Assist. Prof. Dr. Zeycan Helvaci | Evolution | Best Researcher Award

Aksaray University | Turkey

Assist. Prof. Dr. Zeycan Helvaci is a Turkish academic and researcher specializing in evolutionary biology, systematics, taxonomy, genetics, and morphometrics, with an extensive career in higher education and international collaborations. she has been serving as a lecturer and assistant professor at Aksaray University, Turkey, where she has taught courses such as Invertebrate and Vertebrate Biology Systematics Laboratory, Population Biology, and the Biological Richness of Turkey. Her work emphasizes ecological niche modeling, species distribution, and phenotypical variations in mammals and insects, contributing significantly to zoological sciences. She has conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Liege, Belgium, focusing on evolutionary morphology and population genetics. With numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at international conferences, Dr. Helvacı has established herself as a well-respected scholar. Her expertise extends across genetics, data analysis, R programming, and statistical modeling, making her a valuable contributor to the advancement of biodiversity and evolutionary studies.

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Education:

Assist. Prof. Dr. Zeycan Helvaci pursued her higher education in biology with a strong focus on evolutionary biology, systematics, and morphometrics. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Abant İzzet Baysal University, and simultaneously pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biology Teacher Education at the same university, completed. She advanced her academic career at Ankara University, where she obtained her Master of Science in Biology, focusing on zoological sciences, and continued with a Ph.D. in Biology, completed. During her doctoral research, she engaged in scientific investigations into morphometric and genetic structures of small mammals, particularly the edible dormouse, contributing to evolutionary biology. She further enriched her academic background through international research experiences, including studies at the Claude Bernard Lyon University, France, and the University of Liege, Belgium. Her multidisciplinary training shaped her as an expert in genetics, taxonomy, and ecological modeling.

Experience:

Assist. Prof. Dr. Zeycan Helvaci has built a distinguished academic career through teaching, research, and international collaboration. She began her professional journey as a Research Assistant at Ankara University , contributing to scientific research in evolutionary biology and presenting at international congresses. She later served as a Doctoral Research Fellow at University Lyon , France, where she explored morphometric and genetic differentiation in small mammals. she worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Liege, Belgium, where she collaborated with multidisciplinary teams on evolutionary morphology and population genetics. she has been a lecturer and assistant professor at Aksaray University, Turkey, teaching various biology and systematics courses while leading projects in species distribution modeling and morphometric analysis. She has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications, coordinated projects, and mentored students, establishing herself as a key figure in Turkish zoological and evolutionary research.

Awards and Honors:

Assist. Prof. Dr. Zeycan Helvaci has received significant academic recognition through research grants, fellowships, and academic exchanges that highlight her contributions to evolutionary biology and systematics. She was awarded an Erasmus research grant at Ghent University, focusing on evolutionary morphology of vertebrates. She also received a research grant from the Council of Higher Education, Turkey, to conduct studies at Claude Bernard Lyon University, where she applied advanced morphometric techniques. Additionally, she was a recipient of the prestigious international Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program funded by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, enabling her to conduct population genetics research at the University of Liege, Belgium. Beyond grants, she has participated in academic mobility programs, including teaching exchanges at Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania. Her scholarly achievements, international collaborations, and continuous research contributions have earned her a respected place within the scientific community.

Research Focus:

Assist. Prof. Dr. Zeycan Helvaci research focuses on evolutionary biology, taxonomy, systematics, genetics, and morphometrics, with particular emphasis on mammalian and insect biodiversity in Turkey and Eurasia. Her work investigates species distribution modeling, ecological niche modeling, and the influence of climate change on species distributions. She has conducted extensive studies on rodents such as dormice, water voles, spiny mice, and mole rats, exploring phenotypical variations, Y-chromosome diversity, and morphometric differentiation. Using advanced tools such as R programming and statistical modeling, she combines genetic and morphological data to address questions of biogeography, adaptation, and taxonomy. Her projects include studies on chromosomal variations in mole rats and morphometric analyses of moths and rodents. She also contributes to understanding the taxonomic status of species in Anatolia and their evolutionary histories. Through multidisciplinary and international collaborations, Dr. Helvacı’s research advances biodiversity conservation, ecological understanding, and the broader field of evolutionary sciences.

Publication:

Title: Phylogeography of Scarturus williamsi and Climate Change Impacts: Genetic Diversity and Projected Habitat Loss in Anatolia
Year: 2025

Title: Climate Change Impacts on the Distribution of Dryomys laniger (woolly dormouse) in Türkiye: a Data-Driven Approach
Year: 2024

Title: Influence of Past Climate Changes on the Current Distribution of a Rare and Endemic Species: Anatolian Spiny Mouse
Year: 2023

Title: New Data on the Taxonomy of the Genus Apodemus Kaup, 1829 (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Turkey: a Geometric Morphometric Approach
Year: 2021

Title: Genetic Structure, Ecological Versatility, and Skull Shape Differentiation in Arvicola Water Voles (Rodentia, Cricetidae)
Year: 2020

Title: Taxonomic Status of Water Vole, (Arvicola Amphibius Linneaus, 1758) in Western Anatolia
Year: 2019

Title: Bank Voles in Southern Eurasia: Vicariance and Adaptation
Year: 2018

Title: Morphometric and Genetic Structure of the Edible Dormouse (Glis glis): a Consequence of Forest Fragmentation in Turkey
Year: 2012

Title: Invasion by the Oak Lace Bug, Corythucha arcuata (Say) (Heteroptera: Tingidae), in Turkey
Year: 2009

Conclusion:

Assist. Prof. Dr. Zeycan Helvaci is a highly suitable candidate for the Research for Best Researcher Award. Her strong research foundation, international exposure, and leadership in specialized projects position her as a promising researcher with significant contributions to evolutionary biology, genetics, and morphometric taxonomy. With continued interdisciplinary expansion and global networking, she is poised to make even greater contributions to the scientific community.