Hamza Balci, Ph.D.

RESEARCH INTERESTS 

G-Quadruplex-Protein Interactions, DNA repair, CRISPR-Cas9, Single Molecule Biophysics, Fluorescence Microscopy, Force Spectroscopy, DNA-based Liquid Crystals

EDUCATION

1998-2004  PhD, Physics Department, University of Maryland, College Park,

1994-1998  BS, Physics Department, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

August, 2020-Present Professor, Physics Department, Kent State University

August, 2020-September 2024 Undergraduate Coordinator, Physics Dept, Kent State University

August, 2015-August, 2020 Associate Professor, Physics Department, Kent State University

July, 2018-July 2019 Visiting Scholar & Marie-Curie Fellow, Bionanoscience Department, Technical University of Delft, Netherlands

August, 2009-August 2015 Assistant Professor, Physics Department, Kent State University

April, 2007-August, 2009 Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Prof. Taekjip Ha’s Laboratory

Nov 2008-Jan 2009 Visiting Scientist on EMBO Fellowship, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich. Prof. Karl-Peter Hopfner’s Laboratory

July, 2004-April, 2007 Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Prof. Paul Selvin’s Laboratory

2000-2004 Research Assistant, University of Maryland, College Park. Prof. Richard L. Greene's Laboratory

1998-2000 Teaching Assistant, University of Maryland, College Park

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

PHY-12000                             Introductory Physics Seminar, Fall 2021

PHY-23102                         General University Physics II, Spring 2020 & 2021 & 2022

PHY-45501/55501          EM Waves and Modern Optics, Spring 2012 & 2014 & 2016 &2024

PHYS 45201/55201         Electromagnetic Theory, Fall 2016

PHY-44600/54600          Introduction to Biological Physics, Fall 2013, Fall 2017, Fall 2019

PHY-40195                     Biophotonics, Spring 2011

PHY-40099                     Senior Honors Thesis-Fall 2011

PHY-40096                     Individual Investigation, Spring 2016 & 2018; Fall 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2020, Summer 2021

PHY-40060                 Physical Literature on Single Molecule Biophysics (Spring 2011)

HONR-40096                     Individual Honors Work (Spring 2011, 2014, 2015 & 2018); Fall 2011 & 2014

PHY-40020                         Advanced Physics Lab, Spring 2013, 2017, 2023; Fall 2014 & 2022

PHY 35101 Classical Mechanics, Fall 2023, Fall 2024

PHY-30020                         Intermediate Physics Lab, Spring 2013, 2015, 2017, 2023; Fall 2014 &2022

PHY-23101                 General University Physics I, Fall 2009 & 2012, Spr 2010 & 2011

PHY-13002/13012          General College Physics II-Fall 2011, Summer 2012 & 2014

PHY 80098 Research, Spring 2020 & 2021, Fall 2021, Summer 2021

MENTORING

• Current PhD Students:                    Sineth Kodikara, Janan AlFehaid, Mohammad L. Kabir

• PhD Thesis:                                        Sujay Ray (2014), Jagat Budhathoki (2016), Parastoo Maleki (2018), Golam Mustafa (2022), Prabesh Gyawali (2022), Sajad Shiekh (2023)

• MS Thesis:                                          M. Haroon Qureshi, Subrata Mal, William A. Roy

• Honors Thesis (Undergrad):          Dominic Malcolm, Allan Leishman

• Research Advisor (Undergrad):     Chad Frutig, Ugur Celik (visiting GS), Edward Stafford, Ryan Melendez, Amanda Rentsch (Highschool), Timothy Park, Jacob Taylor, Kelsey Bittinger, Michael Guntrum, Marlon V. Nunez, Eric Yokie, Darion Feldt, Ahmed Barghout, Sabaha Pasha, Kylie Merkel, Tuqa AlHajri, Shomok Basu, Emily Jackson, Luiz Leao, Rachel Shelly 

SERVICE

Served in the following Departmental/University Committees:

• Advisor for Student Spaceflight Experiments Program-Mission 18 (2023)

• Ohio Transfer Module Physics Committee Chair (2022)

• Judge for Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Presentations (2020-2023)

• College Curriculum Committee (August 2020-Present)

• Undergraduate Coordinator (August 2020-Present)

• Undergraduate Advisor (Fall 2013-Present)

• Board Member-HSA Cleveland Highschool (2010-Present, except 2018-2019 Academic Year)

• McNair Scholarship Mentor (2017)

• Chair Review Committee (2017)

• Graduate Planning and Admissions Committee (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016)

• Undergraduate Planning Committee (2010-2013)

