Demet Ay
I am an autobiographical memory researcher interested in the functions of our personal memories and how recollecting the past can be used to project the future. I also teach Learning&Cognition and Experimental Psychology Courses. I have side projects on the relationship between autobiographical recall and normal aging, the effects of normal aging on details of recollections, and phenomenological experience. My expected graduation date has been “soon” since 2021… Bingo, I believe asking specific questions about the PhD milestones is very offensive 🙂
Deniz Nur Köken
After receiving my bachelor’s degree from Middle East Technical University, I started my master’s education at Koç University. Although this may sound like two pretty broad areas, I am interested in language and memory. I was a part of an autobiographical memory research, and now I want to pursue my own projects around this topic. On the other hand, I also like to think about the interaction between language and mathematics. Besides academia, I like to watch the worst top 50 movies in the lists. I am allergic to good movies with a decent storyline and talented actors. So, sue me 🙂
Dicle Çapan
I am a 6th year Ph.D. student in Psychology at Koç University. As a proud side-member of KURAM, I am mainly interested in how we monitor and control our cognitive processes – that we generally call as metacognition. I study metacognition with memory processes and under social influence. I also study whether we could enhance the efficiency in which we track our performance using gestures in developmentally diverse populations. When not working, I mostly eat chocolate, make plans for a short-escapade from the city, enjoy concerts, movies, and books.
Duru İmamoğlu
Duru is a first-year Master’s student specialising in developmental psychology, with a research focus on autobiographical memory. She is passionate about understanding how personal and familial memories are maintained, and passed down through generations. Outside of her academic interests, she enjoys watching volleyball matches, reading, and traveling to discover new cultures and places.
Eda Demir
I am a freshman in psychology. I am interested in cognitive science and hope to dive into depths of it. KURAM is a perfect place to follow my greatest passion, which is learning. Besides psychology, I am interested in sky watching and nature walking.
Güler Zeynep Sülün
After earning my bachelor’s degree in linguistics from Boğaziçi University, I pursued a master’s degree in cognitive psychology. My research focuses on involuntary mental time travel, but more broadly, I am interested in all spontaneous thought processes and mind-wandering. Through my work, I aim to understand the factors affecting the flow of ongoing thought. My quest continues outside the lab too, as I try to observe my thoughts during meditative states. Alongside my academic goals, I aspire to become a part-time ceramicist. I spend my free time crocheting, drawing, cuddling my dog, and doing yoga. I am an avid reader of comic books and novels, especially science fiction.
Haya Mercan
After completing my undergraduate psychology degree at Bilgi University, I am excited to continue my academic journey by pursuing a Master’s in Psychology at Koç University. I am particularly interested in memory and identity studies. My experience as a research assistant on a project focused on local and national identity sparked my interest in the cognitive psychology field and motivated me to further my studies. In my free time, I enjoy painting, crocheting, and feeding cats at the park.
İbrahim Akkan
First year PhD student in Developmental Psychology. Got my bachelor’s degree from Uludag University and master’s degree from Koç University in Cognitive Psychology. I was an Emergency Medical Technician who works at emergency sevices or ambulances before I started university. This information is given to emphasize that it is never late to find the thing you would love to do. I am mainly interested in children’s narratives and their language development. I have a double major in psychology and sarcasm. The only things I love to watch are Harry Potter, Sihirli Annem and Aşkı Memnu do not suggest me to watch new things, I just can’t.
İrem Ergen
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Cognitive Psychology and very happy to be a part of the KURAM lab. I am fascinated by autobiographical memory—specifically involuntary autobiographical memories. I conducted studies investigating specific sensory cues that can elicit involuntary memories, specifically affective auditory cues. Other than involuntary memories, I am interested in false eyewitness memory and adaptive memory. In addition to these, in my doctoral thesis, I have plans to study open autobiographical memories on which individuals do not have closure and involuntary recall of these memories. Apart from psychology, I am in love with my dog, Lucy. I enjoy observing her impressive (and sometimes weird) reactions. I love traveling, music, horror books/movies (huge Stephen King fan!), and forensics.
Nevin Gamze Şilit
I’m a 2nd year MA student in cognitive psychology. I am mainly interested in memory and language interaction. One of my main research focuses is the effect of gesture use on autobiographical memory recall and future thinking. In my spare time, I like watching the same movies and TV shows over and over, and spending time with my friends and my cat. I also started a new hobby, wood carving.
Osman Görkem Çetin
I am a 1st year Ph.D. student in Psychology. My main research interests are false memory production, autobiographical memory, and illusory pattern perception. I am currently working on a project about memories of fiction because I believe fictional stories to be an integral part of our personal narratives and I am interested in the attribution of self-agency to a fictional character by role-play. I love reading and writing short-stories, drawing cartoons, playing video-games, voice-acting, watching movies, and doing goofy things with photoshop.
Selin Buse Coşkuner-Karabulut
Switched 3 majors (including medicine) in undergrad before finally falling in love with psychology. Thrilled about the idea of producing knowledge, thus, decided to pursue an academic career. Thinks that understanding memory has to do with everything else involving the mind. Loves neuroscience and wishes to work with brains. Just became a PhD candidate as a fourth year PhD Student. Currently working on several projects about autobiogrpahical memory, future thinking, and survival processing. While off the clock she is a musical lover; sings, dances, and acts, likes watching others perform too. Completed the part-time conservatory education in piano, still likes to play whenever she gets the chance. Recently began learning to play the ukulele. Also very enthusiastic about fantasy role playing games (She had been a rogue, a druid/scientist/wizard, a priestess, a witch doctor dwelling in voodoo, a dwarven cook/shaman, and a living-statuesque warrior). More recently her table-top interests have spilled over to the digital world where she’s been a proud Champion of the Horde. Has been married to a wonderful man for over 2 years. Dreaming of her future days as a busy, accomplished scientist and a loving dog mom.
Zeynep Eylül Gül
I’ve earned my bachelor’s degree from Boğaziçi University. I’m a second-year master’s student. My main interest is collective memory but I’ve also been a part of research projects on autobiographical memory and information processing. I am currently fascinated by memorials (in the broadest sense), cities and their relation to memory. Other than that, I’m a dedicated romcom watcher, and I tend to fangirl over a lot of different things.