Staff

Dr. Yasemin Ülker

Deputy Director

As the Deputy Director of CIFAL Istanbul, Yasemin Ülker completed her PhD at Istanbul University in Business & Management department. She works in the sustainable supply chain area. She has attended 1) Erasmus+ Learning in Poland (2015), 2) Erasmus+ Internship programs in Italy (2017) and 3) France (2022), 4) Erasmus+ Staff in Poland (2018), and 5) Lithuania (2019), 6) Ph.D. workshop in SGH University Poland (2022), and 7) Ph.D. workshop in Poznan Technology University (2022), 8) Erasmus + Staff in South Africa (2023) and also participated in 3 EU projects (Youth in Action Program, short-cycle projects)

Eren Yalınkaya

Communication and Partnership Assistant Specialist

Eren Yalınkaya is currently affiliated as an Assistant Specialist Responsible for Communication and Partnership at CIFAL Istanbul. He completed his undergraduate degree in Political Science and International Relations at Bahçeşehir University. During this time, he worked as an assistant student at the Bahçeşehir University School of Government and Leadership and completed his internship at the Directorate General of Coastal Safety at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. He is currently completing his master’s degree in Global Politics at Bahçeşehir University. He also works as a volunteer search and rescue operator in domestic and international disasters.

İbrahim Ekrem Sarı

Project Development Assistant Specialist

Graduated from Bahçeşehir University Department of Political Science and International Relations with high honors. İbrahim Ekrem Sarı is currently affiliated with CIFAL Istanbul, UNITAR as the Project Development Assistant Specalist. Before his position at CIFAL Istanbul, he has gained valuable experience as a Project Assistant at the Jean Monnet Chair on Feminist Epistemic Justice (FEJUST) and as an Assistant Student at CIFAL Istanbul, where he contributed to sustainability initiatives. He is passionate about gender equality, sustainability, and political research, actively engaging in youth leadership roles and feminist collectives.

Aslıcan Açık

Coordination and Organization Assistant Specialist

Aslıcan graduated from Bahçeşehir University, Political Science and International Relations department. After worked one year as an Assistant Student at CIFAL Istanbul and served as Co-President at CIFAL Istanbul Youth Platform, she is currently working as an Assistant Specialist responsible from Coordination and Organization at CIFAL Istanbul. She is interested in global security, diplomacy and sustainability issues.

Ceren Orhan

Student Assistant

Ceren Orhan is a senior Political Science and International Relations student at Bahçeşehir University. She is the Co-President of the CIFAL Istanbul Youth Platform and also works as a Student Assistant at CIFAL Istanbul. She has participated in the Erasmus+ Student Exchange Program in University of Applied Sciences BFI Vienna in the 2022-2023 Spring Semester. Ceren was previously a Student Assistant for School of Government and Leadership (HLO), and she is currently the Vice President of the Political Science and International Relations Student Club. In her academic life she mostly focuses on gender equality and social development.

Beyza Var

Student Assistant

Beyza Var is a third year student in the Political Science and International Relations department at Bahçeşehir University. Beyza Var serves as the Co-President of the CIFAL Istanbul Youth Platform and actively works as an assistant in CIFAL Istanbul. She also has partaken in roles such as a board member of the Political Science and International Relations club. She is interested in issues regarding sustainability and finding solutions for reducing social inequalities.

Dilara Yüksel

Student Assistant

Dilara Yüksel is a senior student studying Political Science and International Relations at Bahcesehir University. She works as a Student Assistant at CIFAL Istanbul and at the same time serves on the Board of Directors of the Political Science and International Relations student club. She completed a volunteer internship at the Ministry of Family and Social Services, where she engaged in handling international collaborations related to social services and policies. She also conducted research on the scope and activities of international organizations. Dilara has actively participated as a volunteer in social initiatives supporting war-affected children. Her areas of interest include human rights, security, and sustainable development.