The seventh of the Project Launch Meetings organized by Üsküdar University R&D and Innovation Policies Directorate was held. At the meeting, the university's academic performance indicators, its achievements in world rankings, ARGEYEP activities, and newly accepted research projects were discussed in detail. Additionally, the “MySmart Intelligent Module Management System” developed within the university was introduced at the meeting.
The meeting held at Üsküdar University Central Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall was attended by Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel, ARGEYEP Director Asst. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay, along with project-leading academics and working group representatives.
Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel: “We are number one in Turkey among foundation universities”
Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel, who made the opening speech of the meeting, drew attention to the university's achievements in international rankings. Ergüzel stated; “For the last two years, we have been first in Turkey among foundation universities that received the '17 label' in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. We hold the distinction of being the only foundation university to achieve this success for two consecutive years. Furthermore, in interdisciplinary studies, among 1,267 ambitious universities worldwide, our work under the umbrella of neuroscience placed us in the 251-300 band, meaning in the first quartile.”
“The sustainability of this increase is very valuable for us”
Prof. Dr. Ergüzel, who also touched upon publication and project performances; “We have achieved a steady upward trend in our Scopus publication count. Our 2026 target is to reach approximately 600 publications. There is also a significant increase in our project budgets. The sustainability of this increase is very valuable for us.” he stated.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin: “We aim to increase multidisciplinary studies”
Working Groups Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ömer Şevgin, who spoke at the meeting, provided information about the new period restructuring of the working groups. Şevgin stated; “By identifying inactive groups, we are moving forward with a total of 40 active working groups. Our goal is to increase multidisciplinary studies and monitor publication processes more closely.”
Asst. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay: “With MySmart, we report data without errors”
ARGEYEP Director Asst. Prof. Dr. Müge Ensari Özay made the ARGEYEP Executive Board presentation and shared data on BAP projects, university-industry collaborations, and patent processes. Özay introduced the “MySmart Intelligent Module Management System” developed by the university's own software team. Özay stated; “With MySmart, which we developed specifically for our own needs instead of procuring external services, we can report projects, patents, and academic data much more transparently, quickly, and without errors. The system also has the infrastructure to provide instant answers to questions with artificial intelligence support.”
Three new projects were launched
The presentations of three significant projects that have been accepted and started were made by the project leaders.
Prof. Dr. Nesrin Erçelen: “We will reveal the molecular evidence of treatments”
Prof. Dr. Nesrin Erçelen, Head of the Medical Genetics Department at the Faculty of Medicine, explaining the project "Significant Detection and Comparison of Genomic Expression Changes After Exosome and Mesenchymal Stem Cell Infusion in Rat Models Developing Carotid Ischemia," supported by TÜSEB-B; “We aim to reveal the molecular-level evidence of the treatments we apply in clinics. By comparing the genetic expressions of stem cell and exosome treatments in rat models, we aim to bring evidence-based standardization to treatment protocols.” she stated.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cihan Becan: “Consumers have data privacy concerns”
Science Communication Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cihan Becan, who provided information about his project titled “Privacy Paradox within the Framework of the Communication Privacy Management Model: Psycho-Social Effects of Digital Advertisements on Consumer Privacy According to Approach and Avoidance Focus Groups,” supported under TÜBİTAK 1002-A; “While consumers like personalized advertisements, they also have data privacy concerns. We will address this paradox based on the ‘Communication Privacy Management Theory,’ by examining avoidance and approach motivations.” he said.
Asst. Prof. Dr. İnci Karakaş: “For the first time in Turkey, we will work with wastewater from the gold processing industry”
Asst. Prof. Dr. İnci Karakaş, Deputy Director of the Institute of Health Sciences, presenting her project titled “Treatment of Gold Processing Industry Wastewater by Electrocoagulation Process: Applicability and Performance Analysis,” supported under TÜBİTAK 1002-A, stated, “For the first time in Turkey, we will conduct a characterization and treatability study with real wastewater obtained from the gold processing industry. Additionally, with this study, we will investigate the treatability of wastewater using environmental technologies for the first time at our university. We aim to remove various pollutants and heavy metals using the electrocoagulation process.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Aslan: “We have produced numerous academic outputs”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pınar Aslan, a faculty member of the Public Relations and Advertising Department at the Faculty of Communication, delivered her presentation titled “Popular Culture Working Group.” Aslan, speaking about the project goals of the Faculty of Communication; “As the Popular Culture Working Group, we have produced numerous academic outputs to date, including nationally and internationally indexed articles, books and book chapters, conference papers, and project applications. This production process strengthens our faculty's project-oriented vision while ensuring the qualitative and sustainable progress of academic studies.” she said.
Following the presentations, Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan presented certificates to the project-leading academics.
The meeting concluded with a group photo.