Mrs. Gizem Nur Duran | Computational Chemistry | Women Researcher Award
Phd Student at Gebze Technical University | Turkey
Mrs. Gizem Nur Duran is a biotechnology researcher and computational biochemist whose work bridges molecular biology, structural biophysics, and in silico drug design, with a particular focus on protein–ligand interactions, molecular dynamics simulations, and the computational elucidation of pathogenic iron-transfer mechanisms. She is currently pursuing her doctoral studies in Health Biotechnology at Gebze Technical University, building upon a strong academic foundation that includes a Master of Science in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Genetics, complemented by pedagogical training that enriches her scientific communication and teaching abilities. Throughout her academic and research career, she has contributed to multidisciplinary projects exploring antiviral compounds, protein–protein interaction inhibition, bacteriophage host recognition, molecular modeling of transferrin-binding complexes, and computational approaches to drug discovery. Her publication record includes collaborative studies involving antiviral activity profiling, structural analyses of membrane-associated bacterial proteins, docking-based identification of therapeutic molecules, and computational reconstructions of complex protein assemblies, demonstrating her expertise in combining molecular modeling with biological relevance. She has presented her research in national and international scientific forums, delivering oral presentations on iron-transfer pathways in Neisseria meningitidis and the computational construction of multi-protein systems. Her professional experience spans roles as a researcher in large-scale scientific grants, a teaching assistant in advanced molecular simulation workshops, and a chemistry educator, showcasing her commitment to both scientific advancement and academic mentorship. She has contributed to projects funded by major scientific bodies, working on topics such as virtual screening of therapeutic molecules, development of dual-target inhibitors for cancer therapy, climate-resilient food innovations, and rapid diagnostic kit technologies. Equipped with extensive laboratory and computational skills—including molecular dynamics, homology modeling, virtual screening, genome analysis tools, and advanced visualization platforms—she continues to pursue research interests centered on computational biochemistry, drug design, protein engineering, and molecular simulation-based strategies for biomedical innovation. Her academic leadership is highlighted by her roles in student scientific organizations, workshop coordination, and contributions to international scientific events, reflecting a profile of a dedicated and emerging scientist committed to impactful research in biotechnology and computational drug design.
Featured Publications:
Göktaş, F., Duran, G. N., Özbil, M., Soylu-Eter, Ö., & Karalı, N. (2024). 1H-Indole-2,3-dione 3-thiosemicarbazones carrying a 4-sulfamoylphenyl moiety with selective antiviral activity against Reovirus-1. Acta Chimica Slovenica, 71(2), 215–225.
Soylu-Eter, Ö., Duran, G. N., Özbil, M., Göktaş, F., Cihan-Üstündağ, G., & Karalı, N. (2023). Antiviral activity and molecular modeling studies on 1H-indole-2,3-diones carrying a naphthalene moiety. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1281, 135100.
Dokuz, S., Taşdurmazlı, S., Acar, T., Duran, G. N., Özdemir, Ç., Özbey, U., Özbil, M., & Özbek, T. (2024). Evaluation of bacteriophage ϕ11 host recognition protein and its host-binding peptides for diagnosing/targeting Staphylococcus aureus infections. International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 64(2), 107230.