• New Faculty Hire Committee (2012, 2016, 2018)

• Faculty Advisory Committee (2013-2014, 2019-2020, 2023)

• Student Academic Complaint Committee (2014)

Served in the following Thesis Committees 

As Advisor

• Subrata Mal, Master Thesis Defense, Physics Department, 08/10/2011

• Haroon Qureshi, Master Thesis Defense, Biological Sciences Department, 11/05/2013

• Sujay Ray, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 09/12/2014

• Jagat Budhathoki, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 04/04/2016

• William Roy, Master Thesis Defense, Physics Department, 07/15/2016

• Parastoo Maleki, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 06/28/2018

• Prabesh Gyawali, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 02/25/2022

• Golam Mustafa, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 03/01/2022

• Sajad Shiekh, , PhD Defense, Physics Department, 10/12/2023

As Committee Member

• Alex Adaka, PhD Defense, Materials Science, 10/07/2024

• Daniel Gavazzi, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 08/15/2024

• Joy Kabuga, Oral Candidacy Exam, Chemistry Department, 08/14/2024

• Rachel Carleton, PhD Defense, Math Department, 03/08/2024

• Mohammad Lutful Kabir, Oral Candidacy Exam, Chemistry Department, 01/19/2024

• Thomas Swope, MS Thesis Defense, Physics Department, 08/10/2023

• Sudeshi Abedeera, PhD Defense, Chemistry Department, 07/12/2023

• Holly Matthews, Honors Thesis Defense, Physics Department, 04/11/2023

• Debayan Purkait, PhD Thesis Evaluation Committee, Saha Institute of Nuclear Theory, India, 04/05/2023

• Praneetha Sundar Prakash, Prospectus Defense, Biomedical Sciences, 03/06/2023  

• Zoltan Karaszi, PHD Defense, Chemical Physics Program, 1/19/2023

• Koushik Sreenivasa, First Year Evaluation, TU-Delft, Netherlands, 10/24/2022  

• Mohammad Enamul Hoque, PhD Defense, Chemistry Department, 10/18/2022

• Mohammad Akter Hossain, PhD Defense, Chemistry Department, 09/22/2022

• Brad Popovich, PhD Defense, Chemistry Department, 08/22/2022

• Drona Dahal, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 06/14/2022

• Kumudie Arachchige, PhD Defense, Chemistry Department, 09/22/2021

• Keshav GC, PhD Defense, Chemistry Department, 05/06/2021

• Hao Yu, PhD Defense, Chemical Physics Program, 07/08/2020

• Taras Turiv, PhD Defense, Chemical Physics Program, 06/16/2020

• Tong Su, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 04/15/2020

• Vikash Kaphle, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 12/10/2019

• Talant Rusmetov, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 07/24/2019

• Laura Restrepo Perez, PhD Defense, TU Delft, 05/10/2019

• Keshav GC, Oral Candidacy Exam, Chemistry Department, 08/17/2018

• Kumudie Arachchige, Oral Candidacy Exam, Chemistry Department, 05/10/2018

• Ayhan Duzgun, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 11/28/2017

• Prithviraj Nandigrami, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 09/26/2017

• Mona Mirheydari, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 06/16/2017

• Lee Sharpnack, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 06/14/2017

• Akram Al-Shadidi, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 04/06/2017

• Rahul Bhattacharjee, Prospectus Defense, Biological Sciences Dept, 03/24/2017

• Joe Yarzebinski, MS Thesis Defense, Physics Department, 07/15/2016

• Sony Pandey, PhD Defense, Biological Sciences Dept, 04/05/2016

• Ghadah Alrabghi, MS Thesis Defense, Physics Departments, 07/02/2015

• Ayan Chakrabarty, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 04/09/2014

• Deepak Koirala, PhD Defense, Chemistry Department, 03/07/2014

• Payel Chatterjee, PhD Defense, Biological Sciences Dept, 11/05/2013

• Pritam Mandal, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 06/07/2013

• Payel Chatterjee, Prospectus Defense, Biological Sciences Dept, 03/18/2013

• Mark Morris, PhD Defense, Chemistry Department, 03/28/2012

• Bhuwan Joshi, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 11/03/2011

• Deepak P Koirala, Oral Candidacy Exam, Chemistry Department, 12/01/2010

• Swarnendu Tripathi, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 08/04/2010

• Jason K. Ellis, PhD Defense, Physics Department, 10/28/2009

Served as referee for the following journals: Science, Nature Methods, Nature Comm, Proc. Of Nat. Acad. of Sci (PNAS), Nucleic Acids Research (NAR), Nano Letters, NAR Methods, Jour. of American Chem. Soc. (JACS), Nature Cell Discovery, ACS Analytical Chemistry, Scientific Reports, ACS Synthetic Biology, Biochemistry, Biochimie, Jour. of Mol. Biol., Jour. Phys. Chem, Jour. Phys. Chem-Letters, and Jour. Vis. Experimentation (JoVE), Journal of Medical Sciences (NEOMED)-a student-led scientific journal. 

