דריה אקאיינאק - בית הספר למדעי הים ע"ש ליאון צ'רני

About▼

Derya is an Assistant Professor at the Hatter Department of Marine Technologies, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences at the University of Haifa, jointly with the Interuniversity Institute of Marine Sciences (IUI) in Eilat. Derya is from Urla (İzmir), Turkey, and received her undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, her master’s degree in Aeronautics & Astronautics at MIT and her PhD in Mechanical and Oceanographic Engineering in the joint program between MIT & Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Derya has professional, technical, and scientific diving certifications and conducted fieldwork from Bering Sea to Antarctica.

Publications▼

Light and Color in Nature and Art 2026: introduction to the feature issue, Lee, R. L., Adler, C. L. & Akkaynak, D., 20 Mar 2026, In: Applied Optics. 65, 9, p. LC1-LC2
Microbial dynamics in coral reef waters: Diel cycles in contrasting seasons, Steinsdóttir, H. G. R., Akkaynak, D. & Frada, M. J., Jan 2026, In: Science Advances. 12, 1, eady9534.
Dynamic color change in the grouper Variola louti during interspecific interactions and swimming, Marom, S., Kiflawi, M., Akkaynak, D. & Holzman, R., 1 Mar 2025, In: Behavioral Ecology. 36, 2, araf005.
Real-Time Underwater Spectral Rendering, Monzon, N., Gutierrez, D., Akkaynak, D. & Muñoz, A., May 2024, In: Computer Graphics Forum. 43, 2, e15009.
Phenotypic and genomic dissection of colour pattern variation in a reef fish radiation, Coulmance, F., Akkaynak, D., Le Poul, Y., Höppner, M. P., McMillan, W. O. & Puebla, O., Feb 2024, In: Molecular Ecology. 33, 4, e17047.
Estimating the Diffuse Downwelling Attenuation Coefficient from in Situ Photographs, Akkaynak, D. & Levy, L., 2024, OCEANS 2024 - Singapore, OCEANS 2024. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., (Oceans Conference Record (IEEE)).
Common cuckoos do not mimic the size and shape of host eggs, Akkaynak, D. & Stoddard, M. C., 1 Sep 2023, In: Behavioral Ecology. 34, 5, p. 804-815 12 p.
How monster storms shape fringing reefs: Observations from the 2020 Middle East Cyclone, Oron, S., Akkaynak, D., Goodman Tchernov, B. N. & Shaked, Y., Jul 2023, In: Ecosphere. 14, 7, e4602.
A tunable reflector enabling crustaceans to see but not be seen, Shavit, K., Wagner, A., Schertel, L., Farstey, V., Akkaynak, D., Zhang, G., Upcher, A., Sagi, A., Yallapragada, V. J., Haataja, J. & Palmer, B. A., 17 Feb 2023, In: Science. 379, 6633, p. 695-700 6 p.
Spectral Sensitivity Estimation Without a Camera, Solomatov, G. & Akkaynak, D., 2023, IEEE International Conference on Computational Photography, ICCP 2023. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., (IEEE International Conference on Computational Photography, ICCP 2023).
SeaThru-NeRF: Neural Radiance Fields in Scattering Media, Levy, D., Peleg, A., Pearl, N., Rosenbaum, D., Akkaynak, D., Korman, S. & Treibitz, T., 2023, Proceedings - 2023 IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, CVPR 2023. IEEE Computer Society, p. 56-65 10 p. (Proceedings of the IEEE Computer Society Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition; vol. 2023-June).
Multiple scattering approximation for real-time underwater spectral rendering, Monzon, N., Akkaynak, D., Gutierrez, D. & Muñoz, A., 2022, STAG 2022 - Smart Tools and Applications in Graphics, Eurographics Italian Chapter Conference. Cabiddu, D., Schneider, T., Cherchi, G., Scateni, R. & Fellner, D. (eds.). Eurographics Association, p. 119-121 3 p. (Eurographics Italian Chapter Proceedings - Smart Tools and Applications in Graphics, STAG).
Dynamic pH and Thermal Analysis of Paper-Based Microchip Electrophoresis, Hasan, M. N., An, R., Akkus, A., Akkaynak, D., Minerick, A. R., Kharangate, C. R. & Gurkan, U. A., Nov 2021, In: Micromachines. 12, 11, 1433.
Who is smashing the reef at night? A nocturnal mystery, Shlesinger, T., Akkaynak, D. & Loya, Y., Oct 2021, In: Ecology. 102, 10, e03420.
