Melis_LongBio
Melis Asal
ESR19- A human gut and -lymphatics on chip to model functional immune surveillance and activation; development of immune competent gut on chip model
Education
2017-2020 Master of Science
The Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Therapeutic Bioengineering Group, Izmir, Thesis title: Development of Lacrimal Gland from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Tissue Engineering Approaches
My thesis focuses on differentiation of hiPSCs in a microfluidic system in 3D to offer a treatment method for dry eye syndrome. In order to achieve this, I have developed the strategy to differentiate hiPSCs into cells that are capable of developing the lacrimal gland by following different methods and making modifications. I have monitored the differentiation by checking the expression of markers through ICC, IHC and qPCR. I am currently working on transferring the maturation process into a microfluidic system.
Student Supervision: Effect of potential therapeutic agent on breast cancer cells under dynamic conditions
I supervised a high school project that took place in our lab where we investigated the apoptotic effect of CAPE in a breast cancer cell line by objecting the cells to flow. I contributed to the experimental setup of this project and showed the students the principles of cell culture, microfluidic chip fabrication and cell staining studies.
2013-2017 Bachelor of Engineering (High Honor Student)
Manisa Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Manisa, Turkey
Title: Independent research activity (Funded by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey: The Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Thyme Oil in Wound Healing
This project aimed investigating the use of thyme oil to increase the therapeutic effect of MSC in wound healing. I created wound models on Wistar rats and treated with different combinations of rat adipose mesenchymal stem cells, thyme oil and Madecassol. The synergistic effect of the combination was analyzed morphologically, histologically and immunohistochemically.
Bachelor’s Thesis: The Effect of Different Seed Extracts on Microbial Quality of Meat Products
The aim of this project was to increase the microbial safety of meat products by incorporating plant extracts. I assessed the antibacterial effects of hot ethanol extracts of dog rose, firethorn and grape seeds using disc diffusion assay and spectrophotometric analysis on model organisms Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. Then I applied the extracts to meat samples and analyzed their effects on microbial growth.
Professional Experiences and Internships
July-August 2018 Department of Physical Microfluidics and Bioengineering, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France, Erasmus Internship
Achievements: I worked on making collagen, fibrin and GelMA gels, I learned soft lithography chip fabrication and carried out 3D cell culture by encapsulating HUVEC, 3T3 and C2C12 cell lines in collagen and fibrin gels both conventionally and by forming droplets inside chips, and followed the migration of cells in 3D through live cell imaging
July-August 2017 Department of Bacterial Genome Plasticity, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France, Erasmus Internship
Achievements: Protein characterization through construction of mutants and doing viability studies under DNA damaging conditions to study the SOS induction in Vibrio cholera. Doing pathogenic bacteria culture, various PCR applications, competent cell preparation, electroporation, transformation, growth curve analysis and sample preparation for FACS analysis
August 2016 Department of Genomics, Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute, Turkey.
Achievements: Optimization of Gateway cloning, gel purification
July 2016 Department of Microbiology and Quality Assurance, Pinar Integrated Meat Company
Achievements: Microbiological analysis on meat products (Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Lactobacilli, mold and yeast analyses), doing pathogenic bacteria culture, qPCR analyses
July 2015 Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, GENMAR Diagnostic Company
Achievements: PCR primer synthesis, PCR applications and Sanger/Next Generation Sequencing
2012 Student Science Projects Team, Izmir Private Çamlaraltı High School
Achievements: Conduction of the project “Measuring the Avidity of Monoclonal Antibodies Produced Against Toxoplasma gondii with ELISA using NaSCN”. Doing Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) studies, result analysis
2012 Student Science Projects Team, Izmir Private Çamlaraltı High School
Achievements: Conduction of the project “Biosorption of Pb+2 and Cd+2 Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus dimorphus”. Carrying out microalgae culture, biosorption experiments, FTIR measurements, applying the data to isotherms
2011 Student Science Projects Team, Izmir Private Çamlaraltı High School
Achievements: Conduction of the project “The Antibacterial Effect of Montmorillonite Modified with Ag+1”. Adsorption, Volhard Titration and disc diffusion experiments, data interpretation
