Team
Seda Dural, Ph.D.
Professor of Experimental Psychology
Understanding the underlying mechanisms of behavior and discovering how the mind works have always been a priority in my research. I am particularly interested in innate and acquired aspects of number-space associations. In the same vein, I also find it quite exciting to work through how learning and memory processes are involved in forming these associations.
Ezgi Gür, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Experimental Psychology
I am interested in how the brain processes time, space, and numbers. How do these core elements shape our perception of reality, influencing not only how we experience the world but also how we learn, form memories, and make decisions? Understanding the interplay between these factors can unlock new insights into the cognition and behavior of human and nonhuman animals.
Ayşenur Candemir, M.Sc.
Ph.D. Student in Experimental Psychology
I am a Ph.D. student in Experimental Psychology. I have a huge enthusiasm for evolutionary bases and questions. I am willing to admit ignorance and try to investigate for solid evidence. In the future, I want to explore more about the mechanisms of the mind and improve further in statistics. Currently, I am contributing to research on space-number associations, with a particular focus on magnitude comparison tasks.
Özce Cinoğlu, M.Sc.
Ph.D. Student in Experimental Psychology
I am a first-year Ph.D. student in Experimental Psychology at Izmir University of Economics, with a strong interest in numerical cognition and the development of spatial numerical associations (SNA). Since July 2025, I have been volunteering as a research assistant in the SMART Lab to develop my methodological skills, gain experience, and learn new competencies in the field. I am particularly interested in how the number-space mappings emerge in children and how cultural and educational contexts shape these mappings.
Melike Şefikoğlu, B.Sc.
Ph.D. Student in Experimental Psychology
melike.sefikoglu@std.izmirekonomi.edu.tr
I am currently a first-year integrated Ph.D. student in Psychology at Izmir University of Economics. I have been volunteering as a research assistant in Experimental Psychology since August 2023, gaining valuable experience in the field. My current research focuses on spatial–magnitude associations and the mental representation of objects’ physical and real-world sizes.
İlayda Korkut, B.Sc.
M.Sc. Student in Experimental Psychology
I am pursuing my master’s with the firm intent to make meaningful contributions to our understanding of behavior and the mind while maintaining the excitement and curiosity that marked my initial steps. My research interest lies in numerical cognition, and currently, in alignment with this goal, I am immersed in exploring and examining the processing of magnitudes.
Zeynep Tuncalı, B.Sc.
M.Sc. Student in Experimental Psychology
zeynep.tuncali@std.izmirekonomi.edu.tr
I am a M. Sc. Student in Experimental Psychology. I have been volunteering as a research assistant in the SMART Lab since 2022, specifically focusing on numerical cognition. I am passionate about learning and always strive to improve my skills. My goal is to deepen my knowledge in these areas while making meaningful contributions to the field of psychology through research.
Şimal Yenigüllü B.Sc.
M.Sc. Student in Experimental Psychology
I am a Master’s student in Experimental Psychology at Izmir University of Economics, with a strong interest in numerical cognition and cognitive research methodologies. Since July 2023, I have been actively involved in research as a volunteer assistant at SMART Lab, where I continue to gain hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection, and statistical analysis. My current work focuses on spatial-numerical associations and reaction time paradigms.
Duru Başak Özbek
B. Sc. Student in Psychology
I am a third year psychology student at Izmir University of Economics. I’ve been volunteering as a research assistant in the Smartlab since April 2025. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with this incredible group of researchers and eager to learn everything I can along them. Currently I am gaining priceless experience in experimental psychology, and I am motivated to pursue a higher degree in the following years.
