Research Projects
Project title: Designing an Accessible and Inclusive Research Environment for Optics and Laser Laboratories
PI: Dr. Isinsu Baylam Toker
Co-Investigator: Dr. Sinem Demirci
Student Researcher: Mico Richard Bonanno
Funding: Frost Summer Undergraduate Research Program
Project Period: Summer 2026–Present
Project title: Exploring Faculty Motivation and Practices Using Universal Design for Instruction in Introductory Statistics/Data Science Classrooms
PI: Dr. Maria Tackett (Duke University)
Co-Investigator: Dr. Sinem Demirci
Student Researcher: Naya Ko (Duke University)
Funding: American Statistical Association Section on Statistics and Data Science Education Member Initiative Grant
Project Period: 2024–Present
Project title: Exploring the Role of Curiosity in Learning Statistics
PI: Dr. Beth Chance
Co-Investigators: Dr. Sinem Demirci – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Student Researchers: Visruth Srimath Kandali, Amy Chau Troung – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Partners/Collaborators: Ranjani Grove – University of Washington, David Wilcox – The Lawrenceville School, Uma Ravat – UC Santa Barbara
Project Period: 2024–Present
Project title: Coastal California Classroom Initiative – Exploring the Impact of Sonification on Identifying Skewed Distributions in Introductory Statistics
PI: Jeanine Scaramozzino – Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Co-Investigators: Dr. Julia Schedler, Dr. Sinem Demirci – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Partners/Collaborators: Donya Ava Behroozi, Annica Wu, Josh Schneider, Aaron C. Liggett, – Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Funding: CET Seed Grants
Project Period: 2024–2025
Project title: Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Data Science Education: An Assessment of Readiness to Teach Data Science in Higher Education
Principle Investigator: Dr Sinem Demirci
Co-PI: Dr Mine Dogucu – University College London
Collaborators: Dr Joshua M. Rosenberg – University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Dr Andrew Zieffler – University of Minnesota
Funding: The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye, TÜBİTAK
Sponsored by: University College London
Project Period: 2022–2023
Project title: Copten Gubreye 3 [ From Waste to Fertilizer 3 – Composting]
Principal Investigator: Dr. Serap Bilen (METU, Society and Science Application and Research Center)
Supported by: The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, TUBİTAK
Role & Project Period: Trainer, 2019
Project No: 218B226
Project title: Copten Gubreye! [ From Waste to Fertilizer 1 – Composting]
Principal Investigator: Dr. Serap Bilen (METU, Society and Science Application and Research Center)
Supported by: The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, TUBİTAK
Role & Project Period: Trainer, 2017
Project No: 117B056
Project title: University Students’ Beliefs on Human Population Growth
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elvan Sahin (METU, Dept. of Science and Mathematics Education)
Supported by: Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit, Middle East Technical University
Role & Project Period: Researcher, 2013
Project No: BAP-07-03-2013-010
Project title: In-service Science Teachers’ Teaching Experiences on Atomic Models within the context of History of Science
Principal Investigator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Elvan Şahin (METU, Dept. of Science and Mathematics Education)
Collaborators: Prof. Dr. Ayhan Yilmaz – Hacettepe University
Res. Assist. Sinem Demirci – Middle East Technical University
Supported by: Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit, Middle East Technical
Role & Project Period: Researcher, 2015
Project No: BAP-05-06-2015-001