Second Project Launch Meeting Held

The second Project Launch Meeting was held by Üsküdar University's R&D and Innovation Policies Directorate. Noteworthy project presentations in the fields of natural and social sciences received great appreciation.

The ‘Project Launch Meeting’ was held at Üsküdar University Central Campus, Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall.

Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak, Prof. Dr. Sevil Atasoy, Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel, along with academic and administrative staff, attended the program.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay: “It is a significantly good achievement when we consider it nationwide”

The opening speech of the meeting was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay, Director of R&D and Innovation Policies. Özay stated, “When we look at our 2209 A and B student projects, comparing the numbers for 2023 and 2024, we see an increase in our applications. While there were 99 applications in 2023, we currently have 128 applications. In 2023, with a 68 percent acceptance rate, we achieved approximately 70 percent success. Looking at our faculty members' projects, we see that the total number of applications in 2023 was 110. Of these, 11 were completed as projects within the same year. Additionally, we have 22 ongoing projects. When we examine our success rate, our acceptance rate, we see a 20 percent success. This is a significantly good achievement when we consider it nationwide.”

Following the opening speech, project presentations commenced.

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot: “We use different therapy techniques for voice disorders”

Firstly, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot, Head of the Department of Speech and Language Therapy at Üsküdar University Faculty of Health Sciences, presented his project titled “Investigation of the Effects of Different Strategies Used in Determining Vocal Endurance and Different Methods Used in Voice Therapy Using Non-invasive and Biochemical Methods - A New Approach (TÜSEB-A)”.

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Konrot stated, “In this second launch meeting, we will talk about a part of the doctoral thesis we completed after applying to TÜSEB. I was the project manager for this. We use different therapy techniques for voice disorders. One of them is absolute vocal rest. The other is the water-blowing technique, which we call the semi-occluded vocal tract therapy technique, where the vocal cords also vibrate. At that time, the vocal cords vibrate, and because they provide smooth vibration and oscillation, it is said to have a therapeutic effect. Therefore, we tried to examine whether absolute vocal rest and this semi-occluded vocal technique would work.”

Prof. Dr. Barış Erdoğan: “We tried to understand the impact of sociology education on our students”

Prof. Dr. Barış Erdoğan, Head of the Department of Sociology at Üsküdar University Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, delivered his project presentation titled “The Impact of Sociology Education on University Students (ÜÜ BAP)”.

Prof. Dr. Barış Erdoğan said, “The main purpose of today's meeting is to inspire each other by explaining our projects. We tried to understand the impact of sociology education on our students. We believe that this study should not remain here. That is, it needs to collaborate with other universities, especially with the TÜBİTAK part. At the beginning of this semester, I conducted a pre-test for our students taking the 'Introduction to Sociology' course. In the spring semester, we want to see how effective the courses are and how our students transform at the beginning and end of the semester. As a result of this study, two article studies were also conducted…”

Various projects ranging from natural sciences to social sciences…

Subsequently, Dr. Mehmet Kaan İldiz, Lecturer at Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Software Engineering, shared his project presentation titled “Developing AI Ecosystems Improving Diagnosis and Care of Mental Diseases (DAISY) (TÜBİTAK-ITEA 4 TEYDEB 1509)” with the participants.

Dr. Nigar Kantarcı Çarşıbaşı, Assistant Head of the Department of Chemical Engineering at Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, presented her project titled “Investigation of Naturally Derived and FDA-Approved Molecules for the Inhibition of Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease Using In Silico and In Vitro Techniques (ÜÜ BAP)” to the participants.

Dr. Selami Varol Ülker, Head of the Neuromarketing Department at Üsküdar University Institute of Social Sciences, shared his presentation titled “Journey to the New World of E-commerce: Investigation of Consumer Behavior in Virtual Reality and Website Environments Using EEG and Skin Conductance Methods (TÜBİTAK-3501/Career Development Program)” with the participants.

Alihan Marulcu, a graduate of Üsküdar University's Advertising Department and an entrepreneur, presented his project titled “Alcago - Interactive and Gamified Advertising Model” to the participants.
The program, which highlighted innovative projects, concluded with a group photo session.