Professor Hüseyin Avni Öktem is affiliated with the Department of Biological Sciences at the Middle East Technical University (METU), within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Jozsef Attila University (Szeged, Hungary), and both B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Biological Sciences and Biochemistry from METU. His research focuses on Nanobiotechnology , with applications in biosensing technologies for environmental and biodefense purposes. Key areas include bacterial bioreporter systems for detecting toxic metals (e.g., arsenic, cadmium), pathogen detection (e.g., Salmonella, SARS-CoV-2), and novel microalgae strains for biodiesel production. He has pioneered the use of nanomaterials like silica nanoparticles and electrospun fibers in diagnostic tools and environmental monitoring. He has authored over 100 publications, including works on lateral flow assays, fluorescent sensors, and microbial strain optimization. His research has been supported by 22 grants, and he has advised 80 thesis projects. His lab integrates molecular biology, environmental engineering, and nanotechnology to address global challenges in health, security, and sustainability.










