I am honoured and humbled to be the new President of Koç University in a very special month of celebrations of the 30th anniversary of Koç University and 100th anniversary of the Turkish Republic. I am back to Istanbul after an exciting academic, scientific and cultural journey around the world for over 28 years and after many scientific breakthroughs with my group at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Germany in last 9 years.   Fueled by a reservoir of untapped potential, my mission is to seize this moment of extraordinary promise and chart a course towards a future defined by excellence and innovation.   As the leader of this wonderful university, I plan to continue to push the boundaries of what is possible while strenthgening our force as a community of students, faculty, staff and alumni. Through collaborative endeavors, I strongly believe that we can and will transcend boundaries, not only within our institution and country but across the broader region.   Our goal as an university is to nurture the leaders, innovators, and changemakers of tomorrow, empowering them to make a meaningful impact on our world. Thus, my focus is to create the microenvironment for world-class education and world-leading research, with the best faculty and students to nurture their curiosity, creativity and progress and the most competent staff to support our university.   I believe that research is at the heart of innovation and progress, and it is my mission to provide the resources and support necessary to drive transformative discoveries.

My priorities:  

• Find ways to advance the current cutting-edge research at our university and open paths for major scientific breakthroughs
  • Explore interdisciplinary collaborations that bridge the expertise of various colleges and schools, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives converge to propel our research endeavors.
  • Cultivate partnerships with industry leaders and research institutions, creating a dynamic network that not only amplifies the impact of our work but also provides invaluable resources and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
  • Foster a culture of curiosity and risk-taking, encouraging our researchers to pursue ambitious, high-risk projects that have the potential to revolutionize their respective fields.Develop and re-energize our faculty and staff, with the right resources and stability to enhance the quality of research and encourage innovation
• Continue to build on our academic excellence and to elevate our intellectual potential through enrollment of top-tier undergraduate and graduate students
  • Support early-career researchers and graduate students through mentorship programs, grants, and scholarships, empowering them to explore bold ideas and contribute to the cutting-edge research landscape.
• Focus on becoming a true community – an extended community of faculty, staff, students, alumni and our other stakeholders
  • Celebrate our shared accomplishments and milestones, recognizing the achievements of faculty, staff, students, and alumni alike, and reinforcing the collective pride and identity that unites us.
  • Support initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that our extended community reflects a rich tapestry of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds.