People

Faculty

Serkan Özel, PhD
Lab Director
ozels@bogazici.edu.tr

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 in the Department of Special Education at Kilis 7 Aralık University and is pursuing his master’s degree at Eskişehir Osmangazi University. Throughout his academic and professional development, he has gained research and practical experience in the fields of special education, autism spectrum disorder, early intervention, inclusive education, and early childhood. He is involved in research conducted at the Child Learning Laboratory of Boğaziçi University. In addition, he is interested in individualized educational processes for children with special needs. During his internship at the Tohum Autism Foundation, he gained experience in the education of children with autism, behavioral intervention processes, and data-based practices. His academic work focuses on autism, self-determination skills, patterning skills in early childhood, sexuality education, and evidence-based instructional practices that support the independence and participation of individuals with special needs. He has presented papers at national and international conferences, taken active roles in various research and social responsibility projects, and aims to conduct studies that bring together scientific knowledge and practice in the field of special education.

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, pathways of learning, the development of abstraction skills, and their educational implications.

Göksu Gökçesu

Göksu is a senior undergraduate student in Psychology. Her academic interests center on learning processes and the development of cognitive abilities across the lifespan. She approaches cognitive development not only in terms of individual differences but also through developmental mechanisms and cognitive systems. She is also interested in the design and educational adaptation of both digital and physical tools that support children’s learning and promote cognitive development. She completed a summer research internship in cognitive development at KU Leuven’s Learning Brain Lab in Belgium. In addition, she has been volunteering for about two years with Make-A-Wish Türkiye, supporting children who are battling serious illnesses.

Hanife Sena Turgut


Hanife Sena Turgut is an undergraduate student in the Elementary Mathematics Education program at Boğaziçi University. Her areas of interest include mathematics education, STEM education, computational thinking, educational technologies, and the education of gifted students.

 

Şeyda Aliyev

Şeyda received her bachelor’s degree from Beykent University. She attended the Child, Adolescent & Adult Studies Lab. She is considering a PhD in psychology. Her research interests include early childhood language development and learning processes. She is currently working as a psychologist.

Former Lab Members

Burcu Şanlı Karmaz

Burcu graduated from Science Education Department of Boğaziçi University in 2018. During her undergraduate education, she volunteered at the Technology and Research Center for the Visually Impaired (GETEM). Her research interests are learning sciences, cognitive skills, and self-regulation. She has been a graduate student at Boğaziçi University Early Childhood Education Program since 2018. She continues her thesis on the relationship between patterning skills and cognitive skills in early childhood.

Fatmanur Kiraz

Fatmanur Kiraz graduated from Boğaziçi University, Department of Primary Mathematics Education in 2024. She is pursuing her master's degree in Mathematics and Science Education at Boğaziçi University. Her main interests are mathematical reasoning, mathematical cognition, measurement, and assessment in education. 

Melek Pesen, MA

Melek is a doctoral student at Boğaziçi University Learning Sciences Program. She got her master’s degree from Boğaziçi University Primary Education program and bachelor’s degree from Boğaziçi University Primary Mathematics Teaching program. Her research interests are mathematical reasoning, argumentation, and proof in K-12 years. She is interested in pupils’ cognitive development in mathematics. Melek is currently working as a research assistant in Mathematics and Science Education in Boğaziçi University.

Merve Özgünlü, M.A., Ph.D. Candidate

After graduating from Undergraduate Early Childhood Education Program of Boğaziçi University in 2013, Merve had her master's degree from Primary Education Department of Boğaziçi University in 2017. The master's thesis is on the factors that predict the children’s readiness for elementary education. She worked as a research assistant between 2013-2018, worked as a teaching assistant in undergraduate courses and took part in various research projects. She did both teacher and parent trainings on the importance of language development in early childhood and learning experiences that support language development. In 2017, she started his doctorate education at Learning Sciences Doctorate Program of Boğaziçi University. She continues her doctoral studies on the design and quality of early childhood learning environments, parent-child relationships as predictors of children's self-regulation skills, and learning experiences at home. She is part of the program design team of Early Childhood Education Institutions of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (YUVAMIZ İSTANBUL – İSTANBUL İS OUR HOME), its planning and design process started in 2019, and she provides in-service trainings to teachers working in the institutions. She has book chapters on the development and learning of children and works as a translator at Sola Unitas Publications. She works as an education coordinator in a private kindergarten. 

 

Zehra Emine Ünal, MA

Zehra is a doctoral student at the University of Missouri Psychological Sciences and works under the guidance of David C. Geary and Nelson Cowan. She received her master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her undergraduate degree from Bogazici University. She is also a mathematics teacher and did tutoring for nine years. Her research interests are the cognitive and behavioral factors that affect students’ mathematical development.