Prof. Ali Coskun


Curriculum Vitae (Full Version) (Short Version)
Career & Education
  • 2020 - 2026 Adjunct Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
  • 2012 - 2015 Assistant Professor, Graduate School of EEWS and Department of Chemistry, KAIST
  • 2001 - 2003 MSc in Chemistry, METU. Advisor: Prof. Engin U. Akkaya
  • 2001 BSc in Chemistry, METU
Awards & Honors
  • 2023           2023 ACS Global Outstanding Graduate Student and Mentor Award in                                                 Polymer Science and Engineering
  • 2023           Swiss Green and Sustainable Chemistry Award 2023 
  • 2022           Brain Korea 21, Global Visiting Fellowship, Seoul National University
  • 2016           Samsung Humantech Silver Medal (with Sang-Hyun Je), Samsung Electronics
  • 2013           Excellent New Researcher (우수신진) Grant in Chemistry - (Nation-Wide)
  • 2010           Gordon Research Conference on Noble Metal Nanoparticles – Best Poster Award
  • 2007           Mustafa N Parlar Education and Research Foundation, PhD Thesis of the Year Award
  • 2004-2007  TUBITAK*, PhD Fellowship (Nation-Wide)
  • 2006           TUBITAK, Young Scientist Training Program, Research Fellowship (Nation-Wide)
  • 2003           Mustafa N Parlar Education and Research Foundation, MSc Thesis of the Year Award
  • 2002-2003  TUBITAK, MSc Fellowship (Nation-Wide)
  • 2001           Graduation Degree, High Honour Student (Ranked First)                                                        
*The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

Administrative Responsibilities
  • 2021-Present  Head of Department of Chemistry
  • 2020                Member of the Faculty Hire Search Committee in Biology
  • 2017-Present  Head of Analytical Services in the Chemistry Department
Professional Membership and Activities 
  • 2008-Present   Member of American Chemical Society
  • 2007-2011        Assistant to Fraser Stoddart as Theme Leader within the Functional Engineered Nano Architectonics (FENA) Center
  • 2004-2005        Elected President of METU Graduate Student Council

About: Prof. Ali Coskun was born in Isparta, Turkey, in 1979. He received his BSc degree as an high honor student in Chemistry from the Middle East Technical University (METU) in 2001 and ranked first amongst 60 graduates. He received his MSc and PhD degrees in Chemistry in the same institution while carrying out his research activities under the supervision of Professor Engin U. Akkaya. During his graduate studies, he developed supramolecular ion-sensing systems and investigated their application in the area of molecular electronics. He received prestigious METU Mustafa Parlar Foundation Thesis of the Year Award for his MSc and PhD theses. After his graduate studies, He joined to the laboratory of Prof. J. Fraser Stoddart as a postdoctoral research associate, first at University of California at Los Angeles and subsequently at Northwestern University, where he developed dynamic metal-organic frameworks, artificial molecular machines, organic radicals and molecular electronic devices based on switchable mechanically interlocked molecules. He received best poster award at Gordon Research Conference on Noble Metal Nanoparticles in 2010. In 2012, He joined to the Graduate School of EEWS, Department of Chemistry, and KI NanoCentury in Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) as an assistant professor and promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in 2015. In 2017, he moved to University Fribourg, Switzerland as a  Professor. He is currently developing porous polymers for CO2 capture, separation and conversion, porous carbon materials for H2 storage, organic Li-ion batteries and also polymeric binders for silicon anodes. He received highly prestigious “NRF 2013 Excellent New Researcher (우수신진) Grant in Chemistry" for the development of efficient H2 storage materials. This prestigious early career award is given to only one PI per year in the entire country at the respective subject division. His research efforts have been also recognized by Swiss Green and Sustainable Chemistry 2023 award given by Swiss Chemical Society and 2023 ACS Global Outstanding Graduate Student and Mentor Award in Polymer Science and Engineering.