| Professional Experiences and Internships | |||
| Laboratory Skills
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Bioengineering: Design and fabrication of microfluidic systems, photolithograpy, softlithography
Biomaterials: Synthesis of photocrosslinkable hydrogels, 3D cell culture systems using fibrin, GelMA, PEG, collagen… Cell Culture: Differentiation and protocol development for iPSCs, 3D cell culture under both static and dynamic micro environments/devices, culture of primary mammalian cells, cell lines, bacteria and microalgae Genetic and Molecular Biology: Plasmid transformation, Nucleic acid isolation, PCR primer design and synthesis, qPCR, ELISA Imaging and Histology: Live cell imaging, Confocal microscopy (Zeiss LSM 880), ICC, IHC Lab animals: Certified user of mice and rats Chemistry: Adsorption/biosorption, titration, FTIR |
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| Computer Skills | MS Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
GraphPad CorelDraw Adobe Photoshop Matlab (beginner) |
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| Scholarships and Awards | ||
| 2018 | 3rd Place in the Best Poster Award Biomedical Science and Technology Symposium | |
| 2018 | Scholarship for Outstanding Master’s Students, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey | |
| 2017 | ‘The Effect of Thyme Oil to Stem Cell Therapy in Experimental Wound Healing Model’, 3rd Place in the Engineering Category of Manisa Celal Bayar University 24th Science and Spring Festival Science Projects Contest | |
| 2017 | ‘The Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Thyme Oil in Wound Healing’ Undergrad Research Project Funding, The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey | |
| 2012 | ‘Measuring the Avidity of mAbs Produced Against Toxoplasma gondii with ELISA Using NASCN’ Finalist of Acibadem University Project Olympiad, 2012 | |
| 2012 | ‘Biosorption of Pb+2 And Cd+2 Ions From Aqueous Solutions Using Phaeodactylum Tricornutum, Chlorella Vulgaris and Scenedesmus Dimorphus’ Honorable Mention, International Sustainable World Energy Engineering Environment Project Olympiad, Houston, TX | |
| 2011 | ‘The Antibacterial Effect Of Montmorillonite Modified With Ag+1‘ The Best Project of 13th Expo Sciences International, Bratislava, Slovakia | |
Publications
Asal, M., Güven, S. (2019) ‘Stem Cells: Sources, Properties and Cell Types’, Vrana, N., Knopf-Marques, H., Barthes, J. (ed.) Biomaterials for Organ and Tissue Regeneration: New Technologies and Future Prospects. Elsevier [book chapter submitted]
Asal, M., Özen, Ö., Şahinler, M., Baysal, H. and Polatoğlu, İ. (2018). An Overview of Biomolecules, Immobilization Methods and Support Materials of Biosensors. Sensor Review, 39(3), pp. 377-386.
Asal, M., Özen, Ö., Şahinler, M., Polatoğlu, İ. (2018). Recent Developments in Enzyme, DNA and Immuno-Based Biosensors. Sensors (Basel), 18(6).
Erbay, İ., Baş, A., Asal, M., Yanık, H., Güven, S., (2018). ‘Microfluidic Systems and Tissue Engineering’, Kuralay, F. (ed.) Advanced Materials: Biomaterial and Nanomaterial Applications. Palme Yayınları (in Turkish)
International Conference Proceedings
Asal, M., Yıldırım, C.A., Güven, S. ‘Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC) Derived Lacrimal Gland’ 24th International Biomedical Science and Technology Symposium, İzmir, 17-20 October 2019
Baş, A.K., Asal, M., Kasal., K., Akbulud, O.B., Yıldırım, C.A., Güven, S. ‘Bioengineering of Lacrimal Gland in Microfludics’ 24th International Biomedical Science and Technology Symposium, İzmir, 17-20 October 2019
Sönmez Kılıçarslan P., Toros P., Asal M., Şahinler M., Tuğlu., İ. M. ‘Effects of stem cells and thyme oil in rat wound healing models’ 2nd International Graduate Education Congress, Manisa, 12-14 May 2017 (in Turkish)
Özen Ö., Baysal H.T., Asal M., Şahinler M. ‘The in vitro Effects of Stem Cells and Thyme Oil in Wound Healing Models in L929 Cell Line’ 2nd Life Sciences Congress, Kayseri, 23-25 February 2017
National Conference Proceedings
Baş, A.K., Asal, M., Kasal., K., Akbulud, O.B., Yanık, H., Yıldırım, C.A., Güven, S. 2018 ‘Lacrimal Tissue Engineering’ 23rd Biomedical Science and Technology Symposium, İstanbul, 15-16 December (in Turkish)
Baş, A.K., Asal, M., Kasal., K., Akbulud, O.B., Yanık, H., Yıldırım, C.A., Güven, S. 2018 ‘Development of Lacrimal Gland From Stem Cells Using the Tissue Engineering Approach’ 5th Biomaterial Days, İstanbul, 22-23 October (in Turkish)
Certificates
Certificate of Experimental Animal Use (80 hours)
Therapeutic mAb Engineering and Production Workshop (10 hours)
Extra-Curricular Activities
2018-… Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Stage Arts, Acting
2018-… Yol Sahne Theatre Troupe, Acting and Dramaturgy
2016-2018 Muradiye Campus Theater Club, Management and Membership
2016-… LÖSEV (Children with Leukemia Foundation) Volunteer
2016-2018 Izmir Tarz Dance Academy, Classical Ballet Student
2015-2017 Izmir Tango Academy, Argentine Tango Student
Languages
Turkish (Native)
English (Excellent): IELTS Score 8
German (Beginner)
Spanish (Beginner)