I am a professor at Sabancı University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences , Materials Science and Nano Engineering Program, working on computational biophysics, polymer and protein dynamics, molecular simulations, allostery, and biomolecular function since 1999.
Our group research is presented on our MIDST Lab website. Here I provide a short overview of my academic profile.
Selected Publications
- M. Berksoz and C. Atilgan, “Ranking Single Fluorescent Protein Based Calcium Biosensor Performance by Molecular Dynamics Simulations,” Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling, 65, 338–350, 2025. [link]
- M. S. Manna, Y. T. Tamer, I. Gaszek, N. Poulides, A. Ahmed, X. Wang, F. C. R. Toprak, D. R. Woodard, A. Y. Koh, N. S. Williams, D. Borek, A. R. Atilgan, J. D. Hulleman, C. Atilgan, U. Tambar, and E. Toprak, “A trimethoprim derivative impedes antibiotic resistance evolution,” Nature Communications, 12, 2949, 2021. [link]
- F. Jalalypour, O. Sensoy, and C. Atilgan, “Perturb-Scan-Pull: A Novel Method Facilitating Conformational Transitions in Proteins,” Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation, 16, 3825–3841, 2020. [link]
- C. Atilgan and A. R. Atilgan, “Perturbation-Response Scanning: Ligand Entry-Exit Mechanisms of Ferric Binding Protein,” PLoS Computational Biology, 5, e1000544, 2009. [link]
- A. R. Atilgan, P. Akan, and C. Baysal, “Small-World Communication of Residues and Significance for Protein Dynamics,” Biophysical Journal, 86, 85–91, 2004. [link]
Awards and Honors
- Elected member of EMBO, 2023 [link]
- Elected member of Academia Europaea, 2023 [link]
- Elected member of Bilim Akademisi — Science Academy, Türkiye, 2012
- L’Oréal Turkey Young Women Scientist Fellowship, 2005
- Turkish Academy of Sciences Distinguished Young Scientist Fellowship, TÜBA-GEBİP, 2004
- TÜBİTAK Encouragement Award, 2002
- Boğaziçi University Ph.D. Thesis Award, 1996
- TÜBİTAK Münir Birsel Foundation Ph.D. Fellowship, 1993–1996
Education
- Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Boğaziçi University, 1996
- B.S., Chemical Engineering, Boğaziçi University, 1991
Previous Experience and Posts
- Nov. 1999 – present: Faculty member, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabancı University, İstanbul, Türkiye.
- Jun. 2021 – May 2024: President, Science Academy.
- Mar. 2018 – Jul. 2020: Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabancı University, İstanbul, Türkiye.
- Mar. 2018 – Jul. 2020: Director, Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabancı University, İstanbul, Türkiye.
- Jan. 1996 – Sep. 1999: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Supercomputer Computations Research Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
Teaching
Over the years, I have taught courses related to molecular simulations, thermodynamics, polymer physics, and biomolecular systems at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
I also contribute to the integrated Science and Nature courses designed for our freshmen.
Students: Full course info is on SUCourse and Faculty web pages.
Research Opportunities
See the MIDST Lab website for research opportunities in our lab.
Student enrollment in the Materials Science and Engineering program is not required to do research in our group. Students may enroll in any of the programs of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences.