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Dr Ezgi Kucukkilic-Stephens

Professional biography

I am a project officer in the AstrobiologyOU group. My current project involves molecular and metagenomic analysis of low-biomass samples from within cleanrooms related to the space missions as well as other low-biomass environments. I also assist the PDRAs and PhD students with their research.

My PhD at the University of Leicester involved an investigation of the copy number variation of complement receptor 1 (CR1) gene and its relevance to disease such as Alzheimer's and malaria.

2018-Current Project Officer, School of Environment, School of Earth and Ecosystem Science - Open University

2013-2017 PhD in Genetics, Department of Genetics and Genome Biology - University of Leicester

2011-2012 MSc in Molecular Cell Biology, Department of Science and Technology - Nottingham Trent University
Project - Exaptation of Mammalian-Wide Interspersed Repeats

2007-2011 BSc in Genetics and Bioengineering, Faculty of Engineering - Yeditepe University

Project - Determination of Pea3 Binding Sites on NeuroD Promoter.

2006-2007 English Language School (Prep) - Yeditepe University

 

Publications:

1) Preston, L. J., Barcenilla, R., Dartnell, L. R., Kucukkilic-Stephens, E., & Olsson-Francis, K. (2019). Infrared Spectroscopic Detection of Biosignatures at Lake Tírez, Spain: Implications for Mars. Astrobiology. doi:10.1089/ast.2019.2106

2) Kucukkilic, E., Brookes, K., Barber, I., Guetta-Baranes, T., Morgan, K., Hollox, E.J., 2018. Complement receptor 1 gene (CR1) intragenic duplication and risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Human Genetics. doi:10.1007/s00439-018-1883-2.

Publications

Experimental Identification of Potential Martian Biosignatures in Open and Closed Systems (2024-05-17)
Ramkissoon, Nisha K.; Macey, Michael C.; Kucukkilic-Stephens, Ezgi; Barton, Timothy; Steele, Andrew; Johnson, David N.; Stephens, Ben P.; Schwenzer, Susanne P.; Pearson, Victoria K. and Olsson-Francis, Karen
Astrobiology, 24(5) (pp. 538-558)

Habitability and Biosignature Formation in Simulated Martian Aqueous Environments (2023-02)
Macey, Michael; Ramkissoon, Nisha; Cogliati, Simone; Toubes-Rodrigo, Mario; Stephens, Ben; Kucukkilic-Stephens, Ezgi; Schwenzer, Susanne; Pearson, Victoria; Preston, Louisa J. and Olsson-Francis, Karen
Astrobiology, 23(2) (pp. 144-154)

Sulfur Cycling as a Viable Metabolism under Simulated Noachian/Hesperian Chemistries (2022-04)
Oliver, James A.W.; Kelbrick, Matthew; Ramkissoon, Nisha K.; Dugdale, Amy; Stephens, Ben; Kucukkilic-Stephens, Ezgi; Fox-Powell, Mark G.; Schwenzer, Susanne P.; Antunes, André and Macey, Michael C.
Life, 12, Article 523(4)

Microbes from Brine Systems with Fluctuating Salinity Can Thrive under Simulated Martian Chemical Conditions (2022-01)
Kelbrick, Matthew; Oliver, James A. W.; Ramkissoon, Nisha K.; Dugdale, Amy; Stephens, Ben; Kucukkilic-Stephens, Ezgi; Schwenzer, Susanne P.; Antunes, André and Macey, Michael C.
Life, 12(1) (p 12)

Infrared Spectroscopic Detection of Biosignatures at Lake Tírez, Spain: Implications for Mars (2020)
Preston, Louisa J.; Barcenilla, Rebeca; Dartnell, Lewis R.; Kucukkilic-Stephens, Ezgi and Olsson-Francis, Karen
Astrobiology, 20(2) (pp. 15-25)

The habitability of water from distinct martian environments (2023)
Macey, Michael; Ramkissoon, Nisha; Baharier, Bea; Steele, Andrew; Kucukkilic-Stephens, Ezgi; Stephens, Ben; Schwenzer, Susanne; Pearson, Victoria and Olsson-Francis, Karen
In : ASB9: Celebrating 20 Years of the Astrobiology Society of Britain (7-8 Sep 2023, Clore Management Centre, Birkbeck, University of London)

The habitability of distinct martian environments (2023)
Macey, Michael; Ramkissoon, Nisha; Baharier, Bea; Steele, Andrew; Kucukkilic-Stephens, Ezgi; Stephens, Ben; Schwenzer, Susanne; Pearson, Victoria and Olsson-Francis, Karen
In : European Astrobiology Network Association EANA 2023 (19-22 Sep 2023, Madrid)

Insights into the origins and composition of cryovolcanic plume particles from natural and experimental analogues (2023)
Fox-Powell, Mark G.; Stephens, Ben; Siggs, Dominic; Barton, Timothy; Hammond, Sam; Kucukkilic-Stephens, Ezgi; Batty, Claire; Gladding, Toni and Olsson-Francis, Karen
In : Workshop on the Origins and Habitability of the Galilean Moons (24-26 Oct 2023, Marseille, France)

Geochemistry and microbiology of geothermal aerosols in Iceland: implications for biosignatures in the plumes of Enceladus (2023)
Fox-Powell, Mark; Stephens, Ben; Barton, Timothy; Hammond, Sam; Kucukkilic-Stephens, Ezgi; Batty, Claire; Gladding, Toni and Olsson-Francis, Karen
In : 9th Astrobiology Society of Britain conference (07-08 Sep 2023, Birkbeck, University of London)