Dr. Kaan Mika
Kaan Mika is a molecular biologist specializing in the olfactory systems of Drosophila and mosquitoes. His doctoral research focused on the complex question of how olfactory genes are regulated—how they switch on and off—within sensory neurons. During his postdoctoral work at ETH Zurich, he investigated the bittersweet memories of mosquitoes and experimented with various training methods, including feeding them with his own blood.
Kaan's hand is covered with mosquitoes.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Kaan is an amateur photographer and avid adventurer. Alongside his partner in crime and their adorable dog, Rio, he is currently on an exciting journey exploring the world. Currently, Kaan works as a project manager for Insects360 and teaches online science classes for children, covering topics such as basic biology, insects, and more.
He is also an active science communicator, regularly giving lectures and training young people to communicate science clearly and effectively. Kaan uses social media as a powerful tool to share the beauty and wonder of science with a broader audience.
His website (only in Turkish): https://www.kaanmika.com/
His interview on Horizons: https://www.horizons-mag.ch/2023/06/01/the-internet-ambassadors-for-science/
Posts of Kaan on ETH Ambassadors: https://ethambassadors.ethz.ch/author/kaan-mika/
His articles on a national Turkish newspaper: https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/haber-kaynagi/kaan-mika/5409
News about Kaan Mika:
https://www.snf.ch/en/KAHBtf0GqAZqvk07/news/news-200428-press-release-imaging-science