Nihan Koç

EDUCATION

College / University

Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University

Highest Degree

Bachelor of Science

Major Subjects

Molecular Biology and Genetics

Country

Turkey

Lab Experience

Mammalian Cell Culture, Light and Fluorescent Microscopy, Cell Viability (MTS) Assay, Senescence-Associated β-Galactosidase Assay (X-gal and C12FDG), EdU Proliferation Assay, Gamma H2A.X Assay, Cellular ROS Assay (H2DCFDA), Nucleic Acid Isolation, qRT-PCR, Agarose Gel Electrophoresis, DNA Gel Extraction, Protein Isolation and Quantification (Bradford and BCA Assay), SDS-PAGE, Western Blotting, Bacterial Cell Culture, TCA Precipitation, Colony PCR, Basic Bioinformatic Tools (ImageJ, GraphPad Prism)

Projects / Research

2023 – 2024: Student Researcher at Bozaykut-Eker Research Group at Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University. Project Title: “Construction of a Chemical Cocktail for Rejuvenation of Aging Phenotype of Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome Cells”
2023 – 2024: Student Intern at Bozaykut-Eker Research Group at Acıbadem Mehmet Ali Aydınlar University on novel treatment interventions targeting vascular senescence in short-lived progeroid human models
2022 – 2023: Student Intern at Lopez-Aviles Research Group at University of Oslo on regulation of the cell cycle transitions in eukaryotes utilizing S. pombe

Scholarships / Awards

2024 – 2025:	Stipend by the International Max Planck Research School
2024:	Graduated with High Honors and Ranked Top 2^nd Student in the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Acıbadem University
2023 – 2024:	TUBITAK 2209-A Undergraduate Project Funding
2022:	Acıbadem University Erasmus+ Study Mobility Stipend at University of Oslo
2020 – 2024:	25% + High Honor Student Scholarship at Acıbadem University
2015 – 2020:	70% Scholarship from die Absolventenstiftung des Österreichischen St. Georgs-Kollegs (ALV) Foundation

SCIENTIFIC INTERESTS AND GOALS

The genome and the epigenome hold the key to our organismal identity, making us similar but also unique. For this reason, I have long been intrigued by cellular pathways that work to maintain genomic and epigenomic integrity in development, aging, and in associated disorders. The complex crosstalk between cell cycle regulation and DNA damage response pathways are of particular interest to me, but my main fascination is how the epigenetic landscape of the cells corresponds to this crosstalk. In the future, I aspire to shift my research area towards exploring stem cell epigenetics to have a better understanding of the molecular basis of the establishment and maintenance of epigenetic landscapes. In this way, I aim to uncover the molecular basis of their stability and the factors that contribute to their disruption in aging and disease.