After completing my Master’s degree in 2003 at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Institute of Science, in the field of Environmental Sciences, I obtained my Ph.D. in the Department of Fishing and Processing Technology at the same university, specializing in "Bioecological characteristics of Chondrichthyan fishes in the Northern Aegean Sea, Saros Bay." Following my doctoral studies, my academic research has focused on fish biology, chondrichthyan fishes, and population dynamics. I have participated as both a principal investigator and a researcher in significant projects on the biological characteristics, growth, and reproductive dynamics of sharks and rays distributed along the coasts of the Northern Aegean Sea—Saros Bay, Gökçeada—and the Sea of Marmara. I have authored several national and international publications and have participated in scientific conferences related to this field.

İhtiyoplankton, balıkların erken yaşam evreleri, balık biyolojisi ve populasyon dinamikleri konularında araştırmalara yapmaktayım.

1998 yılında ODTÜ Deniz Bilimleri Enstitüsü'nden doktora derecesini aldım. Master ve doktora süresince midye balık ve suda organik kirleticilerin miktarı ve etkileri konularında çalışmalar yaptım. Organik kirliliğin deniz canlıları üzerindeki fizyolojik etkilerini enzim ve DNA-adduct indikatörleri kullanılarak belirleme çalışmaları yaptım. Bu süre içerisinde Ingiltere, Hırvatistan'daki laboratuvarlarda kısa süreli çalışmalar yaptım. Aromatik DNA-adduct, alkalen elution tekniklerini öğrenerek çalışmalarımda kullandım. Bu dönemde Çukurova Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü'nde yaptığım çalışmalarla deniz canlılarının kirliliğin etkisiyle meydana gelen enzim aktivite değikliğinin tespiti ve etkileri konuları da yaptığım çalışmalar arasındadır.  1998-2013 yılları arasında TÜBİTAK MAM'da başuzman araştırmacı olarak çalıştım. Bu dönemde onlarca ulusal/uluslararası projenin yürütücüsü/araştırmacısı olarak çalıştırm. Çalışma konuları arasında deniz kirliliği, petrol kirliliği,  petrol kirliliğine hazırlıklı olma aşamasında acil müdahale merkezleri ve acil müdahale planları çalışmalarını yürüttüm. Bu dönemde kirliliğin etkilerinin ölçülebilmesi için enzim çalışmaları ve NRR deneyleri ile çalışmalarımı derinleştirdim. Bu dönemde post-doc sırasında Ingilterede iki laboraturda çalışmalar yaptım. 2004 yılında YÖK doçenti 2014 yılında Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi Deniz Bilimleri Fakültesi'nde Profesör'lük ünvanını aldım. Karadeniz Teknik Üniversitesi'ndeki akademisyenlik dönemi boyunca birçok ulusal ve uluslararası proje yazdım yürüttüm. 2 master tezine danışmanlık yapıyorum.

Dr. Yahya Bakhtiyar completed his M. Sc. Zoology (Specialization in Fisheries) in 2002 from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, and was awarded a Ph.D. in Zoology with an Ichthyology/Fish and Fisheries/Limnology specialization on the topic “Food preferences of Macrobrachium dayanum (Henderson) and Labeo rohita (Hamilton) and Nutritional status and culture of food organisms” from University of Jammu in 2008. He has worked as a junior research fellow and senior research fellow in DST (J&K Govt.) project entitled “Nutritional Requirements of Certain Fresh Water Prawns of Local Commercial Importance and Development of Low-Cost Formula Feeds” for 3 years, and he has also worked as a senior research fellow in another DST (GOI) funded Project entitled “Demonstration of Mono and polyculture of Macrobrachium rosenbergii and Indian Major Carps in Jammu” for 1 year. He has teaching experience of almost 16 years and research experience of more than 14 years in the field of zoology/fish and fisheries. He was the Top rank holder in the State Zoology Lecturer list conducted by the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission in the year 2008. He has published 67 research papers in reputed national and international journals in the field of fish and fisheries. Recently their paper was published in “Aquaculture” which is one of the reputed journals in aquatic sciences, having an impact factor of 5.6. Moreover, He has participated in more than 50 international/national/regional conferences besides attending number of workshops as well. He has also delivered lectures as an invited speaker and resource person in various prestigious workshops, seminars, and conferences, including the Indian Science Congress.

He is a life member of various societies, including the Indian Science Congress Association, the Inland Fisheries Society of India, the Indian Fisheries Association, the Indian Academy of Environmental Biology, etc. He has recently been conferred upon fellowship by the Academy of Environmental Biology, Lucknow, the Zoological Society of India Bodh Gaya, and the Congress of Zoology medal by the Zoological Society of India Bodh Gaya. He is also an editorial board member and peer reviewer of various reputable national and international journals.

He has been Conferred upon Best Teacher Award by the Society of Fisheries and Life Sciences, College of Fisheries, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India vide letter no No. FCM/SFSS/Award/99/2025 Date: 10/02/2026.

Recently he has completed a DST-SERB-funded project, “Population dynamics of introduced Cyprinus carpio in Dal Lake and its impact on Lake Ecosystem and local Schizothorax species.” Currently he is investigating a JKST&IC-funded project entitled “Population and reproductive biology of some forage fishes from Dal Lake, Kashmir.” His focus of research is fish biology and limnology, especially the impact of exotic carps on local fish fauna. Besides, he is working on water ecosystems, aquatic biodiversity, macrobenthic invertebrates, and zooplankton.

Ichthyology/Fish Biology and Limnology