Ms Esma Bozlak

About me

I am a Post Graduate student in AstrobiologyOU, my project is funded by CENTA and focuses on utilising extremophiles to metabolise smouldering emissions from sewage sludge. I will explore if the smouldering emissions from wastewater treatment plants (sewage sludge) can be used as a feed stock for extremophiles and characterise these smouldering emissions. One of the key objectives of my PhD is to utilise metagenomics to characterise these environmental microbiomes, focusing on mapping their specialized genes for metabolism of smouldering related gases (e.g., CO oxidation and CO2 fixation), ashes (e.g., siderophore production), and potential novel biosynthetic gene clusters.

My scientific interest is in developing the applications of extremophiles that can benefit society. I’m passionate about connecting with people through science and sharing my voice through science communication. I use my Instagram account (@graduatewitmeeb) to post about my experiences and inspire others with the work I do.

Biography

2025-Present | PhD Student at AstrobiologyOU | “Pushed to the Extreme: Extremophile-Mediated Bioremediation of Smouldering Sewage Sludge Emissions”

2024-2025 | Researcher Specialist | Biotechnology Company | Working on infection disease, genetic disease, respiratory disease, PCR based diagnostic kit research, development and production.

2020-2023 | Master’s Degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir Institute of Technology | “Cloning and Expression of the Pseudomonas sp. KE38 Extracellular Protease gene to E.coli”

2016-2020 Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Hacettepe University