معرفی
Dr. Özge Akbulut is an Associate Professor at Sabancı University's Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences in Istanbul. She received her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Sabancı University in 2004, followed by a Ph.D. from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2009, where she focused on cost-effective fabrication of biomolecular devices and surface science. She continued her research as a post-doctoral fellow in the Whitesides Group at Harvard University from 2009 to 2011, developing tools and techniques for resource-limited settings.
Her research spans multiple cutting-edge areas of materials science and engineering:
- Colloidal science and rheology
- Additive manufacturing of advanced ceramics
- Silicone-based composite materials for surgical simulation
- Cement and construction materials
Dr. Akbulut teaches several courses including Polymer Physics (MAT 404), Polymer Engineering II (MAT 402), and Introduction to Materials Science (ENS 205). She has successfully mentored numerous students, many of whom have gone on to prestigious institutions like EPFL, MIT, and Imperial College London.
Her research group includes postdoctoral fellow Burcin Ustbas and PhD candidates Ayse Ay, Gizem Demir, and Isik Arel. She collaborates with researchers at institutions including EPFL, KAUST, Marmara University, and Istanbul Oncology Hospital.
Dr. Akbulut is the founder of Surgitate, a company established in 2014 that develops tactile surgical training platforms. Her silicone-based composite models simulate breast tissue for surgical training, particularly for oncoplastic surgery. These models have been adopted in Australia, the UK, and India, with skin models available on Amazon being used in over 20 countries.
She has received significant media attention for her work, including coverage in Hurriyet and WIPO Magazine. She has also launched a social responsibility project called "#kendimdensorumluyum" (I Am Responsible for Myself) which places 3D breast models in company facilities to encourage women to perform regular self-examinations.
Dr. Akbulut has delivered numerous talks and seminars at prestigious institutions worldwide including EPFL, Bilkent University, Koç University, KAUST, and TEDx Reset. She has also participated in events like the Falling Walls conference in Berlin and the World Economic Forum in Dubai.
