Gamze Neşe Özcan, a PhD student in Chemical Engineering at Istanbul Technical University, took part as a researcher in an ambitious research project that spanned one of the harshest natural environments in the world in the early stages of her scientific career. In the project titled "Microorganisms in Antarctic Glacier Cores and Active Enzyme Production Potentials in Cold" supported by TÜBİTAK KUTUP 1001, he had the opportunity to deepen his researcher identity by taking responsibility in both field and laboratory processes.
Within the scope of the project, microorganisms that can survive in these harsh environments were isolated in studies on glacier cores taken from Antarctica's Horseshoe, Nansen and Hovgaard islands. The potential of these microorganisms to produce enzymes such as esterase, lipase, amylase, and protease that can actively function even at low temperatures was evaluated. Experimental optimization methods such as Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken were applied in enzyme production processes. Especially Methylobacterium sp. Isolates, such as B9.1 and Rhodococcus fascians B7.1, stood out as high-potency enzyme producers.
"Working with samples from challenging conditions like Antarctica has taken my scientific curiosity and problem-solving skills to the next level. Taking an active role in the entire process, from microorganism isolation to enzyme analysis, strengthened my researcher identity between the field and the laboratory. The graduate education I received at ITU was very effective in gaining the discipline of research and developing an analytical approach to the scientific problems I encountered." says Özcan.
The project was led by ITU Chemical Engineering Department faculty member Prof. Dr. Fatma Elif Genceli Güner. The results achieved have not only resonated with academic circles; it also offered valuable outputs in terms of sustainable production processes and the development of environmentally friendly products. The potential of cold-active enzymes to be used, especially in the detergent and food industries, promises both economic and environmental benefits.
As ITU, we transform this micro data from the depths of Antarctica into a tool to understand the big picture, while offering our young researchers the opportunity to take firm steps forward in the scientific world. Gamze Neşe Özcan's experience is the product of an environment where our students gain not only knowledge but also a culture of scientific production.
