Program Director

Dr. Elif ADIBELLİ ŞAHİN

She is mainly responsible for the overall programme and resource management. She completed her Ph.D. degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Science Education and a cognate in Educational Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the USA. She also holds a B.S. and M.S. degree in Elementary Science and Mathematics Education from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey. She currently works as an education expert in the Development Workshop. Her fields of interest include science education, nature of science, teacher professional development, teacher beliefs, and critical thinking.

Program Coordinator

Gülşah ÖZKAN İNAL

She supports the site director in the overall coordination of the program. She holds a B.S. and M.S. degree in Elementary Science and Mathematics Education from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey. She is currently an education expert in the Development Workshop. She works in the fields of science education, teacher professional development programme, vocational education, critical thinking, IBSE teaching and school climate within the scope of the national and international projects.

Biology/ Bioethics Education and Professional Development Expert

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nilay KESKİN SAMANCI

She is mainly responsible for planning, designing and conducting professional development programs for teachers. She completed her Ph.D. degree in Biology Education from Gazi University in Turkey. She works as an academician in the Department of Biology Education at Necmettin Erbakan University. Also she is the volunteer director of Education Workshop. Her fields of interest include biology education, ethical reasoning, teacher professional development, critical thinking, and IBSE teaching.

Lab Technician

Dr. Asiye ULUĞ

She is mainly responsible for preparing and checking the kits as well as supporting teachers about equipment or material issues. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology Education from Gazi University in Turkey. She completed her Master and Ph.D degree in the Plant genetics area from Middle East Technical University. She studied as a teaching assistant in Plant Tissue Culture and Plant Biology labs for ten years. She works as an academician in the Department of Biology, Kafkas University. She is currently a post-doctoral researcher on Ancient Plant DNA studies at the Middle East Technical University.

Lab Technician

Dr. Funda ÖZDEMİR DEĞİRMENCİ

She is mainly responsible for preparing and checking the kits as well as supporting teachers about equipment or material issues. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology Education from Gazi University in Turkey. She completed her Master and Ph.D degree in the Plant genetics area from Middle East Technical University. She studied as a teaching assistant in Plant Tissue Culture and Plant Biology labs for ten years. She works as an academician in the Department of Crop Sciences at Ahi Evran University. She is currently a post-doctoral researcher on Ancient Plant DNA studies at the Middle East Technical University.

Site Liasion

Hatice Kübra Karakaya

She is responsible for the preparation and design of printed materials. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Architecture, MEF University. She continues her master's degree at TED University. She took part in many projects as an architect, designer, illustrator and project assistant. She is currently working as a freelance artist and designer at the Development Workshop.

Support Team

Support team includes both volunteer and partial volunteer staff. Their professional expertise areas may range from academic research to text edit, graphic design and measurement and evaluation. They may take roles in the review of Turkish student and teacher guides, supporting lab technicians as well as the transportation of lab kits from center to schools and vice versa.

Kit Manager

Hanife İpek Gökbel

She is responsible for listing the materials to be delivered to the teachers, following the lab implementation schedule, distributing and collecting the prepared lab kits, adaptation studies and editing of printed materials such as reports and guidebooks. She completed her undergraduate education at Bilkent University, Department of Political Science and Public Administration. She is currently working as a content development specialist at the Education Workshop, which is part of the Development Workshop Cooperative. She works in national and international projects in the fields of vocational and technical education, critical thinking and school climate.

Kit Manager

Göksu Tuncer

She is mainly responsible for preparing and checking the kits as well as supporting teachers about equipment or material issues. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Middle East Technical University in Turkey. She completed her internship in the Plant Biology and Physiology area at University of Maryland, College Park, MD in the USA. She is currently a master's student on Ancient Plant DNA studies at the Middle East Technical University.