Handan Olgar
Ankara University
“Model Proteins: From Generic Models to Atomistic Models”
Abstract
My talk focuses on the structure formation processes of macromolecules, such as the folding mechanisms of model proteins, which are biologically motivated problems in statistical physics. Folding mechanisms, adsorption, binding, minimum energy structures considering the environmental factors, and other fundamental processes for model proteins starting from the origin of physical principles are of great importance. Computer simulations have gained an important place in the search for solutions to these fundamental problems. Simulating these complex systems is extremely difficult, and designing new algorithms to simulate protein models is challenging. My talk will discuss model proteins from minimalistic models at mesoscopic scales to models that include all atomic information. In addition, the effect of confinement as an environmental factor that can describe the cell in mesoscopic protein models on the folding mechanism of the protein and the structural parameters that reveal the richness of structural conformations will be emphasized. .
Handan Olgar completed her undergraduate studies in 1997, her master’s degree in 2000, and her doctorate in 2003 at Hacettepe University, Department of Physics Engineering. Prof. Olgar, who started her academic career as a research assistant at Hacettepe University, Department of Physics Engineering between 1998-2007, continued her associate professorship between 2008-2011 at Ankara University, Engineering Faculty, Department of Physics Engineering and has worked as a Professor in the same department since 2011. Prof. Olgar is experienced in field of statistical physics of protein folding, polymer models, and biomaterials and has many publications, and projects in this area. Prof. Dr. Handan Olgar won the Alexander von Humboldt Experienced Researcher Fellowship in 2010 and worked as a visiting researcher at the University of Leipzig, Germany between 2011-2013 and 2017. She was also awarded the Loreal Young Scientist Award by LOREAL-UNESCO in 2005, and the Outstanding Young Scientist Award TUBA-GEBIP in 2006. She was deemed worthy of the Humboldt Alumni Award, given to distinguished scientists by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. She is married and a mother of two children.
Date: December 18, 2024 Wednesday
Time: 15:30
Place: SA-240
All interested are cordially invited.