Evolution of avian egg shape: underlying mechanisms and the importance of taxonomic scale, Stoddard, M. C., Sheard, C., Akkaynak, D., Yong, E. H., Mahadevan, L. & Tobias, J. A., 1 Oct 2019, In: Ibis. 161, 4, p. 922-925 4 p.
Mineral formation in the primary polyps of pocilloporoid corals, Neder, M., Laissue, P. P., Akiva, A., Akkaynak, D., Albéric, M., Spaeker, O., Politi, Y., Pinkas, I. & Mass, T., 15 Sep 2019, In: Acta Biomaterialia. 96, p. 631-645 15 p.
Sea-THRU: A method for removing water from underwater images, Akkaynak, D. & Treibitz, T., Jun 2019, Proceedings - 2019 IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, CVPR 2019. IEEE Computer Society, p. 1682-1691 10 p. 8954437. (Proceedings of the IEEE Computer Society Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition; vol. 2019-June).
I see your false colours: How artificial stimuli appear to different animal viewers, Stoddard, M. C., Miller, A. E., Eyster, H. N. & Akkaynak, D., 6 Feb 2019, In: Interface Focus. 9, 1, 20180053.
Light, Temperature, Photosynthesis, Heterotrophy, and the Lower Depth Limits of Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems, Kahng, S. E., Akkaynak, D., Shlesinger, T., Hochberg, E. J., Wiedenmann, J., Tamir, R. & Tchernov, D., 2019, Coral Reefs of the World. Springer Nature, p. 801-828 28 p. (Coral Reefs of the World; vol. 12).
A Revised Underwater Image Formation Model, Akkaynak, D. & Treibitz, T., 14 Dec 2018, Proceedings - 2018 IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, CVPR 2018. IEEE Computer Society, p. 6723-6732 10 p. 8578801. (Proceedings of the IEEE Computer Society Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition).
What is the space of attenuation coefficients in underwater computer vision?, Akkaynak, D., Treibitz, T., Shlesinger, T., Tamir, R., Loya, Y. & Iluz, D., 6 Nov 2017, Proceedings - 30th IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, CVPR 2017. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., p. 568-577 10 p. (Proceedings - 30th IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, CVPR 2017; vol. 2017-January).
In situ analysis of coral recruits using fluorescence imaging, Zweifler, A., Akkaynak, D., Mass, T. & Treibitz, T., 5 Sep 2017, In: Frontiers in Marine Science. 4, SEP, 273.
Avian egg shape: Form, function, and evolution, Stoddard, M. C., Yong, E. H., Akkaynak, D., Sheard, C., Tobias, J. A. & Mahadevan, L., 23 Jun 2017, In: Science. 356, 6344, p. 1249-1254 6 p.
Changeable camouflage: How well can flounder resemble the colour and spatial scale of substrates in their natural habitats?, Akkaynak, D., Siemann, L. A., Barbosa, A. & Mäthger, L. M., 8 Mar 2017, In: Royal Society Open Science. 4, 3, 160824.
Estimating the age of Heliconius butterflies from calibrated photographs, Dell'Aglio, D. D., Akkaynak, D., McMillan, W. O. & Jiggins, C. D., 2017, In: PeerJ. 2017, 9, e3821.
Dramatic fighting by male cuttlefish for a female mate, Allen, J. J., Akkaynak, D., Schnell, A. K. & Hanlon, R. T., 2017, In: American Naturalist. 190, 1, p. 144-151 8 p.
A high throughput approach for analysis of cell nuclear deformability at single cell level, Ermis, M., Akkaynak, D., Chen, P., Demirci, U. & Hasirci, V., 14 Nov 2016, In: Scientific Reports. 6, 36917.
Biofluorescence in Catsharks (Scyliorhinidae): Fundamental Description and Relevance for Elasmobranch Visual Ecology, Gruber, D. F., Loew, E. R., Deheyn, D. D., Akkaynak, D., Gaffney, J. P., Smith, W. L., Davis, M. P., Stern, J. H., Pieribone, V. A. & Sparks, J. S., 25 Apr 2016, In: Scientific Reports. 6, 24751.
Epiphany among manta rays the: Can we mobilize a navy of scuba divers as citizen scientists?, Akkaynak, D., 2016, In: Oceanus. 51, 2, p. 98-99 2 p.
Adaptive body patterning, three-dimensional skin morphology and camouflage measures of the slender filefish Monacanthus tuckeri on a Caribbean coral reef, Allen, J. J., Akkaynak, D., Sugden, A. U. & Hanlon, R. T., 1 Oct 2015, In: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 116, 2, p. 377-396 20 p.
