
The Team
Meet the researchers of the Gur Laboratory.
Principal Investigator

Mert Gur, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Computational and Systems Biology
Executive Director, Computational Biomedicine & Biotechnology Master’s Program
Associate Director
Training and Experimentation in Computational Biology (TECBio) REU Program
University of Pittsburgh Team

Mert Golcuk, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Computational and Systems Biology

Sema Zeynep Yilmaz, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Computational and Systems Biology

Fareeda Elinam Abu Juam
PhD Student
Joint Carnegie Mellon-University of Pittsburgh PhD Program in Computational Biology

Ethan Bintrim
MSc Alumnus
Department of Computational and Systems Biology

Lydia Aluko
Undergraduate Student
Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences
Istanbul Technical University Team

Reyhan Metin Akkaya
PhD Candidate
Istanbul Technical University
Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology Department

Ayla Eren
PhD Candidate
Istanbul Technical University
Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology Department
Alumni
PhD Alumni

Mert Golcuk
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Pittsburgh
Gur Lab: PhD, Istanbul Technical University, 2020–2024

Sema Zeynep Yilmaz
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Pittsburgh
Gur Lab: PhD, Istanbul Technical University, 2020–2025
MSc Alumni

Ebru Tuncay
Marketing Specialist, Gaggenau
BSH Home Appliances Group
Gur Lab: MS, Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology, Istanbul Technical University, 2022-2025

Jessie Weng
Clinical Biospecimen Operations Associate
Natera
Gur Lab: MS, Computational Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Pittsburgh, 2024-2025

Clara Xazal Buran
Sales Support Specialist
Ant Teknik
Gur Lab: MS, Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology, Istanbul Technical University, 2020-2022

Onur Özer
Scientific Programs Assistant Specialist
TÜBİTAK
Gur Lab: MS, Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology, Istanbul Technical University, 2020-2022

Ceren Kılınç
PhD student, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Michigan State University
Gur Lab: MS, Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology, Istanbul Technical University, 2018-2020

Ethan Bintrim
MSc alumnus; current lab member
Gur Laboratory, University of Pittsburgh
Gur Lab: MSc research, Computational Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Pittsburgh

Cihan Uğur Otçu
MS graduate, Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology
Istanbul Technical University (2026)
Gur Lab: MS, Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology, Istanbul Technical University, 2022-2026

Omer Bashir
MS graduate, Computational Biomedicine and Biotechnology
University of Pittsburgh (2025)
Gur Lab: Graduate research (directed studies), Computational Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Pittsburgh, 2024-2025

Elhan Taka
MS graduate, Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology
Istanbul Technical University (2020)
Gur Lab: MS, Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology, Istanbul Technical University, 2018-2020
Former Graduate Researchers
Graduate research and directed studies.

Roshan Paul
Student, Computational Biomedicine and Biotechnology
University of Pittsburgh
Gur Lab: Graduate research (directed studies), University of Pittsburgh, 2025-2026

Ayten Dilara Gürsel
Expert
Mercedes-Benz
Gur Lab: Undergraduate and graduate research (directed studies)
Undergraduate Research Alumni
Undergraduate research and capstone projects.

Armani Manov
Communications Coordinator, Department of Neurological Surgery
University of Pittsburgh
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Computational Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 2024-2025

Derman Baştürk
MS student, Integrated Life Sciences; IMPRS Physics and Medicine
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg / Max Planck Center for Physics and Medicine
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 2020-2024

Michael S. Grapin
Research Technician, Moore Lab
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Gur Lab: TECBio undergraduate researcher, Juniata College / University of Pittsburgh, 2024

Kübra Nur Çil
Working Student, Competitive Intelligence Monitoring
Daiichi Sankyo Europe
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Technical University, 2022-2023

Gani Şen
MS student, Biochemistry
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Technical University, 2021

Hasan Tuncer
PhD student, Physics
Purdue University
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Physics and Electrical-Electronics Engineering, Koç University, 2020-2021

Ali Burak Ascı
Mechanical Engineer / CFD Researcher
Ford Otosan
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 2016-2019

Ayça Kepçe
Field Application Engineer
Innatera
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 2016-2019

Mustafa Can Ersoy
Body Exterior Engineer
Ford Otosan
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Manufacturing Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 2019

Serkan İlter
Manufacturing Manager
Besa
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Manufacturing Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 2019

Mirza Özdil
Business Intelligence Lead
TÜBİTAK
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 2016-2018

Nilüfer Toker
MS student, Neuroscience
University of Helsinki
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Biology (YÖK-TEBİP), Istanbul University, 2016-2018

Berker Günay
Reliability Digitalization Superintendent
Tüpraş
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 2015-2016

Mustafa Meriç Aras
Process Engineer
Vibracoustic
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 2015-2016

Oktay Çelik
Lead Engineer
Arçelik
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 2015-2016

Ayten Dilara Gürsel
Expert
Mercedes-Benz
Gur Lab: Undergraduate research

Direnç Akyıldız
MS graduate, Mechanical Engineering
Lehigh University
Gur Lab: Undergraduate researcher, Mechanical Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, 2020-2021