People

Dr. Cansu KURTULUŞ

Dr. Cansu KURTULUŞ is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Co-Founder of the CareCycle Research Group. Her research lies at the interface of materials science, environmental engineering, and sustainable chemical technologies, with the overarching goal of transforming industrial by-products into high-value functional materials for a circular economy.

Her work focuses on the rational design, synthesis, surface modification, and characterization of advanced materials for environmental applications. She has extensive experience in developing alkali-activated materials, geopolymers, engineered adsorbents, and multifunctional composites for water and wastewater treatment, contaminant removal, and sustainable construction. Her research particularly emphasizes understanding the relationships between material composition, surface chemistry, microstructure, and performance in order to develop efficient and environmentally responsible technologies.

In recent years, Dr. KURTULUŞ has expanded her research toward sustainable adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals, nutrients, dyes, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics, while also investigating low-carbon binders and waste-derived radiation shielding materials. Her current research is further extending into carbon capture and utilization (CCU) and CO₂ capture technologies, aiming to develop next-generation functional materials that contribute to climate change mitigation and carbon-neutral industrial processes.

Dr. KURTULUŞ has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in high-impact international journals and actively collaborates with researchers from Europe and beyond. Her scientific vision is to bridge fundamental materials research with real-world environmental challenges by developing innovative, scalable, and sustainable material technologies that support cleaner water, resource efficiency, and a low-carbon future.

Research Interests

  • Sustainable Materials
  • Adsorption Technologies
  • Water and Wastewater Treatment
  • Microplastic Removal
  • Alkali-Activated Materials & Geopolymers
  • Industrial Waste Valorization
  • Circular Economy
  • Surface Modification and Characterization
  • Environmental Remediation
  • Radiation Shielding Materials

Profiles

Dr. Recep KURTULUŞ

Dr. Recep KURTULUŞ is an Assistant Professor of Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Co-Founder and Principal Investigator of the CareCycle Research Group. His research focuses on the development of sustainable engineering materials through the valorization of industrial by-products and waste resources, with the overarching goal of advancing circular economy and low-carbon technologies.

His expertise spans alkali-activated materials, waste-derived functional materials, radiation shielding materials, glass science, and sustainable construction materials. In recent years, his research has increasingly emphasized the physicochemical behavior of industrial side streams, dissolution mechanisms of mineral phases, and the development of advanced materials for environmental and engineering applications. By integrating experimental investigations with materials characterization and performance evaluation, he aims to establish innovative strategies for transforming industrial wastes into high-value products.

Dr. KURTULUŞ has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading international journals and has established collaborations with researchers from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. His work contributes to the advancement of sustainable materials science by combining circular economy principles with practical engineering solutions that address environmental and industrial challenges.

As a co-founder of CareCycle Research Group, he plays a leading role in shaping the group’s scientific vision, developing international collaborations, mentoring young researchers, and promoting interdisciplinary research that bridges materials science, environmental engineering, and sustainable technologies.

Research Interests

  • Circular Economy and Waste Valorization
  • Sustainable Construction Materials
  • Alkali-Activated Materials and Geopolymers
  • Glass Science and Glass-Ceramics
  • Radiation Shielding Materials
  • Industrial By-products and Secondary Raw Materials
  • Sustainable Material Design
  • Mineral Dissolution and Reaction Mechanisms
  • Material Characterization
  • Environmental Materials Engineering

Profiles