TEAM

Faculty

Serkan Özel, PhD

Dr. Ozel works in the Department of Mathematics and Science Education at Bogazici University. Dr. Ozel, who continues his projects with TUSAŞ, TUPRAS and TEGV in Turkey. He was a visiting professor in the Department of Psychology and Human Development at Vanderbilt University in the USA. He received his undergraduate and master's degrees from Boğaziçi University, Department of Secondary Science and Mathematics Education. He pursued his doctoral degree in Educational Psychology with the specialization in Educational Technology at Texas A&M University. During his doctoral studies, he participated in several research projects and numerous professional developments on project-based learning for K-12 teachers across Dallas and Waco Independent School Districts. Dr. Özel's research interests focus on mathematics teaching practices, technology integration, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Dr. Özel is an expert in educational technologies and STEM education. In particular, he works on providing teachers with the knowledge and skills they need for the integrated use of mathematics and technology. In addition to his expertise, he is active in many commissions at Boğaziçi University and scientific journals. He is also a founding member of the Mathematical Education Association. He is a founding member of FeTeMM (Turkish acronym for STEM) to adapt STEM movement in Turkish context.

Graduate Students (Ph.D.)

Betül Fatma Yıldırım

Lab Project Assistant 📧 betulyil@metu.edu.tr

Betül is a PhD student in Mathematics Education at Middle East Technical University. She received her BS and MS degrees from Boğaziçi University Mathematics Education program. Betül completed her master's thesis on early repeating patterning abstraction strategies under the supervision of Dr. Serkan Ozel. She attended Erasmus program at Charles University. She is currently working as a Research and Teaching Assistant at Middle East Technical University, Department of Mathematics Education. Her research interests include mathematics education, measurement and evaluation, and statistics education.

Graduate Students (Master's)

Funda Demirtaş

Funda Demirtaş graduated in 2024 from the Elementary Mathematics Education program at Boğaziçi University. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in the Mathematics and Science Education program at Boğaziçi University. Her main areas of interest include mathematical reasoning, educational technologies, statistics education, and the development of mathematical thinking skills in early childhood.

Kübra Nur Yüce

Kübra Nur Yüce graduated in 2024 from the Elementary Mathematics Education program at Boğaziçi University. She is currently a master’s student in the Department of Mathematics and Science Education at the same university. Her research interests focus on conceptual understanding in mathematics education and the development of mathematical thinking skills in early childhood.

Muhammet Sıtkı Özger

Muhammet Sıtkı graduated from the Department of Special Education at Marmara University. He is currently working as a Research Assistant at Kilis 7 Aralık University and is pursuing his master’s degree at Eskişehir Osmangazi University. He has research experience in autism spectrum disorder, early intervention, and inclusive education. He is involved in research conducted at the Child Learning Laboratory of Boğaziçi University.

Undergraduate Students

Canan Şahin

Canan Şahin is an undergraduate student at Boğaziçi university. Her research interests are mathematical modeling, mathematics education, and digital mathematics tools in education.

Elif Limon

Elif Limon is an undergraduate student in the Philosophy and Psychology departments at Boğaziçi University. Her research interests include the foundations of mathematical and scientific thinking and abstraction skills.

Göksu Gökçesu

Göksu is a senior undergraduate student in Psychology. Her academic interests center on learning processes, cognitive systems, and the design of digital tools that support children’s learning.

Hanife Sena Turgut

Hanife Sena Turgut is an undergraduate student in the Elementary Mathematics Education program at Boğaziçi University. Her interests include STEM, computational thinking, and gifted education.

Şeyda Aliyev

Şeyda received her bachelor’s degree from Beykent University. Her research interests include early childhood language development. She is currently working as a psychologist.

Former Lab Members

Burcu Şanlı Karmaz

Burcu graduated from Science Education Department of Boğaziçi University in 2018. Her research interests are learning sciences, cognitive skills, and self-regulation. She continues her thesis on patterning skills and cognitive skills.

Fatmanur Kiraz

Fatmanur Kiraz graduated from Boğaziçi University, Department of Primary Mathematics Education in 2024. Her main interests are mathematical reasoning, mathematical cognition, and assessment in education.

Melek Pesen, MA

📧 melek.pesen@bogazici.edu.tr

Melek is a doctoral student at Boğaziçi University Learning Sciences Program. Her research interests are mathematical reasoning, argumentation, and proof in K-12 years. She works as a research assistant at Boğaziçi University.

Merve Özgünlü, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate

Merve is a doctoral student in Learning Sciences. She is part of the program design team for YUVAMIZ İSTANBUL and works as an education coordinator in a private kindergarten and translator at Sola Unitas Publications.

Zehra Emine Ünal, MA

Zehra is a doctoral student at the University of Missouri Psychological Sciences. Her research interests are the cognitive and behavioral factors that affect students’ mathematical development.