Distinguished seminar: “Exploring Biological Innovations in Bioprocessing and Renewable Energy with Circular Economy Strategies and Sustainable Life Cycle Perspectives”

Abstract

The seminar will transfer the expertise of Dr. Güngörmüşler in innovative approaches to addressing global energy and environmental challenges through advancements in biohydrogen production, renewable energy integration, and circular bioeconomy strategies. Emphasis will be placed on sustainable bioproduct manufacturing, life cycle assessment, microbial biotechnology, and the utilization of extremophiles in transformative bioprocesses. Key topics include optimizing fermentation processes, and innovative methods for waste valorization to enhance bioprocess efficiency and scalability. Insights into interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of bioeconomy concepts will underscore the potential for translating these innovations into impactful, large-scale applications.

Short Bio

Mine Güngörmüşler is an associate professor with a background in biology and bioengineering, having pursued her education in Türkiye, Italy, and Canada. She completed her B.Sc. in Biology at Hacettepe University and M.Sc. in Bioengineering at Ege University, where she also earned her Ph.D. in Bioengineering. Part of her doctoral research was conducted at the University of Manitoba, Canada, focusing on proteomics investigation of proteins for producing value-added biotechnological products and also at the University of Bologna, Italy, focusing on immobilization of microorganisms. Her research interests include environmental microbiology, biohydrogen production, probiotics, life cycle assessment (LCA), and sustainable bioprocesses. Since 2017, she has been a faculty member in the Department of Genetics and Bioengineering at Izmir University of Economics. In 2022, she co-founded HOPE Biotechnology alongside two other academicians, focusing on the sustainable utilization of waste materials through a circular economy approach. Her research bridges biotechnology and sustainability, addressing challenges in renewable energy and waste management. Her projects have been supported by organizations such as TÜBİTAK and the İzmir Development Agency. She is involved in international collaborations as a Management Committee (MC) member of COST Actions such as MultiviewLCSA and LIAISE. In 2024, she was recognized as an International Excellence Fellow at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, where she worked on LCA for innovative biohydrogen production processes. She has authored publications in international journals and presented her work in international and national conferences.