Meet our Early Career Scientist Grant Winner Ilksen Topcu
Congratulations to our latest Early Career Scientist Grant winner - Ilksen Topcu of the Texas A&M University, USA! Ilksen is the latest lucky winner of our monthly $500 career development grant for PhD and postdoc life scientists!
We’re proud to have helped more than 40 early career scientists to date with a flexible grant that can be used to cover travel expenses to a conference, publishing fees, lab supplies, or anything else to help advance their research.
Ilksen is a PhD candidate working on plant and soil microbiomes in Sanjay Antony-Babu’s lab and she will use the grant to help fund her attendance at the International Phytobiomes Conference 2024 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA (19-21 November 2024)
We asked Ilksen how she felt about receiving the award, and she told us:
I am thrilled to receive the Hello Bio Early Career Scientist award. This is a wonderful opportunity for early career researchers. This grant will allow me to attend and present my research results at the International Phytobiomes Conference 2024. The conference is a great chance to discuss my research with scientists and connect with peers. Ilksen Topcu, Texas A&M University, USA, Hello Bio Early Career Scientist Grant winner
Congratulations Ilksen! First, can you tell us a bit more about your current research work?
My PhD research focuses on deciphering the microbiome community compositions of maize (corn) wild accessions and domesticated cultivars. I aim to understand how microbiome composition has changed during plant domestication and modern breeding, identifying any loss of biodiversity in domesticated maize crop varieties. This knowledge is crucial for developing bio-based microbial products from wild plants, like biopesticides and biofertilizers. My research shows promising results in identifying beneficial microbial inoculums in wild plants for developing biofertilizers and biopesticides.
What excites you most about your field of research?
Chemical applications in agriculture, such as the utilization of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, pose considerable adverse impacts on both the environment and human health. I am enthused about investigating environmentally friendly alternatives through the development of biofertilizers and biopesticides. These initiatives aid in mitigating potential human health hazards and diminishing adverse environmental repercussions arising from chemical control strategies.
Which scientists working today do you most admire, and why?
There are countless brilliant scientists all around the world, and I admire Norman Ernest Borlaug, an American agricultural scientist and winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1970. He developed stable, disease-resistant, and high-yield wheat varieties that significantly contributed to the world food supply and saved people worldwide from starvation. For his contributions, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1970, and Dr. Borlaug is called "the father of the Green Revolution."
What do you think are the biggest challenges currently facing life scientists and their work?
Job security is a significant worry for early-career scientists in the life sciences. Funding uncertainties and unclear career paths add to the difficulty. Your work depends solely on research funding in academia. Insecure funding causes immense stress for many young scientists, leading them to seek jobs in industry. I hope that offering more stable employment options and fair compensation will help support young scientists in the field.
And finally… what’s your favourite science quote?
“Above all, don’t fear difficult moments. The best comes from them.” - Rita Levi-Montalcini
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Thank you so much Ilksen! We wish you all the very best with your future research and we hope you have a fantastic time at the conference in November!
Connect with Ilksen:
- LinkedIn: Ilksen Topcu
- X(Twitter): @ilksen_tt
- Bluesky: @ilksentt.bsky.social
Why not apply for our next monthly grant?
Application is quick and easy, just fill out the form here: https://hellobio.com/early-career-scientist-grant-application
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