About

An interdisciplinary team studying migration at every level

The project brings together researchers from economics, sociology, international relations, history and law to reveal the economic and social impacts of international migration in Türkiye with scientific evidence.

Our team

The team behind the project

Team members
9
Institutions
6

Project leadership

Principal investigator and advisor
  • Fatih Kırşanlı

    Principal Investigator

    Fatih Kırşanlı

    Asst. Prof. · Social Sciences University of Ankara

    His research focuses on political economy, institutional economics and macroeconomics, with particular emphasis on the economies of the Middle East and North Africa, central banking, inflation, growth and unemployment.

    • Political economy
    • Macroeconomics
    • MENA economies
    Full biography
    Expertise
    • Political economy
    • Macroeconomics
    • MENA economies
    Education
    • PhDColorado State University2022
    • Master’sTexas A&M University2017
    Current role
    • Social Sciences University of Ankara, Department of Economics — faculty member

    Biography

    He completed his master’s and doctoral degrees at Texas A&M University (2017) and Colorado State University (2022). His research focuses on political economy, institutional economics and macroeconomics, with particular emphasis on the economies of the Middle East and North Africa, central banking, inflation, growth and unemployment. He is currently a faculty member in the Division of Economic Policy, Department of Economics, Faculty of Political Sciences at the Social Sciences University of Ankara.

  • Mehmet Köse

    Advisor

    Mehmet Köse

    Dr. · Africa Foundation

    In public service, he served as Advisor at the Prime Ministry and as Vice President and President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, and later worked within the United Nations.

    • Political science
    • International relations
    • International development
    Full biography
    Expertise
    • Political science
    • International relations
    • International development
    Education
    • PhDIstanbul University, Political Science and International Relations2020
    • Master’sIstanbul Bilgi University, International Relations2003
    • PostgraduateRoyal Melbourne Institute of Technology, International development
    • Bachelor’sIstanbul University, Faculty of Political Sciences1998
    Current role
    • Africa Foundation and Middle East Foundation
    • Social Sciences University of Ankara — part-time teaching
    Previous experience
    • Advisor at the Prime Ministry
    • Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities — Vice President and President
    • United Nations

    Biography

    He graduated from the Faculty of Political Sciences at Istanbul University in 1998. He received his master’s degree in International Relations from Istanbul Bilgi University in 2003 and his PhD in Political Science and International Relations from Istanbul University in 2020. He also completed postgraduate studies in international development at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. In public service, he served as Advisor at the Prime Ministry and as Vice President and President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities, and later worked within the United Nations. He currently teaches part-time at the Social Sciences University of Ankara and continues his work at the Africa Foundation and the Middle East Foundation.

Researchers

5 researchers
  • Atakan Durmaz

    Researcher

    Atakan Durmaz

    Prof. · Samsun University

    • Migration economics
    • Diaspora networks
    • Human capital
    Biography
    Expertise
    • Migration economics
    • Diaspora networks
    • Human capital
    Education
    • PhDKaradeniz Technical University, Economics
    • Master’sKaradeniz Technical University, Economics
    • Bachelor’sEskişehir Osmangazi University, Economics2009
    Current role
    • Samsun University — professor

    Biography

    He graduated from the Department of Economics at Eskişehir Osmangazi University in 2009 and completed his master’s and doctoral studies in Economics at Karadeniz Technical University. His master’s thesis examined the role of the Turkish diaspora in attracting foreign capital, and his doctoral dissertation explored the relationship between the scientific diaspora, human capital and reverse brain drain through scientists of Turkish origin in Germany. His research covers international migration and migration economics, diaspora networks, human capital, reverse brain drain, labour markets and socioeconomic development.

    He has taken part in numerous national and international publications and research projects in these fields, and has led several TÜBİTAK-funded and other scientific research projects, particularly on the Turkish diaspora and skilled migration. In addition to his book Beşeri Sermaye Kaynağı Olarak Diaspora (Diaspora as a Source of Human Capital), he has written book chapters and academic studies on migration economics, the effects of diasporas on home-country economies and the labour-market impacts of international migration. He is currently a professor at Samsun University.

  • Fatma Kılınç Hatipoğlu

    Researcher

    Fatma Kılınç Hatipoğlu

    Lecturer · Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University

    • Sociology
    • Data analysis
    • Social theory
    Biography
    Expertise
    • Sociology
    • Data analysis
    • Social theory
    Education
    • PhD · ongoingAnkara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Sociology2021–
    • Master’sGazi University, Philosophy2010
    • Bachelor’sKırıkkale University, Sociology2005
    Current role
    • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University — lecturer (2023–)
    Previous experience
    • Private sector — data analyst and report writer (2006–2023)

    Biography

    She graduated from the Department of Sociology at Kırıkkale University in 2005 and completed her master’s degree in the Department of Philosophy at Gazi University in 2010. Her master’s thesis examined the thought of Jürgen Habermas through the concepts of prejudice, action and the public sphere. In 2021 she began her doctoral studies in the Department of Sociology at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, where she is currently continuing her PhD. Between 2006 and 2023 she worked in the private sector as a data analyst and report writer. Since 2023 she has been a lecturer at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University.