I also edited book chapters or other content for Taylor&Francis and Wiley.

Served as referee for the following funding agencies: National Science Foundation-USA and Ohio State University, United Kingdom-Cancer Research, Canada-Leaders Opportunity Fund, Research Grant Council China-HongKong, Czech Rep-Czech Science Foun., Saudi Arabia, European Science Foundation, Switzerland-Swiss National Science Foundation (Sinergia), Netherlands-NWO.

HONORS AND AWARDS

• The Students Choice Best Advisor Award, Society of Physics Students, KSU Chapter (2023)

• Marie-Curie Individual Fellowship, European Commission (2018)

• Excellence in Advising Award, Society of Physics Students, KSU Chapter (2017)

• Burroughs Wellcome Fund Collaborative Research Travel Grant (2013, UC Berkeley)

• College of Arts and Sciences Research Resources Award, KSU (2013)

• University Research Council, Research Activity Support including Undergraduate Students, KSU (2013 &2015)

• Amer. Assoc. of Physics Teachers New Faculty Workshop Attendance (2011)

• Farris Family Innovation Award for Early Achievement (2011-2014)

• University Undergraduate Research Scholars Program Award (2011)

• ICAM-KSU International Travel Award (2011)

• ICAM Scientist Exchange Award (2009)

• European Molecular Biology Organization Short Term Fellowship, Nov 2008-Jan 2009, Karl-Peter Hopfner Lab, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Germany

• Finalist for Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in Computer, Mathematical, and Physical Sciences, University of Maryland (2000-2001)

• Vehbi Koc Scholar, Koc University, Turkey (1994-1998) 

CURRENT, COMPLETED AND PENDING FUNDING

CURRENT

Title: Influence of small molecules on G-quadruplex stability, folding kinetics, and interactions with proteins

Source of Support: National Institutes of Health (NIGMS, R15)

Total Award Amount: $437,617

Role: PI (100%)

Award Period: 05/01/2018 – 04/30/2021

COMPLETED

NSF-DMR (07/15/2019 – 06/30/2023)

Title: Phase Behavior and Physical Properties of Thermotropic and Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Oligomers

Position: Co-PI, Other Investigators: Samuel Sprunt (PI), Tony Jakli (Co-PI), James Gleeson (Co-PI); Amount: $573,103

NIH R15 Grant (03/01/2015 – 02/28/2018)

Title: A Single Molecule Exploration of Protein and G-quadruplex Interactions

Position: PI (100%), Amount: $346,271

NIH R15 Grant (2012-2015)

Title: A conserved G-rich region within human TH promoter regulates its activity

Position: Co-Investigator (%50), Amount: $280,768

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Collaborative Research Travel Grant (2013)

Title: The Influence of G-Quadruplex Structure on POT1/TPP1 and RPA Access to Telomeres,

Position: PI, Amount: $5,840

College of Arts and Sciences Research Resources Award, KSU (2013)

Title: Acquisition of a Harrick Plasma Cleaner, Position: PI, Amount: $7,094

University Research Council, Research Activity Support including Undergrad. Students (2013).

Title: The Influence of G-Quadruplex Overhang Length on RPA-mediated G-Quadruplex Unfolding. Position: PI, Amount: $2,714

ICAM Junior Scientist Exchange Award (2012)  

Title: Single Molecule Studies of Human Telomere-Binding Proteins (TEBP)

Position: PI, Student: Sujay Ray, Amount: $4,052,

Farris Family Research Incentive Proposal (2010)

Title: The Interactions of DNA G-Quadruplex Structures with DNA Binding Proteins. Position: PI, Amount: $24,000

University Research Council, Undergraduate Research Scholars Program

Title: Effects of Internal DNA Labeling on the Photophysical Properties of Cyanine Dyes,

Position: PI, Amount: $3,460

ICAM Junior Scientist Exchange Award (2009)  

Title: Single Mol. Studies of Human Nucleotide Excision Repair & DNA Damage Checkpoint.

