After spending over 10 years in scientific ​research and the life sciences industry, I am ​looking forward to pursuing new horizons in ​innovation and R&D management.

Combining effective communication within ​the team, with the use of scientific rigor to ​initiate, grow, navigate, innovate, and ​finalize projects are the defining ​essentials of my professional life.

I am an out-of-box thinking, open minded, ​curious, extraverted, well-adapted ​problem-solver, scientist, mentor, coach ​and agile expert who thrives in ​international, multicultural, and ​interdisciplinary work environments.

Nationality: Portuguese & Turkish

Permit: B EU/EFTA

Birth date: 01.01.1988

ozhanozkaya@gmail.com

+41789817272

Schaffhauserstrasse 30

8006 Zürich, Switzerland

Biomedical Research

• 11 years of lab experience as a PhD student and 2 postdoctoral fellowships.
• In 4 countries, top universities and institutes.
• Published work in prestigious peer-reviewed journals.
• Mentored, tutored, lectured, and trained many undergrad and grad students in laboratory techniques and tools.
  

Selected Publications

Özkaya Ö., Balbontín R., Gordo I., Xavier K.B. (2018) Cheating on Cheaters Stabilizes Cooperation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Current Biology.

Link

Özkaya Ö.*, Kramer J.*, Wechsler T., Kümmerli R. (2024) A green-fluorescent siderophore protects bacterial communities from UV damage (Under review at Proceedings B) (*equal contribution)

Link

González J., Salvador M., Özkaya Ö., Spick M., Reid K., Costa C., Bailey M.J., Rossa C.A., Kümmerli R., & Jiménez J.I. (2020) Loss of a pyoverdine secondary receptor in Pseudomonas aeruginosa results in a fitter strain suitable for population invasion. The ISME Journal.

Link

Özkaya Ö., Xavier K.B., Balbontín R. (2017) Maintenance of Microbial Cooperation Mediated by Public Goods in Single- and Multiple-Trait Scenarios. Journal of Bacteriology.

Link

Figueiredo A.R.T.*, Özkaya Ö.*, Kümmerli R., & Kramer J. (2021) Siderophores drive invasion dynamics in bacterial communities through their dual role as public good versus public bad. Ecology Letters. (*equal contribution)

Link

Kramer J.*, Özkaya Ö.*, Kümmerli R. (2019) Bacterial Siderophores in Community and Host Interactions. Nature Reviews Microbiology. (*equal contribution)

Link

Life Sciences Industry

• Advised 12 biotech and medical device companies.
• Direct communication with C-level management.
  
• Conducted market analysis and competitive landscape assessments.
• Organization of KOL events, High-Net-Worth Individual events, Non-deal Road Shows, Capital Market Days, and Corporate Access events.
  

Link

• Clinical-stage biotech focused on CNS disorders.
• 3 Phase 2b trials
• Recent Funding: Raised USD 112 million in Series B. Enterprise valuation: USD 378—567 million
  

Link

• Biopharmaceutical company developing marine-derived cancer drugs.
• Pipeline: Includes Yondelis (soft tissue sarcoma, ovarian cancer), Zepzelca (small cell lung cancer).
• Market Cap: EUR 624.52 million. Public, listed on MSE (PHM).
  

Link

• Medical device company for fluid overload conditions.
• Pipeline: Alfapump (CE-marked, in use for liver disease), DSR (in clinical trials for heart failure).
  
• Market Cap: EUR 44.76 million. Public, listed on Euronext Brussels (SEQUA).
  

Link

• Biotech developing targeted protein degradation therapies.
• Pipeline: Multiple preclinical and clinical-stage programs targeting oncology and autoimmune diseases.
  
• Market Cap: EUR 333.41 million. Public, listed on WSE (CAPT).
  

Link

• Biotech developing tumor-directed immunotherapies.
  
• Pipeline: Mitazalimab (Phase 2), ATOR-1015, ATOR-1017 (Phase 1).
  
• Market Cap: SEK 956.65 million. Public, listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (ATORX)
  

Link

• Developing synthetic anti-infectives.
  
• Pipeline: RECCE 327 (Phase 1 for sepsis, E. coli, COVID-19).
  
• Market Cap: AUD 121.37 million. Public, listed on ASX (RCE).
  

Link

• Developing retinal implants for vision restoration.
  
• Pipeline: Prima System (Phase 2 for age-related macular degeneration).
  
• Market Cap: EUR 1.535 million. Public, listed on Euronext Growth Paris (ALPIX).
  

Link

• Biotech focusing on gene therapies for retinal diseases.
  
• Pipeline: LUMEVOQ (Phase 3 for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy).
  
• Market Cap: EUR 28.95 million. Public, listed on Euronext Paris (SIGHT).
  

Link

• Developing immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
  
• Pipeline: Tedopi (Phase 3 for NSCLC), CoVepiT (Phase 1 for COVID-19).
  
• Market Cap: EUR 132.77 million. Public, listed on Euronext Paris (OSE).
  

Link

• Focuses on cancer therapies targeting tumor microenvironment.
  
• Pipeline: NOX-A12 (Phase 2 for glioblastoma).
  
• Market Cap: EUR 5.28 million. Public, listed on Euronext Growth Paris (TME).
  

Link

• Developing regenerative therapies.
  
• Pipeline: Early-stage programs targeting tissue regeneration.
  
• Private
  

Link

• Developing psychedelic medicines for neuropsychiatric disorders.
  
• Pipeline: Multiple programs in early clinical stages for for depression and PTSD.
  
• Private
  

• Kommit: Online platform for solo individuals to find like-minded others and get discounts by doing activities together

• USP: Businesses offer discounts that can only be activated if the users show up together.
  

• Once upon a Choice: AI-driven “Choose-Your-Own-Adventure” style stories for children

• USP: Each story is shaped for each telling and each reader on-the-go.
  

• “Startup Coach and Agile Business Expert” Certificate by PiR SAQ
  

• During my Postdoc years, I mentored doctoral and master students.
  

• During my Doctoral studies, I mentored master students.
  

• During my BSc time, I tutored more than 50 highschool students.
  

• Teaching Lindy hop and Aerials in free time
  

Bursa Science High School

(STEM Boarding School)

Bursa, TURKEY

Istanbul Technical University

BSc in Molecular Biology and Genetics

Istanbul, TURKEY

University of Strasbourg

ERASMUS Exchange Program

Strasbourg, FRANCE

Board of European Students of Technology (BEST)

• Biotechnology Course in Lund, SWEDEN
  
• Bioremediation Course in Tallinn, ESTONIA
• Robotics Course in Paris, FRANCE
  

NOVA Universiy of Lisbon &

PhD in Biomedical Sciences

Lisbon, PORTUGAL

Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência

Postdoc in Evolutionary Biology

Oeiras, PORTUGAL

University of Zürich

Department of Quantitative Biomedicine

Postdoc in Microbial Evolutionary Ecology

Zürich, SWITZERLAND

One of my biggest passions is dancing. I dance Lindy hop, Blues, Boogie woogie, and Balboa. And I give Lindy hop and Aerials classes in my free time.

I have been performing at ETH Polyball main stage for the last 2 years with the show dance group “Hellzapoppin Disasters”

I like writing stories both fiction and non-fiction.

“What Tree Blooms in December?”

is a novelette that I wrote.

Click here to read

I like hiking, climbing, and wild camping in the mountains.