Asya was born and grew up in Eskişehir, Turkey. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree at the Middle East Technical University (METU), majoring in molecular biology and genetics. Alongside her formal studies, she actively participates in science communication initiatives, particularly in the field of evolution.
Academic and Research Background
Although her major is in the specialized field of molecular biology and genetics, Asya’s main interests center on evolution and evolutionary ecology. She has been involved in ancient DNA research where she studied the evolution of obesity through the relationship between mouth microbiota and the host. Her diverse research interests span primate evolution, cultural evolution, and understanding how evolutionary processes play out across different temporal and spatial scales and systems.
Research at CCTB
During her Erasmus+ internship at Würzburg University’s Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology (CCTB), Asya worked on predator-prey dynamics, applying theoretical and computational approaches to understand ecological interactions.
Research Interests
- Evolution and evolutionary ecology
- Primate evolution
- Cultural evolution
- Predator-prey dynamics
- Ancient DNA research
- Microbiota and host evolution
- Evolutionary processes across scales
- Evolutionary systems biology
Personal Interests
Beyond academics, Asya enjoys writing poetry, stories, and news articles. She is also working on learning guitar and maintaining her love for science communication.
Science Communication
Asya is passionate about science communication, particularly in making evolutionary biology accessible and engaging to the broader public. She actively organizes and participates in outreach events to promote understanding of evolutionary concepts.