Rifat Capan graduated from Hacettepe University in Physics Education 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 Sheffield University, Physics Department (UK), in 1993 to do his doctorate on behalf of Balıkesir University, Physics Department. While doing his doctorate at Sheffield University, 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 Balikesir University. 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 Balikesir, Department of Physics and continues to do this task.

He received the Leverhulme Visiting Fellowship award, supported by the Royal Society (UK), and conducted research as a visiting professor at Sheffield Hallam University between 2002 and 2003. In addition, International Scientist of the Year 2004 and Leading Scientist of the World 2006, (International Biographical Centre, Cambridge/UK). Balikesir Radio BRT awards (Scientists of the Year 2007) Balıkesir/Turkey. Finally, the Turkish Physical Society Honor Award in 2021.

Rifat ÇAPAN (RC) established the first Thin Film and Gas Sensor Research Laboratory at Balikesir University, Department of Physics, with research projects supported by Turkish Research Council (TÜBİTAK). His main interests can be listed as the fabrication of organic gas/vapor sensors using spin coating or Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) thin film techniques for environmental applications and determination of their sensor parameters (sensitivity, selectivity, limit of detection etc.) using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) or mass sensitive quartz crystal microbalance measurement (QCM) techniques. In addition, RC is interested in studying the adsorption dynamics between hazard gases and thin film sensor layers using Pseudo-first/Pseudo-second order and Elovich models. Today organic, organic-inorganic thin film sensors can be easily fabricated, characterised and tested for the sensor applications. RC invited many scientists to Turkey within the scope of the NATO-D program. He serves as Turkey project team leader in the project (SALMOS) that was supported under the coordination of Spain between 2021 and 2024 the scope of European Union Projects M-ERA.

He was involved in 5 PhD, 8 MSc and 15 research projects supporting TUBITAK or Universities on thin films and their sensor applications. Capan has published ca. 118 (SCI) and 33 (not SCI) papers in journals and two books. He was guest editor for Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials, 2009, International editor at Journal of Science and Mathematics Letters (JSML) from 2025.

He received the Leverhulme Visiting Fellowship award, supported by the Royal Society (UK), and conducted research as a visiting professor at Sheffield Hallam University between 2002 and 2003. In addition, International Scientist of the Year 2004 and Leading Scientist of the World 2006, (International Biographical Centre, Cambridge/UK). Balikesir Radio BRT awards (Scientists of the Year 2007) Balıkesir/Turkey. Finally, the Turkish Physical Society Honor Award in 2021.

As an administrative officer at Balikesir 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), Balikesir Vocational School Directorate, (2015-2016). Head of Atomic and Molecular Physics Department (2016-….).