Migration Research Center at Koç University (MiReKoc) aims to advance the state of the art in migration research through original and innovative scholarship, academic collaboration, and dialogue between researchers, policy-makers, international organizations and civil society actors. Based in Istanbul, MiReKoc provides a unique, institutionalized hub for migration research with a focus on Turkey and its close environment, with the objective of increasing research capacity and encouraging inter-institutional dialogue on the topic of migration.

The Migration Research Center at Koç University (MiReKoc) was founded in Istanbul in 2004 to contribute to developing the field of migration studies in Turkey and beyond. In that endeavor, the Center initially focused on funding research projects on migration issues in Turkey and Turkish migrants abroad. Between 2004-2010, MiReKoc in conjunction with Koç University (Istanbul) and the Foundation for Population, Migration and Environment (PME, Zurich), provided grants for a total of 44 research projects exploring various migration issues.

Soon after its establishment, MiReKoc also began to conduct its own research with funding provided by other partner organizations such as the German Marshall Fund and the European Commission, UNHCR and IOM. Earlier projects considered a wide array of topics such as the causes and consequences of irregular migration and refugee issues, international migration and transnationalism, the integration of migrants into receiving settings, the brain drain, forced migration, and the migration-citizenship nexus. While MiReKoc research initially focused exclusively on the Turkish context, this scope has gradually expanded to other countries and regions over the years with theoretical and empirical contributions to the larger migration literature. The Center advocates for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research on various aspects of migration.

AREA / SUBJECT OF THE FELLOWSHIP

Fellows may conduct research on the following topics: the causes and consequences of international migration; transnationalism; integration of migrants into receiving settings; transit migration including the mobility of irregular migrants and refugees; human smuggling and trafficking; migration-security, and migration-citizenship nexuses.

Not limited to these topics, the connection of each discipline to migration studies is highly crucial and needs an interdisciplinary approach. MiReKoc, therefore, is also open to multidisciplinary methods and research topics varying across disciplines like International Relations, Political Science, Sociology and Psychology providing the researchers this connectedness to understand and explain their selected topics on migration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED FELLOWSHİP ACTIVITY

Ph.D. and above level visitors are expected to give a university-wide seminar regarding the topic of their research as well as can publish a working paper under MiReKoc Working Paper Series.

EXPECTED PROFILE

Program for visiting fellows is open to Ph.D. students, postdoctoral researchers, and academics who would like to conduct further research, participate in seminars and workshops and to develop their research in Koç University’s excellent academic environment.

CONDITIONS OF THE FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Fellows are expected to regularly visit the campus and may make use of shared office space, based on availability. Integration to MiReKoc research projects will depend on the necessity during that period and fellows might be asked to support the center with administrative tasks. Monday to Friday are official working days from 9 to 5. MiReKoc follows the official national holiday schedule. Visitors will receive a Koç University ID card, therefore can use the facilities and the library only on-site.

PROPOSED TIME FOR THE FELLOWSHIP

One month duration between September 2020- May 2021.