isolation and analysis of wetland gravels to maximise community profile information. 2) Designing a biochar-based pre-treatment method for distillery effluents. 3) Effects of substrate on treatment performance and microbial community in mesocosms. 4) Long-term performance and microbial community monitoring of constructed wetlands treating whisky distillery effluents.

MSc: The effect of salinity and shaking on growth, and lipid biosynthesis-related gene expression in Parachlorella kessleri (MSc Adviser: Dr Ethan Hack)

The dissertation focuses on two main research areas: 1) Quantification and characterisation of lipid molecules of green algae Parachlorella kessleri, under different stress-inducing conditions such as salinity and agitation. 2) Gene expression profile (accD and rbcL) of Parachlorella kessleri, under the same stress-inducing conditions. 

Research Experience

Graduate student (PhD), UHI Environmental Research Institute, Thurso, UK and UHI Institue of Biodiversity and Freshwater Ecology, Inverness, UK (09.2020 – Present)

• Used techniques: Metagenomics/Metabarcoding, DNA Isolation, Primer design, PCR, Gel/Capillary electrophoresis, Genomic library preparation, Next Generation Sequencing (Illumina MiSeq and Oxford Nanopore MinION), bacterial culturing, NH4/SRP/TON analysis, Heavy metal analysis using ICP-OES, Total organic carbon analysis, UV-VIS spectroscopy, SEM, R, ImageJ, GraphPad Prism, QGIS, SnapGene.

Graduate student (MSc), Newcastle University School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Laboratory of Dr Ethan Hack, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (09.2016 – 09.2017)

• Used techniques: DNA/RNA isolation, qPCR, RT-qPCR, Molecular cloning (LIC), Protein purification, SDS-PAGE, Lipid extraction, Thin layer chromatography, UV-VIS spectroscopy, ImageJ, SnapGene.

Publications

UC

Abstracts

Kesim, C., Tas, A. Y., Karslıoglu, M. Z., Ozkaya, A., Gokgur, E., Cakin, I., ... & Sahin, A. (2020). Validation results of a deep learning algorithm for detection of diabetic retinopathy with lesion localization from retinal fundus photographs. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 61(7), 1626-1626.

Fellowship & Grants

• Hydro Nation PhD Fellowship, issued by the Scottish Government (09.2020 – Present),£145,559 for four years, including research costs and stipend     
• Small Grants Scheme, issued by Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society (06.2023), £750 for research expenses                          
• Research Grant, issued by The Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (05.2023), £500 for research expenses                                      
• Turkish Student Scholarship, issued by Newcastle University (06.2016), £5000 discount on university fees for Turkish students showing outstanding success during studies.

Professional Memberships

• The Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA) (05.2023 – Present)
• British Ecological Society (BES) (11.2022 – Present)      
• Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment and Society (SAGES) (03.2021 – Present)         

Poster presentations

• World International Distilled Spirit Conference, Edinburgh, UK (05.2023)
• SAGES Annual Science Meeting, Aberdeen, UK (05.2023)
• World Water Day, Edinburgh, UK (03.2022, 03.2023)

Academic Service

• QGIS Fast Track & QGIS Advanced, thinkWhere (01.2021)
• Professional Scrum Product Owner I, Scrum.org (02.2020)
• Project Management, Global Business Management Consultants (09.2019)
• Good Clinical Practice, PRA Health Sciences (01.2018)
• Good Laboratory Practice, Newcastle University (02.2017)

Patents

• Biometric device for hand, EP3818936A1 · Filed Oct 27, 2020
• Footwear and system for sensory testing of feet, EP3818925A1 · Filed Oct 27, 2020
• Non-invasive measurement device and method, EP3824811A1 · Filed Oct 27, 2020

References

Available upon request