I grew up in Izmir, Turkey. I received my BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Bilkent University in Ankara and my PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from Harvard University. After my postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I started my own research laboratory in University of Illinois at Chicago in October, 2019. I am broadly interested in understanding how mechanochemical signal transduction within the tumor microenvironment impacts cancer metastasis. In addition to science, I thought I loved playing basketball but after two broken bones and a couple of shoulder dislocations, I gave up and started watching curling instead.

LinkedIn

I grew up in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. In fall of 2019, I began my undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The same semester, I joined the Er Lab and watched it transform from an empty laboratory to a thriving research environment. Although my research experience has just begun, I am excited to see where it will take me in the coming years. Apart from enjoying science, I enjoy being an audiophile and love the expense and inconvenience of vinyl records. 

LinkedIn

I am from the southwest suburbs of Chicago and earned my BA in Molecular Biology at Loyola University Chicago in May 2020. During undergrad, I worked as a lab technician at UIC and discovered my love for cancer research and the quirky atmosphere of lab life. As a result, I joined the GEMS PhD program at UIC in August 2020 and quickly found my home in the Er Lab. I am interested in the discovery and development of cancer immunotherapies to treat metastatic cancers and in my free time you can catch me crafting, baking, or attending concerts.

Graduate Student

I am from Egypt; I got my BS degree in Microbiology and Chemistry at Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Once graduated, I Joined the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357 (CCHE57357) as a chemist for 2 years. In 2018, I joined the University of Illinois at Chicago as a research specialist at different departments. During that time, I got 3 publications, presented a poster at the Immunology meeting 2019™ in San Diego and another poster at the Midwestern Metabolism Meeting 2019. I was awarded the Chancellor's Student Service Award (CSSA) 2022. In 2022, I joined Er Lab as a PhD student as a part of GEMS program at UIC. I am focusing on understanding the role of Interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) in breast cancer. I love sharing and gaining knowledge, ask critical questions and help the new generation.

Undergraduate Researcher

Vinay does AFM and he is very good. He needs a Bio.

Undergraduate Researcher

I am from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, and am pursuing an Economics Major and Chemistry minor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In January of 2023, I joined the Er Lab and, since then, have learned so much about what it is like to be involved in research and how much I enjoy working in the lab. I hope the knowledge and experiences I gain at the Er Lab will guide me through my future career and beyond. In my free time, I love playing tennis, watching basketball with my brother, and baking desserts! 

Graduate Student

I am from Daejeon, Republic of Korea. I received my BS in Biological Sciences from Kongju National University and my MS in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Ulsan (Asan Medical Center). During my master’s, I investigated the correlation between gut microbiome and pancreatic cancer. Following that, I moved to Chicago to join the GEMS program at UIC for a doctoral degree in fall 2022, settling in the Er Lab. My primary research interest lies in cancer biology, with a specific focus on uncovering health disparities between Black African women and White American women with breast cancer. In my free time, I love listening to music, watching movies, and enjoying Netflix. I am also a foodie, so I take pleasure in cooking and dining out at good restaurants.