Berna DEMİRCİ

Berna DEMİRCİ is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Kafkas University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She has been working at Kafkas University since 2014, first as a Research Assistant in the Biology Department (2013-2014) and then as a Doctoral Faculty Member in the Molecular Biology and Genetics Department. Prior to this, she worked as a Research Assistant at Hacettepe University's Faculty of Science, Department of Biology from 2006 to 2013.

She earned her B.Sc. in Biology from Hacettepe University (1997-2003), followed by a Master's degree in Biology from Kafkas University (2003-2006), and completed her Ph.D. in Ecology at Hacettepe University (2006-2013). Her doctoral research focused on the bio-ecology of mosquito species in Iğdır and its surroundings.

DEMİRCİ's research spans multiple areas of medical entomology and vector biology with particular emphasis on mosquito ecology, vector-borne diseases, and invasive species. Her work integrates field studies with molecular techniques to investigate vector-host interactions, disease transmission dynamics, and morphometric analysis of vectors. She has conducted extensive research on mosquito species in northeastern Turkey, particularly focusing on Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex genera.

Analysis of her publication record reveals a strong focus on vector surveillance, with particular attention to the spread of invasive mosquito species like Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus in Turkey and their potential to transmit diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Her work combines morphometric, genetic, and ecological approaches to understand vector behavior, population structure, and disease transmission potential.

DEMİRCİ has been involved in numerous research projects, including studies on leishmaniasis infection models, malaria vector identification, and surveillance of invasive mosquito species. Her collaborative work extends across multiple institutions in Turkey and internationally.

She has successfully supervised six graduate students through their thesis work, with research topics ranging from mosquito systematics to host-feeding patterns and molecular identification of vector species. Her teaching portfolio includes courses in medical entomology, molecular taxonomy, population genetics, and bioinformatics at both undergraduate and graduate levels.

DEMİRCİ actively collaborates with researchers across Turkey and internationally, particularly with colleagues from Hacettepe University, Ege University, and international institutions. Her work contributes significantly to understanding vector-borne disease risks in Turkey and developing appropriate surveillance and control strategies.