Hello

I’m Erva, a PhD candidate, curious mind, and Mindful Self-Compassion instructor. I’m here to share pieces of my research, visual science, writing, and mindfulness practice — all in one place. I value honesty, equality, mental health, kindness and sincerity. I hope you find something here that sparks your curiosity in science or life, brings you hope, or simply adds a little joy to your day.

A quote I love

The more I study happiness, the more I realise it comes down to one thing: living in alignment with what truly matters to you.

Not success. Not stuff.

Just a life that feels like yours, where you wake up glad it’s your day, where you’d choose your own life again if you could.

Where your joy isn’t borrowed from someone else’s approval, and your worth isn’t hanging on what you achieve next.

Because anything less isn’t really living.

— Unknown

Here is my current research in PhD

Our Lab - ABCD Lab - mainly focuses on how astrocytes shapes the developing brain in both health and disease states.

I individually work on multiple projects including;

GABA catabolism in developing brain
How early life memory forms and extends
How IPSC derived astrocytes are shaped in mouse brain
Inflammatory signal sensor development and identifying those dynamics in astrocyte networks

Degree and Education

2024 - Now PhD, Bioscience and Biotechnology/Institute for Basic Science

Chungnam National University/Center for Memory and Glioscience, Daejeon, South Korea

Supervisor: Wuhyun Koh, PhD

2018-2020 MSc, Molecular Medicine

Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea

Thesis: The Response of Single and Dual Tumors to Engineered Salmonella typhimurium Expressing Cytolysin A. Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School

Supervisor: Jung-Joon Min, MD, PhD

2011-2017 BSc, Biology (English Preparatory Year included)

Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkiye

Working Experience

2023 - 2024 Researcher/Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, South Korea

2021 - 2023 Research Coordinator/ Center for Contemplative Science, KAIST, Daejeon, South Korea

Selected Publications

H Kim, J Lim, J Kim, E Ozkan, GH Kim, H Park, M Park, B Joo, S Lee, KJ Lee, BK Kaang, CJ Lee, W Koh (2026): Astrocytic Ankyrin-2 Enables Memory Persistence in the Mouse Hippocampus. Nature Communications
E Ozkan*, W Koh (2026): Potential role of astrocyte on gamma-aminobutyric acid tone regulation during developmental period. Neural Regeneration Research
Kim E., Moon C.W., Kim S., Ozkan E., Lomas T. (2022) Mindfulness Intervention Courses in STEM Education: A Qualitative Assessment. Innovations in Learning and Technology for the Workplace and Higher Education. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 349. Springer, Cham
Ozkan E.*, Pehlivan Karakas F., Birinci Yildirim A.B., Tas I., Eker I., Yavuz M.Z., Ucar Turker A. (2019).Promising medicinal plant Inula viscosa L.: Antiproliferative, antioxidant, antibacterial and phenolic profiles. Progress in Nutrition

A bit of me

Science is a big part of my life, but not the whole story. From mountains and long bike rides to new places, new skills, and little adventures — here are a few bits of me. :)

End-of-Year Party · Childhood

Me being a nurse

At an end-of-year school party, I somehow became the nurse — although my heart was already leaning toward becoming a scientist. :)

Cycling in Korea

Gangneung to Samcheok

I love exploring places on two wheels. One of my favorite rides — cycling along Korea’s east coast from Gangneung to Samcheok.

Vietnam- Fansipan Mountain

Hiked Fansipan!

I decided to hike the highest mountain wherever I go. Fansipan was my first challenge — 3,143 meters above sea level. :)

IBS · Daejeon

My First Patch Clamp

The beginning of my patch-clamp journey at IBS. Challenging, fascinating, and definitely not that easy. :)