Yasemin Dilsad Yılmazel

Dr. Yasemin Dilsad Yılmazel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering at Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey. She leads the Bioprocess Engineering Research Group (BIOERG), focusing on sustainable bioprocesses for energy and environmental applications. She is also a board member of the METU Climate Center.

• PhD, Villanova University, USA (2014)
• Postdoctoral Researcher, Penn State University
• Assistant Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), USA
• Joined METU in 2018; promoted to Associate Professor

Dr. Yılmazel's research centers on bioenergy and sustainable waste management, with a focus on anaerobic digestion, bioelectrochemical systems (MEC/AD-MEC), biohydrogen and biomethane production, and nutrient recovery. Her team investigates the use of hyperthermophilic microorganisms and conductive materials to enhance reactor efficiency and stability. She also integrates life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts of biorefinery systems.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in enhancing methane and hydrogen yields through conductive material amendments, electroactive microorganisms, and high-temperature bioprocessing. Key subfields include struvite precipitation, direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET), reactor scale-up, and valorization of agro-industrial waste.

Her research is supported by national and international grants, including TÜBİTAK, METU ADEP, Royal Academy of Engineering (UK), and an upcoming Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network (MSCA DN) under Horizon Europe.

• Principal Investigator, TÜBİTAK 1001, 1004, and METU ADEP projects
• Lead Applicant, Royal Academy of Engineering grant
• Supervising multiple PhD, MSc, and undergraduate researchers
• Actively involved in grant proposal development and international collaborations

Dr. Yılmazel leads the BIOERG lab, which operates advanced bioreactor systems for anaerobic and bioelectrochemical studies. The group includes postdoctoral researchers, PhD, and MSc students working on reactor scale-up, LCA, and microbial characterization. The team collaborates internationally and is expanding through the new MSCA DN project.