As an undergraduate, I have had multiple research assistantship positions at Pitt and in Washington, D.C. Furthermore, I have also pursued my own independent research project to fulfill the thesis requirement for my degree in International Area Studies.
My first exposure to research was my second semester in college when I participated in First Experiences in Research. I conducted research on refugees which directly complimented my concentration area as refugees are often considered a threat to security and peace. I also conducted research for a professor in History on the diplomatic efforts of John Adams in Great Britain.
In Summer 2018, I was hired at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C. to work with a former ambassador to Turkey. I conducted research on various political and economic issues in Turkey and translated Turkish newspapers into English for his future book project. This semester I have done some research for a Pitt affiliate member on the Battle of Mosul. Furthermore, this summer and semester I have conducted my own research on Turkey and global authoritarianism to write and defend a thesis. Please see the tabs below for more information on these projects.
All of these experiences have contributed in some way to my concentration in Peace, Security, and Conflict. Learning more about refugees and how they are more usually the victims of violence and not the perpetrators has given me a different perspective on how politicians use refugees to exaggerate security concerns. My research on diplomacy in the 1700s was also illuminating because it gave me more information on how countries, and especially post-colonial countries, figure out how to create and maintain peace with each other. The research I conducted this summer pertains to my concentration because I got to focus on how economic crises and gender politics have played a large role in how peace is threatened and security is maintained in Turkey. Furthermore, my research on the Battle of Mosul has allowed me to learn more about militias and how non-state actors function when the state falls apart. These experiences combined with my thesis on how security concerns have fueled increasing authoritarianism in Turkey and worldwide have enriched my understanding of my classes and concentration.