Fellow Highlight: Rumeysa Gurler

Meet Rumeysa Gurler

Rumeysa Gurler is a rising fourth year student at California State University, Fullerton, where she is majoring in biochemistry. She completed her MLEF research project at the Idaho National Laboratory where she observed the growth and impact of a microorganism, Haliscomenobaster hydrossis, under expanded mining, refining, and recycling of technology-critical minerals. Critical mineral mining, currently, is unsustainable. The United States is making waves to change this process, but the effects of changing the process are still unknown. Rumeysa’s project focused on observing those effects which is especially important since the microorganism she observed is found in wastewater treatment facilities and can-do harm if it rapidly grows. 

Rumeysa continues to work on finding alternative renewable energy sources on her campus, where she works with a fuel cell that utilizes reduction-oxidation reactions of selected sugars and catalysts. Motivated by her passion for renewable energy, and by her passionate father and high school chemistry teacher, Rumeysa chose to major in biochemistry when she realized research was her strong suit. Having good role models and a good support system helped Rumeysa when she first applied to MLEF in 2023. Her perseverance to apply again paid off when she was accepted this year. She found herself warmly welcomed by her mentor and has continued to be encouraged to push her academic limits.

Rumeysa hopes to pursue a Ph.D. after working in industry once she graduates. She also loves to travel. Whether it be new countries or national parks, you can find Rumeysa on the road. You may also find her on a farm with lots of animals!

Research project: Haliscomenobacter hydrossis: A Model Microorganism for Testing the Impact of Critical Material Recovery Process Waste Streams