Volkan Senyurek

Title: Assistant Research Professor
Time at GRI: Since October 2019
Hometown: Istanbul, Turkiye

Q: What is your academic background?
I received my bachelor's, master's, and PhD degrees in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Marmara University.

Q: What are your research interests?
My current research interests are microwave-based remote sensing, machine learning, computer vision and their applications in precision agriculture, earth observations, and apiculture applications.

Q: Who inspired you to pursue the career you have today?
My father was my first tutor and coach. Although he is an accountant, he is also an amateur radio enthusiast with a passion for electronics. In middle school, he taught me about diodes, transformers, and resistors. He sparked my interest in electronics, and I owe all my hands-on skills to him.

Q: What has been your favorite project while working at GRI?
My favorite project was the development of a drone-based soil moisture mapping system using GNSS-Reflectometry data. This system has significant potential for the future due to its low cost and compatibility with real-time applications. I believe that soon, farmers will use it for smart irrigation on their farms.

Q: What is something most people don’t know about you?
I am a Formula 1 fan. To feel the race atmosphere more closely, I got a car-race referee certificate in 2005 and volunteered at the Istanbul Grand Prix.

Q: What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?
It can be changeable from time to time, but I can say camping, cycling, and building Lego with my kids are more fun.