Yasemin+D.+Yilmazel

YASEMIN DILSAD YILMAZEL, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Research Associate Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering College of Engineering Penn State University 125 Sackett Building University Park, PA 16802 814-865-4276 yyilmazel@engr.psu.edu

Short Biography

Yasemin Yilmazel is a post-doctoral researcher working with Dr. Bruce Logan in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Penn State University in University Park, PA. Her current research focuses on bioelectrochemical methane production via microbial electrolysis cells. She is particularly interested in electrotrophic communities. Prior to moving to the U.S., Dr. Yilmazel attended Middle East Technical University (METU) in Turkey, and earned her B.S. degree with a dual major in Environmental and Chemical Engineering in 2007 and 2008. She received her M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering from METU in 2009. During her master's she worked in a joint project of University of Stuttgart, Germany and METU, and her research was based on anaerobic digestion and nutrient removal/recovery from anaerobic digestion residues. In September 2014 Dr. Yilmazel earned her Ph.D. in Engineering at Villanova University and her dissertation focus was on hyperthermophilic hydrogen production from renewable feedstocks.

Research Interests
 * Environmental microbiology and biotechnology
 * Wastewater engineering, biohydrogen production, and resource recovery
 * Microbial electrosynthesis, electromethanogenesis

Education

**Post Graduate,** June 2014 - Present Pennsylvania State University, University Park PA USA Civil and Environmental Engineering

**Doctor of Philosophy,** 2014 Villanova University, Villanova PA USA Civil and Environmental Engineering

**Master of Science,** 2009 Middle East Technical University, Ankara Turkey Environmental Engineering

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Bachelor of Science,** 2008 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Middle East Technical University, Ankara Turkey <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chemical Engineering

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Bachelor of Science,** 2007 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Middle East Technical University, Ankara Turkey <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Environmental Engineering

<span style="font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif;">Research and Work Experience

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Postdoctoral Research Associate,** June 2014 – Present <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- My current research is on electromethanogenesis i.e. production of methane in bioelectrochemical systems via reduction of carbon dioxide.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Graduate Research Assistant,** Aug. 2009 – May 2014 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Villanova University, Villanova, PA USA <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">- My dissertation research was focused on the development of a hyperthermophilic bioprocess for the conversion of biodegradable waste materials and plant biomass to hydrogen.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Visiting Researcher,** Jan. – March 2009 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Institute of Sanitary Engineering, Water Quality and Solid Waste Management (ISWA)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Graduate Research Assistant,** June 2007 – Aug. 2009 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Department of Environmental Engineering

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Summer Intern,** July – Aug. 2007 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Turkish Petroleum Refineries (TUPRAS) Co., Kirikkale, Turkey

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Summer Intern,** July – Aug. 2006 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">AECOM/ENSR International Consultancy and Engineering, Ankara, Turkey

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Summer Intern,** July – Aug. 2005 <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tusas Aerospace Industries (TAI), Inc., Ankara, Turkey