Zeynep Ozsoy, PhD, obtained her undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at the Bogazici University in Turkey. She went on to earn her doctoral degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2002. Between 2002 and 2005 she was a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Stephen Kowalczykoski's laboratory at University of California - Davis. In her graduate and post-graduate work she studied helicases which are proteins that separate the two strands of DNA and can play roles in DNA replication, repair and recombination. Mutations in these proteins are linked to predispositions to cancer and in one case even to a premature aging disorder.
Since joining the faculty at Colorado Mesa University she has shifted her interest to a regionally significant topic. Her research interests include non-native insects that feed on Tamarisk, an introduced and invasive plant that has taken over the riparian ecosystems in western United States. Since 2010 she has mentored several undergraduate students in Structured and Advanced Research where they analyze the DNA sequences of these insects to differentiate between different species and populations, as well as to identify their origin.
She enjoys teaching several courses ranging from introductory biology for majors and non-majors, to upper level courses including genetics and topics courses such as molecular cloning and protein chemistry. She is passionate to inspire her students to love and study biology. She strives to entice their interest by making the material relevant to the daily life and fun.
In her free time she enjoys going camping, hiking and skiing with her family and taking care of their backyard chickens.