Research

My research unfolds in three primary trajectories:

  1. I utilize the lens of racialization to study the impact of history on constructs like race, ethnicity, nationality, and political identities.
  2. Through my work, I consistently spotlight the significance of space in understanding societal disparities.
  3. My studies question commonly accepted notions in social policy, emphasizing the enduring influence of policy decisions. These decisions create a path that future choices often follow, underscoring the role of historical and contextual elements in shaping political proceedings.

Methodologies

To navigate these complex issues, I adopt a diverse methodological toolkit. This includes regression models, spatial statistics, computational techniques such as natural language processing, critical discourse analysis, and historical comparative methods using archival data.

  1. State-Level Social Policy and Life Expectancy: In collaboration with fellow scholars, this research reports the correlation between state-level policies and life expectancy across U.S. states.
  2. Social Media Discourse on Syrian Immigrants in Turkey: A large-scale analysis of Twitter discourse surrounding Syrian refugees in Turkey, considering key events such as the global pandemic and the Turkish military offensive into Syria.
  3. Race, Space, and Taste in Post-War America: A critical exploration into the dynamics of redlining, residential segregation, and their influence on consumption patterns and culinary preferences in post-WWII America, particularly in Syracuse, New York.
  4. Ethnic Influence in Restaurant Reviews: An offshoot of my dissertation, this project uses computational methods to study the role of ethnicity in Syracuse restaurant reviews.
  5. Migrant Social Capital in Istanbul: A focused investigation into the effects of internal migration within Turkish society and the solidarity networks it births in urban environments.
  6. Landscape of Vaccine Hesitancy on Twitter: A probe into vaccine hesitancy on Twitter, examining its correlation with socio-economic variables in the U.S.

Future Directions

My future research seeks to enhance the themes from my current projects. I’m especially excited about:

  1. Immigrant Social Capital and Political Ecosystems: Exploring how immigrant networks evolve and their influence on political landscapes.
  2. Culture and Consumption in Post-Migration Cities: Investigating the cultural shifts in cities after significant migratory movements, with a particular focus on consumption spaces and evolving social identities.

Relevance & Impact

I perceive my research as a bridge between academia and real-world applications, with the potential to inform both scholars and policymakers. By weaving together the threads of space, policy, and societal frameworks, I aim to shed light on the social challenges we face. My hope is to help society draw insights from its past, paving the way for a more inclusive and understanding future.