DİLEK USTAOĞLU

Dr. Dilek Ustaoğlu serves as a Research Assistant at Karadeniz Technical University's Sürmene Faculty of Marine Sciences within the Department of Fisheries Technology Engineering since 2021, contributing to marine science education and research in Turkey's Black Sea region. Her institutional affiliation reflects deep integration with Turkey's leading fisheries research ecosystem through KTU's specialized marine campus.

Her academic foundation includes ongoing doctoral studies at Karadeniz Technical University's Institute of Science (2022-present), a Postgraduate degree from Ordu University's Fatsa Faculty of Marine Sciences (2020-2022), and undergraduate training at the same institution (2010-2014). Professional development is demonstrated through critical certifications:

• Aquatic Vertebrate Experimental Animal Use Certificate (2025)
• Turbot Farming and Restocking (2022)
• Macro and Microalgae Farming (2022)
• Digital Training on Innovative Aquaculture Approaches (2022)
• Basic Occupational Health and Safety Training (2022)
• Research Methods in Aquatic Ecosystems (2022)
• Determining Invasiveness Potential in Aquatic Species (2021)
• Pedagogical Formation (2014)

Dr. Ustaoğlu's research spans Fisheries, Marine Biology, Ecology, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and Aquaculture, with emphasis on fish pathology, antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, and environmental stressors in aquatic systems. Her methodology integrates molecular diagnostics, ecological modeling, and microbial community analysis to address critical challenges in sustainable aquaculture and marine conservation, particularly focusing on the Black and Mediterranean Seas.

Analysis of her 11 journal publications reveals concentrated expertise in fish disease management (particularly Lactococcus pathogens in rainbow trout), environmental pollution monitoring (microplastics), and taxonomic studies of marine species. Her work bridges laboratory diagnostics with field applications, notably developing molecular detection tools while investigating ecological impacts of emerging contaminants and alternative aquaculture feeds.

She actively contributes to the funded project 'Biological control of commercially important bacterial fish diseases: bacteriophage therapy' (2022-2025), demonstrating research leadership in developing phage-based treatments for aquaculture pathogens. Her conference presentations at international symposia reflect collaborative engagement with European fisheries research networks despite no formal advisees being documented.

Laboratory operations focus on aquatic microbiology and fish health diagnostics, utilizing molecular techniques for pathogen identification and resistance profiling within Karadeniz Technical University's marine research infrastructure.