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Biography
Rifat ÇAPAN was born in Yozgat/Turkey in 1966. He completed his primary, secondary and high school education in Yozgat/Turkey. He graduated from University of Hacettepe (Ankara/Turkey), Faculty of Education, Department of Physics Teaching in 1989 and worked as a research assistant in the same department between 1989 and 1993. He completed his master's degree (MSc) at University of Hacettepe, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Physics Engineering, between 1989 and 1991. While he was a doctoral student in the same department, he passed the international exam of YÖK, which was opened for new universities established in 1992, and was appointed to the University of Sheffield, Faculty of Science, Department of Physics (Sheffield/UK), in 1993 to do his doctorate on behalf of Balıkesir University, Faculty of Science & Literature, Department of Physics. While doing his doctorate at the University of Sheffield, he received the Oversea's Research Student (ORS) award for 3 consecutive years between 1995 and 1997. He completed his PhD in 1998 and returned to University of Balıkesir. He was appointed as an Assistant Professor between 1999 and 2022 and an Associate Professor from 2002 to 2007. In 2007, he became a professor at University of Balıkesir, Department of Physics and still continues to do this task.
He received the Leverhulme Visiting Fellowship award, supported by the Royal Society of the UK, and conducted research as a visiting professor at Sheffield Hallam University between 2002 and 2003. In addition, International Scientist of the Year 2004 (International Biographical Centre, Cambridge/UK). International Scientist of the Year 2004 (International Biographical Centre, Cambridge/UK). Leading Scientist of the World 2006, (International Biographical Centre, Cambridge/UK). Balıkesir Radio BRT awards (Scientists of the Year 2007) Balıkesir/Turkey, Turkish Physical Society Honor Award in 2021. He is an international editor at Journal of Science and Mathematics Letters (JSML) between 2024 and 2029.
As an administrative officer at University of Balıkesir, Balıkesir University Research Fund Membership, (2000-2001), Head of Atomic and Molecular Physics (2000-2002, 2004-2013), Deputy Head of Physics Department, (2001-2003, 2007-2010), Head of Physics Department (2003-2006), Scientific Research Projects Unit Manager (2006-2010), Science Application and Research Directorate (2007-2008), Strategic Plan Preparation Commission Member, (2008-2010), Balıkesir Vocational School Directorate, (2015-2016). Head of Atomic and Molecular Physics Department (2016-….). He established the first Thin Film and Gas Sensor Research Laboratory at Balıkesir University, Department of Physics, with research projects supported by Turkish Research Council (TÜBİTAK). He benefited from the Support Program for Participation in Scientific Activities Abroad. He invited many scientists to Turkey within the scope of the NATO-D program. He serves as Turkey project coordinator in the project that was accepted under the coordination of Spain between 2021 and 2024 the scope of European Union Projects M-ERA. He speaks English and German. He is married and has two children.
Expertise: His main interest can be given as pyroelectric heat sensors, gas sensors for environmental applications, organic thin film fabrications and their gas or heat sensor properties using structural, electrical, and optical characterizations.