The interdisciplinary research project led by Prof. Dr. Elif Genceli Güner, faculty member of the Istanbul Technical University (ITU) Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering; Head of the Polar Sciences Graduate Program at ITU Graduate School; and Deputy Director of the ITU PolRec Polar Research Center, has been awarded funding under the 2025 TÜBİTAK-KUTUP 1001 Call.
Entitled “Biotechnological Investigations of Microorganisms Isolated from Polar Glaciers,” the project combines the fields of chemical engineering and molecular biology to explore the biotechnological potential of microorganisms surviving in Antarctica's extreme glacial environments.
The research team includes Prof. Dr. Nevin Gül Karagüler from the ITU Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, PhD researcher Res. Assist. Gamze Neşe Özcan from the ITU Chemical Engineering Program, MSc student Gülden Açıl from the Polar Sciences Graduate Program, and PhD researcher Res. Assist. Hande Mumcu from the Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Biotechnology Program.
As part of the project, the genomes of microorganisms isolated from Antarctic ice cores—collected during Türkiye’s 2nd National Antarctic Scientific Expedition—will be analyzed in detail. The focus is particularly on identifying microorganisms capable of producing esterase enzymes, which hold importance for sectors such as household cleaning. Here, chemical engineering plays a key role in assessing the usability, chemical stability, and functional performance of these enzymes as potential additives in detergent formulations.
Another significant aim of the project is the purification and evaluation of natural pigments synthesized by these microorganisms. Known for their high resistance to UV radiation, antioxidant activity, and thermal stability, these pigments will be assessed for their potential use in industries such as paint, food, pharmaceuticals, and textiles, from a chemical engineering perspective.
This project not only seeks to discover novel biological resources from polar environments but also sets an exemplary framework for integrating these resources into chemical industry applications. By fostering collaboration among microbiology, molecular biology, and chemical engineering disciplines, the study is expected to contribute to the development of sustainable biotechnological innovations.
The 24-month project will be conducted in collaboration with ITU’s Departments of Chemical Engineering and Molecular Biology and Genetics, the PolRec Polar Research Center, and Türkiye’s first and only Polar Sciences Graduate Program.
We congratulate our researchers on this pioneering project where chemical engineering meets biotechnology, and we wish them continued success in their work.
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