Mine Etil – Founder & Director
Mine Etil draws on her academic background in History (BA) and Political Science (MA), together with more than fifteen years of professional experience in journalism, editorial work, and public communication. Through her analyses, interviews, and narrative-based content published in national newspapers, think tanks, social policy platforms, and academic journals, she has developed an effective communication practice tailored to diverse audiences. Her ability to present socio-political matters in clear, accessible, and audience-appropriate formats is complemented by her experience in developing communication strategies, conducting dissemination activities, and strengthening stakeholder engagement. This multifaceted expertise provides the institute’s work with an analytical and internationally oriented, impact-focused perspective.
Buket Akyürek – Visual Communication & Design
Buket Akyürek is an experienced team member in visual communication and design. She works in areas such as corporate identity, graphic design, infographic production, and digital content development, contributing to the transformation of research outputs into accessible and impactful visual materials. She supports the preparation of dissemination materials, including posters, report layouts, social media visuals, and communication assets used in EU-funded projects, and approaches design as a strategic tool for effective communication.
Betül Yaygır – Architecture & Design
Betül Yaygır is an experienced team member in architecture and spatial design. She works on design thinking, conceptual development, visual representation, and user-oriented spatial analysis, offering creative contributions to the Institute’s communication and dissemination processes. Within EU-funded projects, she supports the development of visual concepts, presentations, and design-centered materials, approaching architecture as an interdisciplinary field that informs both design and communication.
Ömer Çaha – Professor of Political Science
Ömer Çaha is considered one of Türkiye’s leading scholars in the study of civil society, democracy, gender, and political transformation. He is a Professor of Political Science whose scholarly work focuses on civil society, democracy, gender, political structures, and global transformations. He earned his PhD at Bilkent University, where he later obtained his associate professorship, and has held key academic and administrative positions, including Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences and Director of the Institute of Social Sciences.
He has previously served as a visiting scholar at Harvard University, where he conducted research on state–religion relations, and has played leading roles in various national research institutions. He is a member of the TÜBİTAK Social Sciences Executive Board and has served as Türkiye’s national delegate for the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Program. Çaha has delivered lectures and presentations in more than fifty countries and is widely recognized for his expertise in political thought, democracy, civil society, women’s movements, political structures, social movements, party systems, electoral behavior, and state–religion relations. His extensive academic and international experience provides a strong analytical and strategic foundation for the institute’s research agenda.
Fatma İlknur Akgül – Associate Professor of Political Science
Fatma İlknur Akgül is an Associate Professor of Political Science specializing in electoral behavior, political psychology, gender studies, and identity research. She completed her PhD in Political Science and International Relations and earned her associate professorship in 2023.
Akgül has published widely in national and international peer-reviewed journals and has carried out field research focusing on political participation, social change, and public policy. Her interdisciplinary background and methodological competence contribute to the institute’s analytical capacity in both qualitative and quantitative research. She has also taken part in various academic and policy-oriented projects, supporting the institute’s engagement with empirical social research.
Vehbi Metin Demir – Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Vehbi Metin Demir is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy whose work focuses on philosophy of mind, science studies, contemporary continental thought, and the ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence.
He has published in international journals indexed by Scopus and ESCI and presented his research at numerous international conferences. He also serves on editorial and review boards of several academic journals and contributes to interdisciplinary work on neuroscience, cognition, and environmental philosophy. His research interests expand the institute’s interdisciplinary approach and strengthen its contribution to contemporary academic debates.
ISR Institute 