Bayindir Group member Adem Yildirim has finished his Ph.D. studies this fall. Through the years he studied in the Bilkent University, he proved himself as a valuable colleague and an asset to his institution. We are sorry that he is leaving but also enthusiastic to see his further success in his new institution. In his thesis titled ‘Nanostructured Materials for Biological Imaging and Chemical Sensing’, he presented the results of his several studies on functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles, their toxicity and blood compatibility, and inherent fluorescence of polydopamine nanoparticles. Besides his thesis studies, Adem developed novel concepts with functional fibers such as artificial smelling with infrared photonic bandgap fibers (Digital Optoelectronic Nose) and surface textured polymer fibers for microfluidics.

Adem will continue his studies as a research associate in University of Colorado Boulder, USA. We wish him the best of luck in his life and ongoing research.