Droevendaalsesteeg 10
6708 PB Wageningen
The Netherlands
I have a broad interest in animal cognition and animal behaviour. Currently I am investigating between and within species variation in cognitive traits in three closely related species; marsh tits, blue tits and great tits.
I obtained my BSc degree in biology from Celal Bayar University, Turkey. I started my masters education in Animal Ecology at Lund University, Sweden. During the first year of my studies I developed a great interest in the field of animal behaviour and cognition. As a part of my master’s studies I conducted a research project on spatial memory accuracy in marsh tits (Poecile palustris). After receiving my MSc degree, I worked as a laboratory assistant at Lund University, where I investigated observational spatial learning abilities in great tits (Parus major). I started my PhD in March 2015 under the supervision of Anders Brodin. For my PhD I investigated within and between species differences in motor inhibition and social cognition abilities in marsh tits and great tits. During this time, I ran some side projects in which I investigated various cognitive traits in great tits – such as self-recognition, problem-solving and numerical competence. I defended my PhD in December 2017 and worked as a lecturer and research assistant. In 2020 I was awarded a Swedish Research Council International Postdoc grant and joined the van Oers group at NIOO-KNAW for a part of my project, where I investigate the cognitive and behavioural factors that causes variation in innovative problem solving ability between and within species.