Invited Speakers
Dr. Ilgın Yasar has been working as a faculty member and director of the ITS- Mobility Lab of the Civil Engineering Department at Boğaziçi University since 2007. Dr. Yasar started her academic career after she graduated from Boğaziçi University in the Department of Civil Engineering in 2000. While taking M.S. and Ph.D., she worked in a
Graduate Assistantship position at Rutgers University at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering between 2001 and 2006. One year later, she returned to Boğaziçi University Department of Civil Engineering as an Assistant Professor to teach undergraduate and graduate courses and supervise M.S. and Ph.D. students in the Civil Engineering Department. In 2014, she founded ITS-Mobility Lab to focus on Intelligent Transportation and Sharing Systems, Micromobility, Traffic, and Safety Engineering, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles in Cooperation with Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Boğaziçi University. She has been working as an Associate Professor at Boğaziçi University Department of Civil Engineering since 2018. In return for the studies on advanced traffic flow theory and real-time traffic control, sustainable transportation planning, advanced public transportation systems, smart cities design, driver & rider behavior and safety, predicting traffic accidents, shared economy and vehicles, last-mile logistics and mobility, micro-mobility, connected and electric vehicles, autonomous delivery robots, and drones; she received an academic incentive award 5 times in 9 years, and Outstanding Achievement in Teaching Award (2018) at Boğaziçi University and received ITS Turkey’s Special Award in 2021.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Fatma Yalçınkaya
Dr. Fatma Yalcinkaya completed her PhD in 2014 at the Technical University of Liberec, specializing in the field of Nonwoven and Nanofibrous Materials. Subsequently, she gained professional experience at Nafigate Corporation a.s. as a project manager and senior researcher, focusing on the application of nanofiber webs in cosmetics and air filters. In late 2015, she joined the Technical University of Liberec, specifically the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technology, and Innovation. In 2021, she achieved her habilitation under the Faculty of Mechatronics, Informatics, and Interdisciplinary Studies and got Associate professor title. Currently, Dr. Yalcinkaya holds the position of associate professor in the Faculty of Mechatronics and senior researcher in Nano Research Center. Her scientific contributions, as reflected in Scopus, include an H-index of 22, with 1174 citations, 66 publications, 1 international patent, 3 national patents, and 4 book chapters. Her research primarily focuses on functional nanofibers, the development of free surface electrospinning systems, nanofibers in wastewater treatment, microfilters, oil separation, surface modification of nanofibrous membranes, hydrophilic and hydrophobic membranes, membrane distillation, desalination, proton exchange membranes, nanofibers in air filtration, and microbial fuel cells.
Dr. Ing. Pınar EROL was born in IZMIR in 1976. After finishing University, she has lived in Europe. Has spent more than 10 years in Sustainability Advisory both at European Environment Agency (EEA) - European Commission, IFC-World Bank and sustainability consultancy companies. Has worked in industrial R&D projects as an academic staff more than 9 years and holds PhD in Process Engineering at University of Bremen, MSc in Industrial Flows Analysis and Waste Management & Recycling Technologies at the TU Darmstadt, BS in Environmental Engineering in Dokuz Eylül University. Has also worked in Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) area in global industries. Her enthusiasm and expertise is focused on sustainability and splits into different sustainability aspects in various industries. Has experience in Resource Efficiency, Circular Economy, Circularity, LCA for product and process optimisation, Eco-optimisation, Eco-Design, Carbon Management, Eco-labelling: EPDs (environmental product declarations) and as well in Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) approaches, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainability strategy and indicator management. She is highly motivated in realising new concepts and projects towards sustainability and therefore has taken senior management roles in industries for Sustainability & Strategy in the recent years. Besides, on voluntary basis she does mentoring for scholars studying and living abroad by TEF (TEV: Türk Egitim Vakfi) and supports technical journals as reviewer.
Dr. Şevket Özden graduated from Boğaziçi University in 1989 with Civil Engineering degree. Later, he completed his Master of Science degree at the University of Toronto, Canada, and PhD at Boğaziçi University, Turkiye. He also attended courses at IZIIS, Earthquake Institute at Skopje, North Macedonia. Professor Ozden worked on variey of research fields such as earthquake performances evaluation of existing buildings and various strengthening methods including carbon fiber overlays, seismic upgrading of historical structures, design of industrial structures, development of post tensioned connections for precast buildings, use of Carbon Fiber for strengthening purposes etc. Professor Ozden took part in TUBITAK, NATO and European Union projects, one of which was the strengthening methods of existing buildings with carbon fiber polymers funded through a “Science for Peace Project by NATO”. He also served as Technical Advisor to the Turkish Prefabricated Association for a while. Professor Ozden took part in the “Seismic Strengthening of Buildings” and “Reinforced Concrete Prefabricated Structures” working commissions during the preparation of the last two Earthquake Codes published in 2007 and 2018. He worked as a professional design engineer more than 15 years and did his best to transfer all his academic know-how to the professional design area. Since March 2023, he is working as a faculty member in the Institute of Earthquake Technologies in Erzincan Binali Yıldırım University and serves as the Director of the Institute since then.
Dr. Gulen Ozkula currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, Platteville. She graduated from Celal Bayar University, where she had the honor of being the valedictorian, with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Dr. Ozkula continued her academic journey by earning an M.S. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She then pursued her Ph.D. in Structural Engineering at the University of California, San Diego, focusing on the seismic behavior of steel deep columns. Recently, she also completed an Executive MBA degree at Istanbul University, demonstrating her commitment to continuous learning. Following the completion of her Ph.D., Dr. Ozkula worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the Tokyo Insitute of Technology. Her research interests primarily revolve around various aspects of steel structures, including full-scale experimental testing, performance-based design, seismic design, and the evaluation and rehabilitation of such structures. Dr. Ozkula is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American InsGtute of Steel ConstrucGon (AISC), the American Society of Engineering EducaGon (ASEE), and the Earthquake Engineering Research InsGtute (EERI). In summary, Dr. Gulen Ozkula's academic journey and research interests highlight her commitment to the field of civil and environmental engineering. Her contributions and affiliations within the industry showcase her ongoing dedication to professional growth and development.