Skip to main content

Faculty & research

Candan Tamerler-Behar

Research Professor, Materials Science & Engineering

Candan Tamerler-Behar

  • Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University 1997
  • M.Sc. Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University 1991
  • B.Sc. Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University 1989

Candan Tamerler-Behar joins Materials Science & Engineering in the summer of 2010 as a research professor after having served here as a visiting professor and the assistant director of the Genetically Engineered Materials Science and Engineering Center. She also served as the chair of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Istanbul Technical University (ITU) in Turkey and directed ITU's Research Center for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.

Dr. Tamerler's research interests include protein-based materials and systems where the peptide functionalities are genetically controlled. She focuses on genetic selection of material-specific proteins and their utilization as synthesizers, assemblers, and scaffolds. Tamerler utilizes molecular biology and genetics for expression and purification of biological molecules (mainly proteins, peptides, and enzymes) to modify and control their biological and functional activities. These techniques are used for biofabrication, designing biocompatible surfaces, and developing novel detection and probing systems, all relevant in bionanotechnology, nanomedicine, and nanotechnology.

Among Dr. Tamerler's honors are the TUBITAK Award on European Union Framework Program and the President's Award for Service in Advanced Technologies in Engineering, Istanbul Technical University. She has been appointed as a national expert on European Union Framework programs related to nanoscience and nanotechnologies.