Bige Unluturk

Georgia Institute of Technology

Bige Deniz Unluturk is a PhD Candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology with the Broadband Wireless Networking Laboratory, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Ian F. Akyildiz. She received her M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from Koc University, Turkey in 2013 and her B.S. degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Middle East Technical University, Turkey in 2011. She held visiting researcher positions at University of Oslo Hospital, Norway from May 2016 to July 2016, and at Aalto University, Finland from September 2014 to November 2014. She works on wireless communications and networking, specifically on Molecular Communication (MC) for Internet of Bio-NanoThings. Besides her research, she has been selected as Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor for Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2018 and she has received ECE Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant Award in Spring 2018.

Research Abstract:

My research is focused on molecular communication (MC) which is a bio-inspired wireless communication paradigm for interconnection of smart nanoscale devices into nanonetworks. It is derived from the MC in biology, where information transfer occurs by exchange of molecules. By complementing MC with other wireless communication techniques, a network of biological and electrical devices, called Internet of Bio-NanoThings, can be formed, enabling a plethora of applications at the core of the next-generation biomedical systems for pervasive, perpetual, and remote healthcare. Although MC exists in nature, only recently it has been proposed as a solution for networking. Establishing MC networks requires a deep understanding of underlying biological processes, and the revision of established concepts in communication theory. One major challenge is to understand and interpret biological models for natural communication and apply analytical tools from communication engineering to design feasible MC systems. Others arise from the need of novel devices which can transmit, receive, and store molecular signals, and the lack of interfaces with existing communication devices. My research work addresses the aforementioned challenges within the scope of bacteria based molecular communication. I proposed for the first time a complete MC biotransceiver architecture using genetically engineered bacteria as a biological device. I have also proposed a bio-cyber interface converting molecular signals to Terahertz waves. Furthermore, I have studied the biological processes underlying the Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis for the development of a network infrastructure providing the control and remote interrogation of wearable and implantable devices.