My current research interests include examining the impact of various professional development practices on preschool teachers’ implementation of evidence-based naturalistic instruction approaches; conducting applied research studies focused on improving development, engagement, and learning of young children with or at-risk for developmental disabilities, their families and teachers; identifying evidence-based practices using systematic reviews and meta-analytic methods; and examining treatment effect estimates in single-case experimental research.

I have authored over 50 articles and book chapters; have edited three books in Turkish; have been the translation editor of two books from English to Turkish (Educating Exceptional Children, Doing Ethical Research with Children); and have written the national autism and special education report of Turkey along with two other researchers. I have served as the principal investigator for five research grants funded by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey or Scientific Research Projects Unit of Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.

I am currently the co-editor of Turkish Journal of Special Education and serve on the editorial/advisory board of the Journal of Early Intervention and Educational Psychology. I have received several awards and recognition for my work including Academic Research Achievement Award (2017) and Post-Doctoral Research Award (2016) from the Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey; Glenda Ward Caro Fellowship in Education (2011) and Outstanding International Student Award (2010) from the University of Florida; and Marg Csapo Scholarship (2009) from the International Association of Special Education.

I received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey; a master’s degree in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education at the University of Pittsburgh; and a doctoral degree in Special Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Studies/Early Intervention and minor in Research Evaluation and Methods at the University of Florida. I completed a one-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies, University of Florida.