Second Cohort

Dr. Burak Boyacıoğlu earned his Ph.D. from the University of Washington’s William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 2022. He holds a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, a minor in Mechatronics, and an M.S. in System Dynamics and Control from Istanbul Technical University (ITU). His research focuses on optimal sensor placement and active sensing strategies for dynamic systems, with applications in both biological and engineered flight and space systems. He has held postdoctoral positions at University of Nevada, Reno and Hacettepe University, and has taught graduate and undergraduate courses at the University of Washington, ITU, and METU.

At METU, he is working within the ENRICH-TOGETHER programme on developing observability-based adaptive sensing strategies for real-time detection and tracking of marine pollution events such as harmful algal blooms (HABs). The project integrates control theory, robotics, and environmental modeling to design efficient sensor deployment algorithms, validated through simulations and field experiments, contributing to more reliable and cost-effective environmental monitoring. His broader research interests include stochastic systems, sensor fusion, and autonomous vehicles for multidisciplinary applications. Outside academia, his main interest is cinema, often leading him to travel to different cities for festivals or special screenings.

Yusuf S. Yaras holds a Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology (2020), an M.Sc. from Koç University (2016), and a B.S from Sabancı University (2013), all in electrical engineering. He also completed graduate-level training in clinical translation (CPTS) at Emory University. Following his Ph.D., he served as a postdoc, then as research faculty at Georgia Tech. Earlier in his career, he was a predoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and an entrepreneur lead in the NSF I-Corps program. He has also served as Vice President of R&D at Validos Biomedical. He recently joined Middle East Technical University (METU) as an ENRICH-TOGETHER Fellow.

His research focuses on the development and clinical translation of biomedical devices, with particular emphasis on sensors, minimally invasive technologies, and in-vitro diagnostics. His work is centered on moving technologies beyond the laboratory into real clinical use, spanning system design, fabrication, benchtop and preclinical testing, and early-stage clinical validation in close collaboration with clinicians and industry partners. Throughout his career, he has led and contributed to multiple interdisciplinary projects in MRI safety, catheter-based sensing, and wearable and point-of-care diagnostics. His experience covers the full pipeline from concept development to early clinical implementation, with a strong emphasis on translating engineering innovations into deployable technologies that address real-world healthcare needs, including commercialization through industry partnerships and startup initiatives.

As part of the ENRICH-TOGETHER program, he is developing a minimally invasive pressure sensing platform aimed at addressing a range of clinical applications. The approach provides a reusable sensor core with modular packaging, allowing integration across different interventional device types. This framework supports broader accessibility and cross-clinical use of sensing technologies, with the potential to reduce barriers to clinical translation through a platform-based approach.

Dr. Eda Keskin specialises in phenomenology, aesthetics, environmental engineering and applied ethics. She received her PhD with summa cum laude distinction from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg Germany, where her research focused on the relationship between Martin Heidegger’s philosophy and modern art. Her interdisciplinary work in general bridges philosophy, environmental sustainability and emerging technologies, with a strong emphasis on ethical reflection in innovation processes. Dr. Keskin has authored international books and peer-reviewed publications on topics including everyday aesthetics, empathy, political ethics and the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence. She has presented her research at leading international institutions and conferences across Europe and Asia, contributing to debates on responsible innovation, normativity and the societal impacts of technology.

Alongside her academic career, she brings substantial private-sector experience as an environmental engineer and sustainability consultant, particularly in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This dual background enables her to integrate philosophical inquiry with practical approaches to environmental and social challenges.

Within the ENRICH-TOGETHER programme, Dr. Keskin develops the RITES project, an interdisciplinary research and innovation initiative that integrates Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) and applied ethical frameworks to evaluate rooftop solar energy systems systematically. The project adopts a holistic approach to assess environmental and social impacts across the value chain, while embedding ethical reflection within technological development. It aims to advance a responsible innovation framework, develop an open-access and scalable educational platform and actively contribute to policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement at national and European levels.

Dr. Ihsan Ullah received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Institute of Functional Nano & Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Soochow University, China.

His research focuses on developing high-performance perovskite solar cells through interface engineering and molecular passivation. During his doctoral studies, he designed and investigated novel organic passivation molecules to reduce defect states, improve charge transport, and enhance the efficiency and operational stability of inverted perovskite solar cells. His work combines thin-film device fabrication with advanced materials characterization to understand the relationship between interfacial properties and photovoltaic performance.