Position: PI, Student: M. H. Qureshi, Amount: $5,300

PUBLICATIONS

• https://www.balcilab.org/home/publications

• ‪Hamza Balci‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬ 

• My Bibliography (NIH) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/myncbi/hamza.balci.1/bibliography/49488464/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending

• ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0273-4871

TALKS/PRESENTATIONS

• RNA Rustbelt Meeting, 10/18/2024

• InteractionWins 2024, Innovative Therapeutic Targets in Non-Canonical Nucleic Acid Structures Winter International School 2024. 02/20/2024

• Biophysical Society Meeting (Two Presentations & Session Co-Chair), 02/12/2024

• RNA Rustbelt Meeting, 09/27/2023

• Cleveland Center for Membrane and Structural Biology Annual Symposium, 05/18/2023

• Interaction Wins 2023 Winter School, Online Event Organized by Junior Scientists in Italy, 02/22/2023 

• Biophysical Society Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, 02/19/2023

• 8th International Meeting on Quadruplex Nucleic Acids, Marienbad, Czechia, 06/29/2022 

• American Physical Society Great Lakes Regional Meeting, Virtual, 11/13/2021

• Bioengineering Department Colloquium, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, 10/13/2021

• Nucleic Acid Secondary Structures, G4s and Beyond, Virtual, 07/08/2021

• Helicases and Nucleic Acid-Based Machines, Virtual, 07/06/2021

• Physics Department Colloquium, University Texas Rio Grande, 2021/03/05

• Biophysical Society Meeting, Virtual, 02/23/2021

• Physics Department Colloquium, University of Miami, FL 13 Nov 2019

• KSU Physics Department Colloquium, 19 September 2019

• Talk at 2nd Conference on Biomotors, Virus Assembly, and Nanobiotechnology Applications, Columbus, OH, 30 July 2019

• RNA Society Meeting, Krakow, Poland, 13 June 2019

• Cell Symposia, Regulatory RNA, Berlin, Germany, 13 May 2019

• Seminar at Technical University of Delft, Netherlands

• Talk at 6th International Meeting on Quadruplex Nucleic Acids: G4thering in Prague; Prague (Czech Republic), 31 May 2017

• Talk at Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, (Germany), 05/30/2017

• Talk at 19th Annual Midwest DNA Repair Symposium, Dayton, OH, 05/13/2017 

• Integrated Life Sciences Seminar, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 02/28/2017

• Condensed Matter Physics Seminar, Case Western Reserve University, 02/20/2017

• Talk at Biophysical Society Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 02/13/2017

• Talk at North East Ohio Medical University, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seminar, 05/13/2016

• Talk at Institute of Complex and Adaptive Matter Annual Meeting, Kent, OH, 05/17/2016

• Integrated Life Sciences Seminar, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 03/15/2016

• Poster at RNA Rustbelt Meeting, Huran, OH, 10/24/2015

• Talk at 5th International Meeting on Quadruplex Nucleic Acids: G4thering in Bordeaux; 26-28 May 2015 Bordeaux (France)

• Talk at Case Western Reserve University, General Meeting of Turkish Academician in Northeast Ohio,  04/19/2014

• The Ohio State University, Biophysics Program Seminar, 10/24/2013

• Poster at Biophysical Society Meeting, Philadephia, PA, February 2012

• La Sierra University Physics and Biophysics Departments Colloquium, Riverside, CA, 02/24/2012

• Poster at Biophysical Society Meeting, San Diego, CA, February 2012

• Kent State University, Physics Department, Freshmen Seminar, 10/25/2011

• John Carroll University Physics Department Colloquium, 12/01/2011

• Talk at University of Connecticut, Electrical Engineering Department, 7/29/2011

• Third International G-Quadruplex and G-Assembly Meeting, Naples, Italy, 06/28/2011

• Talk at Turkish American Academics of Midwest Meeting, Cleveland, OH May 22, 2011

• Poster at Biophysical Society Meeting, Baltimore, MD, February 2011

• Biological Sciences Departmental Seminar, KSU, March 12 2010, Kent, OH

• Poster at Biophysical Society Meeting March (2009), Boston, Massachusetts

• Talk at GeneCenter, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich December 10, 2008

• Poster at Biophysical Society Meeting (2007), Baltimore, Maryland. 

• Illinois State University, Oct 24, 2006-Colloquim in Physics Dept

• Wayne State University, Sept 20, 2006-Colloquium in Chemistry Department

• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Sept. 1, 2006- Talk at Dept of Mech & Industrial Engineering

• Poster at Biophysical Society Meeting (2005), Long Beach, California

• Talk at American Physical Society March Meeting (2004), Montreal, Canada.

• Talk at American Physical Society March Meeting (2003), Austin, Texas

• Talk at American Physical Society March Meeting (2002), Indianapolis, Indiana