RENPET Network Residency

As part of the RENPET Network Residency, I have been at Sabanci University Istanbul to work with Prof. Dr. Senem Aydin-Duzgit on one of the articles of my Ph.D. project, starting from December 2022 to February 2023. This was my first research fellowship, and I was very curious and excited to have the opportunity. I would like to indicate that UACES and RENPET were very understanding and fast throughout the process. Moreover, the bursary was extremely generous, and all potential expenses were covered, including travel costs.

During the time I worked with Prof. Dr. Senem Aydin-Duzgit at Sabanci University, I had the opportunity to meet with her regularly, get feedback on my paper, and discuss research questions and technical details about the research design. In our first meeting, we discussed what we mutually expect from this process, set realistic goals for what we can achieve in 2 months, and created a schedule of meetings. Beyond that, my conversations with Dr. Aydin-Duzgit were inspiring for an aspiring researcher. During our meetings, we had the opportunity to talk about the article we were working on, and many issues related to academia and research processes. Furthermore, in my conversations with Prof. Aydin-Duzgit, I learned a lot of “tricks” that I will probably apply throughout the entire research process.

One of the best parts of the fellowship was being in a vibrant research environment at Sabanci University. Throughout the process, I had the opportunity to exchange ideas with other Ph.D. researchers working in my field and build solidarity that is still ongoing. Moreover, part of my visit intersected with another RENPET Network Resident. Therefore, I had no problem adapting and spent a lot of time with him. Moreover, I am surprised and honoured that the faculty management organized a quick conference for us. At this conference, I presented my research to seminal academics from Sabanci University and received constructive feedback. Additionally, I had the chance to attend several workshops and seminars held at the university, which helped me broaden my knowledge and gain valuable insights into several research fields. In this sense, I felt comprehensive and multidisciplinary at every minute in Istanbul.

In summary, it has been a deeply beneficial residency for me and my research process. Maybe I could have found a way to meet Prof. Dr. Senem Aydin-Duzgit online without RENPET, but in this process, I realized how important it is to be physically present in the research environment and part of living community. Formal and informal interactions have left traces that will affect and shape my current research and my entire career. As one of the first graduates of the RENPET Network Residencies, Finally, I would like to thank to the RENPET Network, Prof. Dr.  Senem Aydin-Duzgit, Sabanci University, and UACES for this opportunity. I invite every researcher who meets the conditions to benefit from this outstanding opportunity. You can be sure that you will have a precious and practically helpful experience!