Dr. Zeynep Başaran Bundur from the Civil Engineering Department at directs her research studies with the vision of overcoming the global problems of the construction sector. In 2013, Dr. Bundur initiated the Sustainable and Adapted Building Materials (SAM) research group, the first multidisciplinary research group in Turkey to train researchers in microbiology, material science, and civil engineering. Recently, Dr. Bundur succeeded in transforming concrete into a self-healing almost like a living material by adding biological additives to triggers the biomineralization in cracks. Dr. Bundur works on alternative cost-efficient methods on incorporating bacterial cells to cement-based mixture to provide the self-healing ability. She is currently working on “Natural minerals as a Protection Barrier for Microorganisms in Self-Healing Mortars” TÜBITAK project integrating industrial leaders on application of self-healing cementitious materials. Dr. Bundur also works on bio-based rheology modifying admixtures for cement-based materials where she uses bacterial cells to improve the fresh state properties of concrete. Her invention “Cement-Based Compositions with Improved Rheological Properties and Methods for Production Thereof” has been registered as a patent and has a Technology Readiness Level of 5. The patent was awarded with gold and silver medals in 2 different fairs. Another research area that Dr. Bundur works on is the development of a sustainable cement- based mortar suitable for 3D printers. She has 4 major grants which were granted by national and international funds collaborating with other researchers and industry leaders. She has also been collaborating with researchers from Turkey and Slovenia in revalorizing end-of-life materials as alternative SCM in concrete production and developing a “zero-carbon” concrete production ecosystem.