Lecturer

BA (Ankara), MA, PhD (Sussex), ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship (HPS, Cambridge)

Room: Attenborough Tower 505
Tel: +44 (0)11-6252-2752 (direct line)
Email: id34@le.ac.uk

Research interests

My research is focused on two main areas: translation of knowledge; diaspora and ethnic and racial studies.

Translation of Knowledge: I undertake research which explores the relationship between translation, trust and knowledge. In particular, I investigate the theoretical and philosophical dimensions of border-making, conflict, and translation and interaction across the boundaries of knowledge communities. I also carry out empirical research in this area, studying the relationship between trust, the movement (translation) of knowledge, data sharing and knowledge exchange.

Ethnic and Radical Studies and Diaspora: This branch of my research concerns ethno-national and racial issues, especially in the context of Turkey and the Middle East. I also carry out empirical research involving the Kurdish and Turkish diasporas in Europe.

By engaging these two different areas of study in a useful dialogue, I examine border-making between ethno-national entities (especially between Kurdishness and Turkishness), translation of ethno-political identities in diaspora (especially Kurdishness in Europe), and issues of conflict and trust in the effective translation of knowledge between communities.

Supervision interests

I would be pleased to supervise doctoral students across the wide range of research which concerns itself with the translation of, and conflict between, knowledge communities, encompassing fields such as science and technology studies, public understanding of science, sociology of risk, sociology of environment and politics of expertise.

I am keen to supervise doctoral students on issues concerning the Kurdish and Turkish diasporas as well as on topics encompassing nationalism, ethnic identity, ethno-politics and representation.

Full listing of publications

External profile

• I am a member of the Steering Committee for the Theory Study Group of the British Sociological Association (BSA). [Click this link to go to BSA Theory Study Group page]
• I am part of the ESRC Network entitled Connected Histories/Connected Sociologies: Rethinking the Global. [Click this link to go to Connected Histories/Connected Sociologies Network page]

Current research projects

• Diasporic Brokers: Reviving and Translating Kurdish Culture in London, AHRC Fellowship, October 2012 to July 2013
• EU FP7 project (PI: Professor Paul Burton, Health Sciences, University of Leicester) entitled: 'BioSHaRE-EU: Biobank Standardisation and Harmonisation for Research Excellence in the European Union', December 2010 to November 2015.

Current teaching

Ipek was voted Academic of the Year for the College of Social Sciences in 2010 in recognition of her engaging, innovative and supportive teaching. The award was based on nominations received from students during the 'I Love My Academic' campaign run by the Student Union. [Click this link to go to the Student Union I Love My Academic page]

She has been awarded funding as part of the Teaching Enhancement Project Stream B: Supporting New Learning, Teaching and Assessment Activities. The project is entitled 'Reaching Decisions Together: Participating in a Citizen Jury' and will run from October 2011 to January 2013. [Click this link for more information on this project]

Undergraduate

• SY1002: Society in Transformation 2
• SY3042: Undergraduate Research Project
• SY3082: Living with Risk

Postgraduate

• SY7027: Sociology of Risk
• Supervision of Masters and PhD theses

Current Administrative Duties

• Library Representative
• Overseas Exchange Student Coordinator (Georgia Exchange, Erasmus, Junior Year Abroad)
• International Officer
• Joint Programme Coordinator (BA Media/Sociology, BA Politics/Sociology)