Asst. Prof. Selim Hanay of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and UNAM (National Nanotechnology Research Center) has been awarded with a European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant which is considered as the most prestigious research funding in Europe. Dr. Hanay will be using 1,5 Million € funding for his research project: “Resonant Electromagnetic Microscopy: Imaging Cells Electronically.”
With this ERC funding, a radar-like device which is capable of detecting diseased cells will be developed at Bilkent University. Dr. Hanay and his research team are planning to bring together a variety of different techniques such as nano-mechanics, microwave sensors and microfluidics, to produce this novel instrument. The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a portable, low cost and fast electronic instrument for early detection of diseases.
ERC grant is widely considered to be the most prestigious individual support provided by the European Union. Many Nobel laureates have been awarded with ERC funding which aims to fund the best quality research. Accordingly, the ERC support is highly competitive and globally open for the competition of all candidates. Dr. Hanay’s grant is the seventh ERC grant that has been received by Bilkent University researchers since the start of the ERC funding program in 2007. So far 15 researchers from our country have benefited from this support.
More detailed information on Dr. Hanay can be accessed through this link.