Prof. Dr. Emre Keskin

Emre Keskin conducts research in molecular ecology and evolutionary genetics at the Evolutionary Genetics Laboratory of Ankara University. He is also the OCU Director of AgriGenomics Hub: Animal and Plant Genomic Research Innovation Center, one of the most advanced genomic infrastructures in the region. He received his master's and doctoral degrees in Biotechnology. After completing his doctorate, he joined several European Union scientific networks and played a significant role in the development of the conceptual framework for environmental DNA metabarcoding, with the aim of establishing gold standard genomic tools and new eco-genomic indices and metrics for biodiversity assessments and biomonitoring studies of European ecosystems.

His work focuses primarily on the use of (e)DNA (meta)barcoding and metagenomics techniques for the biological monitoring of invasive, endangered, and endemic species in extreme ecosystems. He has published over 60 articles indexed in international databases and presented over 150 papers at national and international conferences. To date, he has participated in 76 national and international projects, serving as project leader in 17 of them.

The next-generation eDNA Metabarcoding Kit, developed by the biotechnology company he founded, was awarded a prize by the Royal Academy of Sciences and the Newton Foundation after an evaluation of innovation projects, marking the beginning of his product development efforts.

Emre Keskin, who has served on various commissions of six different international organizations, including the United Nations IPBES, IUCN, iBOL, and BIOSCAN, continues his work on a national platform as a member of the Aquatic Genetic Resources Advisory Commission, the Aquatic Research Programs Evaluation Group, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Biodiversity, Education, and Renewable Energy Working Group.