The world wanted it, Elif achieved it
Elif Turan, a graduate of the Department of Genetics and Bioengineering at Izmir University of Economics (IUE), has become one of the few young people accepted for a PhD at the University of Manchester in the UK, which is ranked among the top 40 universities in the world. Turan, who will study in the field of ‘cell biology’ for four years, was also awarded a total scholarship of approximately £200,000 from the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to cover all her tuition and living expenses. Standing out with her excellent foreign language skills, the projects she carried out during her education, her high GPA, and her knowledge in the field of software, Turan was selected for the UK after also passing three separate interviews.
The 26-year-old Elif Turan qualified for a 100% scholarship to the IUE Department of Genetics and Bioengineering in 2017. Having the opportunity to study in the field of genetics, which she had been deeply interested in and highly desired since childhood, Turan maintained her success throughout her education and graduated at the top of her department in 2022. During this time, Turan did not just completed her major; she also completed a minor in software engineering.
TOOK PART IN TUBITAK PROJECTS
Benefiting from the achievement scholarship provided by IUE, Turan continued her master's degree under the supervision of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cihangir Yandım. Taking part in two projects related to cellular aging and pancreatic cancer supported by TUBITAK, Turan carried out important studies on complex genomic data analysis. Turan's study, which examined changes in DNA sequences in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, was also published in an international journal.
IT WAS THE DREAM OF MILLIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Always in the spotlight and shown as an exemplar with her success, Turan did not let down those who believed in her. Following her master's degree, she was accepted with a scholarship for a PhD at the University of Manchester, a dream for millions of young people worldwide.
“I WANT TO BE BENEFICIAL TO PEOPLE”
Expressing her excitement about going to the UK, Turan said, “When I was little, I loved detective movies, and I was especially interested in the laboratory scenes. It fascinated me how big stories could emerge from small details in movies, as well as criminal events. I have wanted to study genetics since childhood. This path, which I pursued by holding tightly to my goals, brought me to the UK. I feel a sweet happiness and excitement inside. I am embarking on a very special journey that will bring me together with new people and ideas. I believe that the four years I will spend in the UK will also contribute a lot to my perspective on life. Working with researchers from different cultures and producing in an international laboratory environment is very valuable to me. My biggest goal is to transform what I learn during this process into studies that will contribute to human health in the future.”
“I WILL REPRESENT MY COUNTRY IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE”
Stating that she wants to improve herself in the field of biotechnology, Turan said, “At the point I have reached today, the education I received at IUE, the support of my professors, and the research projects I was involved in have played a huge role. For this reason, when going to Manchester, I feel that I am carrying not only my own dreams but also the labor and support of everyone who believed in me. This gives me both strength and a beautiful responsibility. In the future, I want to develop myself by undertaking new studies in the field of biotechnology. I will work harder than ever before to represent my country, which I love very much, in the best possible way in the UK.”
“WE ACT WITH METICULOUS CARE”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cihangir Yandım, a faculty member at the IUE Department of Genetics and Bioengineering, stated that they always act with meticulous care to maximize students' potential. He said, “Elif was one of our students who met this approach in the best way, standing out with her hard work and openness to development. As her advisor and professor, I always supported her; however, when necessary, I also pointed out her shortcomings openly. There were times when I said, ‘This isn't quite right, you can do better.’ Elif was never offended by any of this feedback; on the contrary, she evaluated all of them seriously and put in more effort to improve herself.”
“SHE WORKED TO DO HER BEST”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yandım continued as follows: “One of the most important characteristics that sets Elif apart was that she did not give up or fall into despair when faced with challenges. When given a difficult task, she would not back down; she would tackle it and put great effort into doing her best. She saw criticism as a part of her development. Thanks to this mature approach, her working discipline, and her dedication to science, she achieved a very significant success today. Elif's acceptance to the University of Manchester and her entitlement to receive such a valuable scholarship is a source of great pride for us.”
