ELA IRMAK GUMUS

• Organizing experiments regarding the effect of reduced selenium species on aging
• Practiced RNA isolation, qPCR, PCR, cDNA synthesis, RNA interference and life span assays
• Conducted gene expression analysis
• Employed various research methodologies-adapting to specific project requirements.

Deep Biotech is an agricultural biotechnology start up which aims to contribute to the “Sustainable Development Goals” by using Black Soldier Flies to generate fertilizers and high-protein animal feed with less CO2 emissions. The project is funded by TÜBİTAK (Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey) and has an automated software system to track flies with the help of my partner Associate Professor Dimitry Mikhaylov. I have sold my share to an angel investor and exited in August 2024.

• Practiced T and B cell activation,learned the underlying mechanisms of CAR T-cell therapies focusing on the role of antibodies in targeting and enhancing immune response for therapeutic purposes.
• Understood the structures and mechanisms such as transport into the cell nucleus, protein aggregation, binding kinetics and other characteristics by using new high resolution microscopes.
• Recorded data by using confocal, high- resolution PALM, STORM microscopy.
• Assisted in data analysis for comprehensive study findings.
• Maintained sterile lab environment to prevent contamination.

• Conducted a comprehensive literature review and data curation of LOF (loss of function)/ GOF (gain of function) mutations to enhance variant prediction tools.
• A manually curated database was analyzed by generating phylogenetic trees with R Studio to understand the phenotype-specific patterns that will be used to create an approach to predict the consequences of single amino acid variations regarding whether they cause gain or loss of function in proteins.

• Assisted experiments about protein expression and purification of functionally unknown proteins.
• Used FPLC and HPLC on ÄKTA Pure system for protein purification and identification.
• Practiced fundamental laboratory techniques such as SDS-PAGE, Western Blot and PCR.

• Assisted GMO analysis in consumer goods.
• Practiced DNA isolation, Real-Time PCR processes to determine gene expression levels. Applied ELISA method for allergen protein analysis.