RENPET Network Residency at Sabancı University
Dr. Melek Aylin Özoflu is a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at Özyeğin University, Department of International Relations in İstanbul, Türkiye. The research project titled ‘Nativism and Anti-Immigration in Turkey’ is funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK): 122K882.
Between September and December 2023, I was funded by the Renpet-Network Residencies to conduct my research at the Department of International Relations, Sabancı University, İstanbul, Türkiye. I would like to kindly highlight that during my fellowship, all of the expenses were covered by the UACES and RENPET.
I was supervised by Prof. Senem Aydın Düzgit to conduct my research which was focused on examining the discursive representations of ‘Others’ of European identity. Prof. Düzgit is one of the pioneering experts in the field and the meetings with her were crucial to developing and advancing my research methodologically. Furthermore, her professional and insightful guidance was extremely enlightening in identifying the research hypotheses, refining the research question, and configuring ‘the gap’ in the literature.
This helped me acquire a unique perspective on designing and producing a multifaceted and multidisciplinary analysis that I might not otherwise be capable of. I am indebtedly grateful to Prof. Düzgit for her kind and resourceful support in my research.
Moreover, through the support of the funding, I have purchased the MAXQDA Software Data Analysis. I have used the software program to systematically conduct my analysis and literature review. Thus, during my time there, I could focus on collecting data and conducting the literature review. With the help of the valuable input I have gained during my time at Sabancı University, I will soon submit my research findings to one of the high-quality SSCI-indexed Q1 or Q2 journals. The research output will enrich our empirical and theoretical knowledge of European studies on the nexus of EU foreign policy-making and identity politics. Thus, the fellowship contributed to my long-term academic career objectives to a great extent.
I certainly advise every early-stage researcher who meets the conditions to benefit from this experience to advance their research, engage in different academic spheres, exchange ideas and thereby receive constructive feedback and guidance.
All in all, the fellowship was academically remarkably rewarding, I would like to thank UACES and RENPET for their generous sponsorship and for providing such a great opportunity for the advancement of doctoral and early-stage researchers.