Technical considerations and methodology for creating high-resolution, color-corrected, and georectified photomosaics of stratigraphic sections at archaeological sites, Fisher, E. C., Akkaynak, D., Harris, J., Herries, A. I. R., Jacobs, Z., Karkanas, P., Marean, C. W. & McGrath, J. R., 1 May 2015, In: Journal of Archaeological Science. 57, p. 380-394 15 p.
Cuttlefish adjust body pattern intensity with respect to substrate intensity to aid camouflage, but do not camouflage in extremely low light, Buresch, K. C., Ulmer, K. M., Akkaynak, D., Allen, J. J., Mäthger, L. M., Nakamura, M. & Hanlon, R. T., 1 Jan 2015, In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 462, p. 121-126 6 p.
Use of spectroscopy for assessment of color discrimination in animal vision, Akkaynak, D., 1 Apr 2014, In: Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics and Image Science, and Vision. 31, 4, p. A27-A33
Use of commercial off-the-shelf digital cameras for scientific data acquisition and scene-specific color calibration, Akkaynak, D., Treibitz, T., Xiao, B., Gürkan, U. A., Allen, J. J., Demirci, U. & Hanlon, R. T., 1 Feb 2014, In: Journal of the Optical Society of America A: Optics and Image Science, and Vision. 31, 2, p. 312-321 10 p.
Quantification of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) camouflage: A study of color and luminance using in situ spectrometry, Akkaynak, D., Allen, J. J., Mäthger, L. M., Chiao, C. C. & Hanlon, R. T., Mar 2013, In: Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology. 199, 3, p. 211-225 15 p.
Capturing accurate colors underwater with consumer digital cameras, Akkaynak, D. & Hanlon, R. T., Dec 2012, Sea Technology, 53, 12, p. 10-14 5 p.
Smart interface materials integrated with microfluidics for on-demand local capture and release of cells, Gurkan, U. A., Tasoglu, S., Akkaynak, D., Avci, O., Unluisler, S., Canikyan, S., MacCallum, N. & Demirci, U., Sep 2012, In: Advanced Healthcare Materials. 1, 5, p. 661-668 8 p.
Using spectrometry and photography to study color underwater, Akkaynak, D., Chan, E., Allen, J. J. & Hanlon, R. T., 2011, OCEANS'11 - MTS/IEEE Kona, Program Book. IEEE Computer Society, 6106936. (OCEANS'11 - MTS/IEEE Kona, Program Book).
Use of fuel cells to power a high-reliability GFR ECCS, Akkaynak, D., Driscoll, M. J., Hejzlar, P., Apostolakis, G. E., Golay, M. W. & Cravalho, E. G., 2005, In: Transactions of the American Nuclear Society. 93, p. 292-293 2 p.

Education▼

• BSc in Aerospace Engineering – Middle East Technical University (2003) • MSc in Aeronautics and Astronautics – MIT (2005) • PhD in Mechanical and Oceanographic Engineering – MIT & Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (2014)

Academic Background▼

• Postdoctoral Fellow – University of Haifa & Interuniversity Institute for Marine Sciences (2015–2018) • Postdoctoral Fellow – Princeton University (2018–2019) • Research Scientist – Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (2019–2021) • Senior Lecturer – University of Haifa (2022–present)

Research Areas▼

• Underwater computer vision • Ocean optics and light propagation • Animal vision and color perception in marine environments • Algorithms for color correction and image enhancement underwater • Machine learning for marine image analysis • Development of underwater cameras and sensors • Applications in marine ecology, archaeology, and robotics

Awards▼

• Krill Prize for Excellence in Scientific Research (2025)
• Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists – Physical Sciences & Engineering (2019)
• Martin A. Abkowitz Travel Award – MIT (2014)

Additional Info▼

• Founder of the citizen science project Divers4Oceanography, aimed at collecting sea temperature data from dives
• Holds professional, scientific, and technical diving certifications
• Extensive field experience – from the Red Sea to Antarctica

Dr. Derya Akkaynak