As a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) ENRICH-TOGETHER Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Solar Energy Research and Applications (GÜNAM), Middle East Technical University (METU), Türkiye, under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Selcuk Yerci, he is investigating novel organic molecular passivation strategies for inverted perovskite solar cells to enhance their efficiency and long-term operational stability. His research aims to advance the development of high-performance, durable photovoltaic technologies that support the global transition to sustainable and clean energy.

Hyejin Lee received her B.S. in Urban and Infrastructural Engineering and her Master and Ph.D. in Disaster Management Engineering from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea. Her doctoral research focused on ground-motion characteristics in South Korea, including the evaluation of ground-motion models, site effects, and spectral attenuation characteristics.

Following her Ph.D., she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at UNIST and the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology (KIOST), where she expanded her research to seismic site response, liquefaction, and the safety of offshore infrastructure. She later worked at the Gyeonggi Disaster and Safety Research Center, gaining experience in disaster-safety policy research and the application of scientific results to public decision-making.

In 2026, she joined Middle East Technical University (METU) as an ENRICH-TOGETHER fellow under the MSCA COFUND program. Her current research focuses on seismic wave mitigation using meta-barriers. The project investigates how engineered subsurface structures can modify seismic wave propagation and reduce ground-motion amplitudes within selected frequency ranges. By combining numerical modelling, wave-propagation analysis, and data-driven approaches, her work aims to develop practical strategies for reducing earthquake-induced damage and improving the resilience of critical infrastructure.

Dr. Mukesh Ghimire is a Renewable Energy and Climate Finance Expert with 17 years of professional and leadership experience connecting energy and environmental policy, project financing, and field implementation. As a former Director at the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), a Government of Nepal institution mandated to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency, he developed and managed multimillion-dollar portfolios in solar PV, clean cooking, bioenergy, waste-to-energy, carbon finance, and the circular economy.

Serving as Project Director, Project Manager, Programme Manager, Coordinator, and institutional focal point, he led or supported initiatives financed by the World Bank, ADB, GCF, GEF, KfW, GIZ, FCDO/DFID, DANIDA, the Government of Norway, the European Union, UNDP, UNESCAP, SNV, GGGI, other development partners, and the private sector.

Currently, Dr. Mukesh is an ENRICH-TOGETHER Postdoctoral Fellow at Middle East Technical University under the Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND programme, in collaboration with Korea University. His research project, EPEEA—Evaluating the Performance of European Green Financing Cooperation for Energy Transition Programs in Asian Developing Countries—applies DEA, SFA, and MCDA-AHP to assess the efficiency, development effectiveness, and stakeholder risks of green-finance investments.

Dr. Mukesh holds a PhD in Energy, Resources and Environmental Policy from Korea University, along with postgraduate qualifications in Renewable Energy Engineering, Business Administration, and Rural Development. He is a gold medallist in both his bachelor’s and master’s engineering degrees. He has substantive research and development experience spanning peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, international reports, journal reviews, conference presentations, technology assessment, and applied policy research.

His work bridges academic evidence and operational experience to support governments, development partners, climate funds, and investors in developing more efficient, effective, inclusive, and bankable green portfolios.

Core expertise: Renewable energy | Climate and carbon finance | MDB project structuring | Energy and environmental policy | Project management | Quantitative impact evaluation | Stakeholder risk analysis

Dr. Mahdi Hasanzadeh earned his Ph.D. in 2016 from the University of Guilan (Rasht, Iran). After completing postdoctoral research at Sharif University of Technology (Tehran, Iran), supported by Iran's National Elites Foundation (INEF) Fellowship, he joined the Department of Textile Engineering at Yazd University (Yazd, Iran) as a faculty member. He has been recognized as one of the top 100 scientists in Iran (Distinguished National Researcher and SARAMADAN-ELMI Award), as well as the world's top 2% of scientists in several years. His research interests lie in nanostructured and advanced materials, polymer nanofibers and fibrous nanocomposites, and their applications in energy harvesting and environmental protection.

In August 2026, he joined Middle East Technical University (METU) as an Enrich-Together fellow. His current research at METU focuses on the development of advanced functional materials for emerging energy and environmental applications. The work involves the design and engineering of multifunctional materials and flexible structures with tailored electrical, mechanical, and interfacial properties for next-generation energy harvesting and self-powered technologies.