معرفی
Betül Kacar is an Associate Professor of Bacteriology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, affiliated with the NASA Astrobiology Center for Early Life and Evolution. Her research focuses on origins of life, astrobiology, and molecular paleobiology, with a particular emphasis on reconstructing ancient enzymes and their roles in early Earth environments. Kacar holds a PhD in Chemistry from Emory University and conducted postdoctoral research at NASA’s Astrobiology Institute and Harvard University.
Her lab investigates the evolutionary trajectories of biomolecules such as RuBisCO and nitrogenases, using ancestral sequence resurrection and synthetic biology approaches. Key projects include probing the interplay between ancient enzymes and atmospheric changes, as well as experimental validation of evolutionary hypotheses. The lab’s work has been highlighted in international media, including NOVA Science, BBC, and TED Talks.
Research interests span broad topics like translation machinery evolution, metabolic pathway rigidity, and biogeochemical cycles. Recent studies emphasize the role of ancient proteins in shaping planetary-scale biosignatures and their implications for astrobiology. Kacar leads interdisciplinary initiatives, including the IMiLI microbiology education program, and collaborates globally on projects funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation.
Lab members include graduate students and postdocs working on protein resurrection, enzyme kinetics, and systems biology modeling. Kacar’s contributions bridge evolutionary biology, geochemistry, and synthetic biology, with future directions exploring synthetic ancient life forms and planetary biosignature detection.
