Interview MDR PhD student: Esra Güben Kaçmaz

Who are you, what is your background and how did you get involved in MDR?

I am from Turkey and I completed my bachelor’s degree at the Molecular Biology and Genetics Department at Istanbul Technical University in 2017. In the same year, I started my MSc degree at the Biomedical Engineering Department at Boğaziçi University that mainly focuses on biomaterials for bone tissue engineering. I have worked with calcium phosphate cement and composite materials to provide biocompatible solutions for bone defects. I Have gained a scholarship from the Turkish government and will start my PhD with Dr. Niloofar Tahmasebi Birgani, Professor Roman Truckenmüller and Professor Pamela Habibović on biomaterials-driven bottom-up tissue engineering within MDR.

Tell us a little bit more about the research you are planning to do within MDR.

My project starts with the production of collagen microparticles. These particles are designed to be of different shapes and sizes. With the mineralization of microparticles, structures that are biocompatible with natural bone tissue will be obtained. These materials combined with appropriate cell types will then be used as bone spheroids. With the vision and support of MDR, we plan the further development of this project and the faster resolution of scientific challenges with our collaborations.

Who is your biggest example in science and why?

I do not want to give specific names actually, because I thought that whomever works in academia and try her/his best for the favor of the society is kind of a hero in my opinion. However, as in historical aspect, I am always quite impressed the working of Rosalind Franklin and Marie Curie. I am sorry to say that but even for now in some aspects doing science as a woman is harder. These women did their best and change the direction of science!

What do you do in your free time and how can we recognize the typical Esra?

I really enjoyed to discover different cultures and places by travelling. Also, I am quite interested in history and philosophy and I read books on them. Finally, I enjoyed cooking very much even I got culinary art classes.