Birgül Akolpoglu selected to join the 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

Stuttgart/Lindau – Birgül Akolpoglu, who is a doctoral student in the Physical Intelligence Department at the MPI-IS in Stuttgart and an external Ph.D. student at ETH Zürich, was selected to attend this year’s 72nd Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. From June 25 to 30, 2023, Birgül is one of 635 young scientists from 98 countries who will be able to meet each other and around 40 Nobel Laureates.

“Being nominated by my institute and then getting the invitation to join the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting is an honor for me,” says Birgül Akolpoglu. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a part of this meeting where so many great minds come together.”

Since 1951, the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings have made a name for themself as a unique international scientific forum, enabling exchange between generations, disciplines, and cultures. The theme of the Lindau Meetings alternates between the three Nobel Prize scientific disciplines – Physics, Chemistry or Physiology, and Medicine. The meetings take place in Lindau, a city located on the north-eastern side of Lake Constance at the German-Austrian-Swiss border. This year, seven Nobel Prize winners who are, or were formerly, directors at a Max Planck Institute are also scheduled to join the meeting.

Birgül Akolpoglu works on microalgae and bacteria-based microswimmers for medical applications such as on-demand drug delivery. She combines biological agents with synthetic materials to create microrobots which could one day revolutionize how we diagnose and treat diseases deep inside, in hard-to-reach areas of the body. The field of microrobotics for medical applications promises great potential to one day successfully fight a variety of illnesses. Birgül’s work of employing miniature biohybrid robots with various active control mechanisms and medical functions is an important step in finding new ways to, for instance, battle cancer.

“I believe that attending the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting will have a profound influence on my career as a young researcher. It offers a unique platform to showcase my work and make valuable connections with other researchers. This may lead to future collaborations, research partnerships, and career opportunities that I may not have had otherwise.”

Birgül received her Master’s degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Koç University in Istanbul under the supervision of Prof. Seda Kizilel while also working as a research and teaching assistant. At Koç University, she studied biocompatible coating of insulin-secreting pancreatic islets with emulsion-based microgels for the treatment of type-I diabetes. Before that, Birgül pursued her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Istanbul University, where she graduated as the second-highest-ranked graduate of her class.

“As a female engineer in microrobotics, I am determined to be a successful professional who not only inspires and influences my colleagues and employers but also serves as a role model for young girls interested in pursuing careers in STEM. In my scientific career, I aim to focus on developing innovative technologies and solutions that have a direct impact on improving human health. Whether it is through the development of medical devices or the discovery of new treatments, I want to be at the forefront of research that translates scientific knowledge into practical applications that benefit people's lives. My goal in life is to be a successful, impactful, and influential scientist who contributes to the betterment of society, and leaves a lasting positive impact on future generations.”

Attending a Lindau meeting usually remains a once-in-a-lifetime event – unless you win a Nobel Prize yourself. Two of the Nobel laureates contributing to the program of the 72nd Lindau Meeting are joining the meeting for a second time. Bert Sakmann, a 1963 alumnus, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1991. And just last year, Morten Meldal, a 1986 participant, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The Danish scientist is one of the pioneers of click-chemistry and will return to Lindau this summer as a Nobel Prize winner.