معرفی
Dr. Alper Akay is a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and Principal Investigator at the University of East Anglia (UEA), leading the RNA (epi)Genetics Lab within the School of Biological Sciences. His work focuses on understanding how RNA modifications regulate gene expression during animal development, primarily using C. elegans as a model. He holds a BSc in Biology from Middle East Technical University, an MSc in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics from the University of Amsterdam, and a PhD in Life Sciences from the University of Dundee. His lab develops methodologies to identify modified RNAs and studies their roles in germ cell development and metabolism.
Current projects include investigating the functional role of RNA methylomes and splicing regulation in human cancers. His research is supported by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship. He mentors PhD and MSc students and collaborates internationally. Key achievements include pioneering studies on RNA modification dynamics under stress conditions and developing tools for genetic modification of plant-parasitic nematodes.
- Education:
- PhD in Life Sciences, University of Dundee (2007–2012)
- MSc in Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Amsterdam (2005–2007)
- BSc in Biology, Middle East Technical University (2000–2005)
- Awards: UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (2020–present)
- Labs/Teams: RNA (epi)Genetics Lab, Cells and Tissues Group
