Department of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution and Development — University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Professor Ünal, who serves at UC Berkeley, has devoted her scientific career to understanding the relationship among meiotic cell division, cellular rejuvenation, and aging processes. She completed her undergraduate studies in Molecular Biology and Genetics at Bilkent University and pursued her Ph.D. in the U.S. at Johns Hopkins University, focusing on meiosis. During her postdoctoral work at MIT — one of the world’s top universities — she continued to focus on meiosis. While many researchers investigate how aging affects meiosis, Ünal decided to reverse the question: to examine how meiosis influences aging. Aiming to define the principles of meiotic differentiation, she joined the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at Berkeley in 2014, where she continues her innovative research in a laboratory established under her name. She has expressed her intention to continue working on this subject in the future, hoping that her discoveries will inspire further research and breakthroughs. For her contributions to science, Ünal was honored with the Sabri Ülker Science Award in 2020.

Research Focus
Professor Ünal investigates how damage that accumulates in cells due to aging can be naturally repaired. Her primary goal, together with her research team, is to understand and reverse cellular aging. Her main research area is gametogenesis — the biological process through which reproductive cells (gametes) are formed, ensuring the continuity of life across generations. Because this process prevents age-related damage in cells from being transmitted to the next generation, studying it offers a unique perspective on the biology of aging and potential therapeutic strategies to combat age-related diseases. Ünal also highlights the importance of healthy nutrition and lifestyle in slowing aging, noting that calorie restriction in various organisms leads to extended lifespan; and that factors such as diet style, exercise, sleep, smoking, alcohol use, and stress significantly influence both cellular and organismal aging.