Zeynep grew up in Istanbul, Turkey. She received her MD degree at Istanbul University in 2018. She then moved to the US to study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received her MSc degree in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology. During her training, she focused on the role of unfolded protein response in beta cell identity and stress adaptation in type 1 diabetes. As a Ph.D. student at Sawitzki lab, Zeynep is currently working on understanding the regulation of immune cell metabolism during bone healing as a part of Collaborative Research Centre 1444. In her free time, she enjoys sailing and exploring international cinema.