Sabri Ülker Fellows
Ülker Center fellowship, a special program dedicated to the training and support of the most promising, young physician scientists was awarded to Dr. Ekin Güney (İstanbul University), Dr. Güneş Parlakgül (İstanbul University), and Dr. Şevval Altay (Koç University). Their brief stories can be found below:
Dr. Ekin Güney recalls being fascinated as a child by the medical instruments and equipment in his grandfather’s office. “From the time I was eight years old, I never wanted to be anything other than a scientist or a doctor,” says Dr. Güney. “There were three people who gave me the most perspective during my formative years: my father taught me to try to be the best in everything I do, my mother taught me to relax and enjoy life through art and music, and my grandfather was an example for me about how to care for the wellbeing of people.” After an adolescence full of basketball and table tennis and preparing for high school while learning to play the blues, rock, and jazz on the guitar, Dr. Güney followed in his grandfather’s footsteps, pursuing a medical degree at Istanbul University, a top Turkish medical school and the oldest in the country.
Also deeply interested in science and technology since his childhood, Dr. Parlakgül likewise attributes his professional inspiration to his family. As early as his teenage years, Dr. Parlakgül was already showing signs of his scientific brilliance: as part of a high school science project, he synthesized a molecule that could increase the efficiency of organic solar cells. His discovery went on to win the top prize in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, for which MIT named a minor planet – 23286 Parlakgül. “We competed against more than 1,200 other young scientists from 52 countries. It was a great honor that led to my being accepted at both Brown University and Istanbul University,” said Dr. Parlakgül. “I decided to stay in Turkey because the medical school at Istanbul University allowed me to gain hands-on experience in an actual emergency department and operating room”.
Drs. Güney and Parlakgül met during their first week at Istanbul University and became project partners to study Behcet’s Disease. Their work was published and won a prestigious Eczacıbaşı Medical Award. While the two young students worked day and night in the lab, they still managed to participate in the University’s basketball team, rock climbing, paragliding, and scuba diving clubs. “We wanted to learn from the leading scientist in the biological sciences, so we began to find ways to meet Professor Gökhan Hotamışlıgil,” recall Drs. Güney and Parlakgül. The tenacious duo contacted Prof. Hotamışlıgil and also asked one of their professors to follow-up on their behalf, and they followed him to the National Congress of Diabetes in Antalya and the National Obesity Congress in Istanbul. After petitioning Prof. Hotamışlıgil for a summer internship, Drs. Güney and Parlakgül spent two months in the Hotamışlıgil lab. As Dr. Parlakgül recalls, “Ekin and I had read Prof. Hotamışlıgil’s scientific papers, and we found the relation between obesity and inflammation to be very interesting. We were thrilled to join the Hotamışlıgil lab in 2011 and have the opportunity to work with some of the top scientists in the world who are studying metabolic disease.” Following their brief internship, “we missed the special atmosphere of the Hotamışlıgil Lab so much that we went back to the School of Public Health for the rest of the year,” said Dr. Parlakgül. After completing their medical studies at Istanbul University in 2014, the pair was very happy to return to Harvard as the first Sabri Ülker Fellows under the direction of Prof. Hotamışlıgil.
Drs. Güney and Parlakgül wasted no time getting reacquainted with their research team at Harvard and made critical contributions and published their findings first together with Drs. Arruda and Mengel in the distinguished and authoritative scientific journal Nature Medicine–a highly difficult task for even the most established researchers. This first manuscript was also featured on the cover of the journal. They then both went unto lead their independent projects and each produced extremely exciting discoveries and published their additional manuscripts in the world’s most prestigious scientific journals.
“Prof. Hotamışlıgil always reminds us that the most important thing is not money, or fame, or publishing, but to do the highest quality and true science so that we can understand more about the biology of living organisms and nature,” Drs. Güney and Parlakgül reflect.
Dr. Sevval Altay’s journey stands as another testament to passion, perseverance, and pioneering spirit. From a young age, she explored diverse interests, nurturing a deep love for music and excelling in mathematics, before ultimately embracing her true vocation in medicine. Recognized at just nine years old for her extraordinary musical talents, Dr. Altay was admitted to Turkey’s MENSA-affiliated Science and Art Center, where she first envisioned a future as a pianist and alto singer. Her intellectual curiosity soon blossomed to include music’s greatest companion, mathematics, a discipline she pursued with equal fervor, earning multiple gold medals in national and regional math olympiads.
Her path took a defining turn during high school while caring for her mother, revealing her profound passion for medicine. Reflecting on this pivotal moment, Dr. Altay shares, “I realized that what moved me most was not solving abstract problems but helping people solve the most personal ones — the mysteries of their own health.” Fueled by this insight, she ranked among the top 100 students in Turkey’s highly competitive university entrance exams, securing a full scholarship to Koç University School of Medicine, widely regarded as the nation’s premier medical institution.
As she advanced through medical school, Dr. Altay developed a parallel passion for scientific discovery, gaining extensive hands-on experience in multiple basic science laboratories at her home university. She earned the prestigious Amgen Scholarship, which supported a research internship at ETH Zurich in 2019 — an experience she describes as life-changing, solidifying her commitment to uniting research and patient care.
Shortly before graduating at the top of her class in 2022, Dr. Altay sought mentorship from Professor Hotamisligil to navigate her aspirations in basic science research. Reflecting on this, she says, “Professor Hotamisligil’s scientific expertise was undeniable, but what truly resonated with me was his dedication to supporting the next generation of scientists who put in the hard work, as he shared in his public talks.” She adds, “I knew I could learn from him not only as a scientist but as a lifelong mentor — someone whose guidance and example I could always trust and aspire to follow.”
Following a series of online and in-person interviews, Dr. Altay became the third Sabri Ülker Fellow. During her transition to Boston and with the support of Dr. Hotamışlıgil, she conducted research on cytoskeletal dynamics at her home institution in the lab of Dr. Elif Nur Firat-Karalar, recipient of the 2021 Sabri Ülker Science Award. She describes this period as “deeply empowering,” noting, “Witnessing a female scientist lead with both intellect and compassion strengthened my own aspirations in science and leadership.”
In the summer of 2023, Dr. Altay joined the Hotamisligil Lab, and became an integral member of the translational research team. Her boundless curiosity and steadfast drive exemplify the spirit of bench-to-bedside medicine. Now advancing her education through an MPH program at Harvard Chan, Dr. Altay is uncovering new dimensions of her professional identity. She is expanding her perspective beyond the laboratory bench, learning to integrate experimental insights with clinical translation and population health frameworks.
While navigating the challenges of an academic career, Dr. Altay notes she draws strength from Dr. Hotamisligil’s wisdom: “Academia can sometimes feel like a jungle. There will always be those who find the path easier than others, but it is important not to fall into despair through comparison. Instead, embrace gratitude for the opportunities you have and make the most of them. Ultimately, true success — and the deepest satisfaction — comes from knowing your achievements are the result of your own hard work and perseverance.”