Saim Özkar

Prof. Dr. Saim Özkar is a distinguished Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey. He earned his BS (1972) and MSc (1972) from the Technical University of Istanbul and his PhD (1976) from the Technical University of Munich, Germany. His career includes roles as Assistant Professor (1979–1982), Associate Professor (1982–1988), and full Professor (1988–present) at METU, with visiting positions at the University of Toronto and Colorado State University.

His research focuses on homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, transition metal nanoparticles, hydrogen storage materials, and organometallic chemistry. Key areas include catalytic hydrogen release from solid-state storage systems and nanoparticle synthesis for sustainable energy solutions.

Özkar has published extensively on nanocatalysts for hydrogen generation, with recent work emphasizing ruthenium, rhodium, and nickel nanoparticles. His articles consistently explore catalytic efficiency, stability, and applications in green energy.

Awards & Grants:

• Science Prize, Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (1996)
• Permanent Member, Turkish Academy of Sciences (1996)
• Fulbright Scholarship (2000), Volkswagen Foundation Grants (1982–1984, 1992–1994), NATO Research Grant (1981–1983)

He has mentored students including Prof. Dr. Yalçın Tonbul and Dr. Joydev Manna. His lab specializes in advanced nanocatalyst design and collaborates with international institutions like Colorado State University.