  • Deena Saleh

    Researcher

    Deena Saleh

    Asst. Prof. · Bahçeşehir University

    • Political economy
    • Cultural economics
    • Quantitative methods
    Biography
    Expertise
    • Political economy
    • Cultural economics
    • Quantitative methods
    Education
    • PhDIstanbul University, Economics2023
    • Master’sHacettepe University, Economics
    • Micro Master’sIstanbul University, Digital Communication and Marketing
    • Bachelor’sGerman University in Cairo (GUC), General Management Technology
    Current role
    • Bahçeşehir University, Department of Economics and Finance — assistant professor

    Biography

    Dr. Deena Saleh is an Egyptian-Turkish assistant professor in the Department of Economics and Finance at Bahçeşehir University. She holds a PhD in Economics from Istanbul University (2023); her doctoral research examined the determinants of social capital in the MENA region. She also holds a master’s degree in Economics from Hacettepe University and a bachelor’s degree in General Management Technology from the German University in Cairo (GUC). Dr. Saleh additionally holds a Micro Master’s degree in Digital Communication and Marketing from Istanbul University. Her research specialises in political economy, cultural economics and applied quantitative methods, with a particular focus on the MENA region.

  • Hacer Atabaş

    Researcher

    Hacer Atabaş

    Dr. · Africa Foundation

    • Foreign policy
    • Development
    • Student mobility
    Biography
    Expertise
    • Foreign policy
    • Development
    • Student mobility
    Education
    • PhDBilkent University, International Relations2019–2025
    • Master’sBoğaziçi University, History of the Republic of Türkiye2015–2018
    • Bachelor’sIstanbul Bilgi University, Political Economy and International Relations
    Current role
    • Africa Foundation — researcher (2022–)
    • Grand National Assembly of Türkiye — group advisor (2023–)

    Biography

    She completed her undergraduate studies in Political Economy and International Relations at Istanbul Bilgi University. She received her master’s degree in the History of the Republic of Türkiye from Boğaziçi University (2015–2018) and her PhD in International Relations from Bilkent University (2019–2025). Her doctoral dissertation empirically examined the outcomes of Türkiye’s state-funded scholarship programmes in the context of development aid.

    Her research focuses on international relations, foreign policy, development and international student mobility, in particular Türkiye’s Africa policy, the role of international students in foreign policy and everyday diplomacy. A researcher at the Africa Foundation since 2022, Atabaş has also been working as a group advisor at the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye since 2023.

  • Esma Karadağ

    Researcher

    Esma Karadağ

    Lecturer, PhD · Hacettepe University

    • African studies
    • Social cohesion
    • Migration and xenophobia
    Biography
    Expertise
    • African studies
    • Social cohesion
    • Migration and xenophobia
    Education
    • PhDUniversity of Cape Town
    • Master’sUniversity of Cape Town, History
    Current role
    • Hacettepe University, Department of Communication Sciences — lecturer
    Previous experience
    • African Studies Centre, Leiden University — visiting and postdoctoral researcher

    Biography

    She completed her master’s and doctoral studies at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Her master’s research in history examined the South African War from the perspective of Ottoman intellectuals, while her doctoral research explored how Pan-Africanism is represented in high-school history lessons in post-apartheid South Africa and how students make sense of it. She has served as a visiting researcher and postdoctoral researcher at the African Studies Centre, Leiden University.

    She has conducted research in African studies and education. Her work focuses on Pan-Africanism, identity and belonging, decolonisation, history education, social cohesion and exclusion. She has national and international publications on migration and xenophobia in Africa, education and identity, inequalities in knowledge production and historical narratives. She is currently a lecturer in the Department of Communication Sciences, Faculty of Communication, Hacettepe University, where she continues her research.

Research assistants

2 research assistants
  • Şevval Nur Acuner

    Research Assistant

    Şevval Nur Acuner

    PhD student · Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University

    • Migration law
    • Human rights
    • Deportation
    Biography
    Expertise
    • Migration law
    • Human rights
    • Deportation
    Education
    • PhD · ongoingAnkara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Public Law
    • Master’sNecmettin Erbakan University, Public Law2022–2025
    • Bachelor’sAnkara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Faculty of Law2022
    Current role
    • Migration Research Foundation — researcher

    Biography

    She graduated from the Faculty of Law at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University in 2022. Between 2022 and 2025 she completed her master’s degree in Public Law at Necmettin Erbakan University with a thesis titled Deportation in the Context of the Right to Respect for Private and Family Life. Her research focuses on migration law, human rights and deportation. She works as a researcher at the Migration Research Foundation, contributing to research, publications and projects in the field of migration. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Public Law at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University.

  • Hatice Kübra Ermiş

    Research Assistant

    Hatice Kübra Ermiş

    PhD student · Social Sciences University of Ankara

    • History of religions
    • Muslim minorities
    • Migration
    Biography
    Expertise
    • History of religions
    • Muslim minorities
    • Migration
    Education
    • PhD · ongoingSocial Sciences University of Ankara, History of Religions
    • Master’sSocial Sciences University of Ankara, History of Religions2024–2026
    • Bachelor’sMarmara University, Theology (English-medium)2023
    Previous experience
    • Migration Research Foundation — intern and teaching assistant

    Biography

    She graduated from the English-medium Faculty of Theology at Marmara University in 2023. Between 2024 and 2026 she completed her master’s degree in the History of Religions at the Social Sciences University of Ankara with a thesis on Neo-Confucianism centred on Zhu Xi. During her master’s studies she worked as an intern and teaching assistant at the Migration Research Foundation, taking part in academic work on migration and Muslim minorities. She is currently pursuing her PhD in the History of Religions at the Social Sciences University of Ankara.

Partners and supporters

Institutions supporting the project

Logos and links of the institutions funding and supporting the project will appear here.

  • Funding body
  • Academic partner
  • Research partner
  • Supporting foundation

Contact

Get in touch

Write to us with research, collaboration or press enquiries. To reach team members directly, use the email links on their profiles above.

Address
Çankaya, Ankara, Türkiye
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