Kivanc received her B.Sc in Chemistry with high honors from Bogazici University, followed by an M.Sc in Chemistry from Koc University, Turkiye.

Her current research focuses on thermoelectric materials for sustainable power generation and cooling. With the world’s growing population, ensuring access to affordable and clean energy (SDG #7) has become a global priority. While renewable energy sources are promising, approximately 60% of generated energy is lost as waste heat in industrial and daily processes. Thermoelectric systems recover this waste heat by converting it into electricity or generate cooling effects when powered by electricity. These solid – state semiconductors are reliable, low–maintenance, and have been already integrated into spacecraft, IoT devices, and household appliances such as refrigerators and humidifiers (SDG #13)

An ideal thermoelectric material should exhibit high electrical conductivity to maximize power generation and low thermal conductivity to sustain a temperature gradient. However, these two properties are interdependent, posing a challenge for improving efficiency. Kivanc’s research aims to decouple these parameters to enhance the thermoelectric performance. Her recent work has been featured in A*STAR’s Research Magazine.

Beyond her research, Kivanc contributed to projects on sustainable city design with a focus on reducing air pollution through optimized transportation systems (SDG #11). She also served as President of the MSE Graduate Student Club at NTU during 2024–2025 academic year. The club regularly organizes community and cultural events that bring together students from diverse backgrounds to foster cross-cultural understanding (SDG #17).