Ahmet Safa Öztürk

About Me

Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Electronics Engineering specializing in nonlinear control, legged locomotion, and learning-based robotics. My work bridges model-based and neural network approaches for robust locomotion, with additional interests in perception, sensor fusion, and intelligent systems.

Education

• Ph.D., Electrical and Electronics Engineering – Bilkent University (2021–present)
  Thesis: Experimental Validation of Model-Predictive and Neural Network-Based Solutions for Running
  Supervisors: Prof. Ömer Morgül & Assoc. Prof. İsmail Uyanık
• M.S., Electrical and Electronics Engineering – Bilkent University (2017–2020)
  Thesis: Neural Network-Based Estimator and Controller for SLIP and TD-SLIP Monopod Robots
  Supervisor: Prof. Ömer Morgül
• B.S., Electrical and Electronics Engineering – Bilkent University (2012–2017)
• Exchange Program – EPFL, Switzerland (2015–2016)

Professional & Research Experience

• Graduate Researcher, Hacettepe University (2022–present)
• Graduate Research Assistant, Bilkent University (2017–present)
• Interim CEO & Co-founder, +Wear Technologies, TÜBİTAK Program (2018)
• Intern, Fraunhofer IIS, Germany (2016)
• Undergraduate Researcher, Bilkent University (2014–2016)
• Project Student, EPFL (2015–2016)

Skills

Programming: Python, MATLAB, C++, LaTeX, Java, Assembly, Embedded C, MySQL, HTML, VHDL

Tools: Adobe Suite, Simulink, SolidWorks, WordPress, Altium, LT Spice, XILINX

Hardware: Atmel, ARM, PIC, Basys2/3

Languages: English (Fluent), Turkish (Native), French, German, Spanish (Beginner)

Honors and Awards

• Travel Award, IFAC CPHS Workshop (2024)
• Scientific Meeting Participation Grant, TÜBİTAK (2024)
• 5G Graduate Support Program (2022)
• Bilkent University Ph.D. & M.S. Scholarships
• TÜBİTAK Entrepreneurship & Research Grants
• Swiss-European Mobility Scholarship (2015)
• National Olympiads Medals (2008–2011)

Teaching Experience

• EEE 491, GE 401-402, EEE 493-494, EEE 102/202, PHYS 101/120

Selected Projects

• CATAN® Object Manipulator – Video
• Image Captioning with RNNs
• Neural Networks on Games
• UAV Object Detection – Video
• Self-Balancing Mobile Robot

Outreach & Service

• Vice Chair, Bilkent Graduate Research Conference (2018–Present)
• Organization Team, IFAC CPHS Workshop, European Researchers' Night, Bilkent Youth Academy
• Founder, IEEE RAS Chapter at Bilkent
• Student Chair, Bilkent GRC 2015
• IT and Website Admin, Bilkent EEE