• Full Name:Onurcan Sahin
• Email:info@onurcansahin.eu
• Website:www.onurcansahin.com

I completed my Bachelor's of Science degree at the physics engineering department at Istanbul Technical University (ITU). The department provides a variety of courses to its students, who can shape their knowledge depending on their professional interests. The basis of my professional skills such as scientific thinking, physics, electronics, robotics, mechanics, and programming was established in the physics engineering department.

Upon graduating, I wished to extend my knowledge of the control of automated systems and robotics. I applied and was accepted into the system dynamics and control program run by the mechanical engineering department in ITU. After completing the master courses in the first year, I wanted to use the opportunity of spare time by working while completing my graduation project and thesis.

Although I had the option of working as a student assistant in the physics engineering department, my first actual working experience was in Dunyagoz hospital group as a physics engineer. In Dunyagoz, I had the unique opportunity of working with people with various specialties such as doctors, nurses, patients and service personnel from some of the biggest medical companies. Besides of the responsibilities related to the medical devices and equipment, part of my duties was assisting doctors during the refractive surgeries. I assisted over 7000 refractive operations such as photorefractive keratectomy, Lasik and corneal crosslinking. As a scientist and an engineer, observing and understanding the demands and problems of various medical devices was a unique opportunity. Furthermore, this understanding was not only limited to the device itself but was also related to the people using and servicing it. In this environment, I observed a deficiency in corneal crosslinking surgeries and I created a system for improving the surgery. This project became my final project for my thesis and my Master’s degree.

During my duty at Dunyagoz, I had the opportunity to meet with prof. Ioannis Pallikaris who is the inventor of the Lasik technique. After exchanging my resume and projects, I was offered the PhD position and the Marie Curie scholarship. Thus, I have become a member of the “Opal” project which was an Initial Training Network (ITN) funded by the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) under the Marie Curie Actions. During this project we developed an optomechatronic device called “Sigma” with Dr. Harilaos Ginis. Sigma was the first device which was capable of measuring intraocular scattering optically. The design, development and manufacturing of Sigma were completed in the Institute of Vision and Optics, University of Crete. The patient studies were conducted in the ophthalmology clinic of the University General Hospital of Heraklion. I was entitled doctor of philosophy from the School of Medicine, University of Crete, after presenting the outcomes of these studies.

My next professional decision was accepting the job offer from Dunyagoz when prof. Pallikaris became the medical director of the group. I was offered a manager position in the research and development department. We aimed to create a scientific infrastructure in the group. I held responsibilities for controlling and supervising the clinical studies in the hospital. Furthermore, we enrolled in several technical studies with universities and pharmaceutical companies.

At the end of the two years prof. decided not to continue his position in the group. After this point, one of the long-standing projects was funded by private investors. Thus, the EYEPCR B.V. was established and I was offered the product manager position as well as a postdoc position in the University of Crete. In EYEPCR, we aim to develop an intraocular implant for cataract surgeries. The design, production and certification of the device are my responsibilities and currently we are in the clinical trial phase, as well as obtaining the CE mark.

In summary

I have deep interest on mechanics, electronics, programming and optics. I love to come to work dig deep down and create knowledge which nobody has ever been there before. Work on subjects, algorithms, patents which you cannot just search on google or get from github/stackoverflow or watch how to videos on youtube.

It is challenging most of the time and i have to accept that sometimes it is very difficult. However, It is still like a dream for me doing research and developing novel devices, trying to see the world in a different perspective.

I still feel the same joy and excitement of a 5-year-old who plays with LEGOs. I honestly believe that people like me, whom are aged children, just likes to play with their own LEGOs. The only difference is our LEGOs cost much more than a 5-year-old’s & we get paid for that.

Thank you.

Onurcan Sahin