Work experience
01/09/2020 – still | Pre-doctoral researcher, UniGraz [AT]
– Designed and conducted behavioral experiments with over 150 participants to study perceptual transitions
– Developed and implemented automated data preprocessing pipelines using R and MATLAB
– Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams for open science practices and data sharing initiatives
01/10/2014 – still | Coordinator & Project manager, Dusunbil Publishing [TR]
– Developed and enhanced editorial workflows, improving content curation and distribution strategies for a humanities and science-focused publication
– Organized and coordinated over 50 conferences on interdisciplinary topics in humanities and sciences, fostering public engagement with academic knowledge
– Designed and implemented a digital platform, increasing accessibility to educational content and broadening the reach of the organization
– Optimized digital infrastructure, reducing operational complexity and ensuring sustainable resource allocation for long-term projects
– Collaborated with diverse teams to manage large-scale projects, demonstrating expertise in knowledge dissemination and interdisciplinary coordination
01/10/2019 – 31/03/2020 | Intern, EPFL [CH]
– Project Title: Inverted Encoding Model of Serial Dependence
– Conducted preprocessing and analysis of EEG data from a behavioral experiment involving 21 participants to investigate the effect of prior experience (serial dependence) on current perception
– Implemented the Inverted Encoding Model to map orientation channels and quantify serial dependence effects, demonstrating the relationship between behavioral and neural data
– Implemented MATLAB-based automation to enhance EEG data preprocessing and modeling accuracy, reducing time-intensive manual steps
05/09/2016 – 25/07/2019 | Graduate student assistant, Bilkent Uni [TR]
– Conducted an fMRI experiment involving 6 participants and 3 sessions (30 hours of data collection) to investigate the effect of fearful emotional stimuli on visual perception using population receptive field (pRF) estimation
-Designed and presented visual stimuli in MATLAB, followed by preprocessing (FreeSurfer, SPM) and analysis using the SamSrf toolbox
– Analyzed data showing changes in representation of visual stimuli under the influence of fear, highlighting the modulatory effect of emotional cues on the visual system
– Prepared and delivered laboratory sessions for undergraduate biology students, including experiment setup, theoretical instruction, and student supervision during practical work
– Proctored and graded exams and quizzes for psychology and biology courses, ensuring fair evaluation and timely feedback
-Adapted flexible approaches to manage unexpected challenges during both research experiments and teaching sessions
01/10/2014 – 15/07/2015 | Undersgraduate student assistant, METU [TR]
– Conducted fNIRS neuroimaging experiments with 30 participants by collaborating on a Ph.D. project exploring the relationship between motor dysfunction and sensory perception in fibromyalgia
– Analyzed neuroimaging data using statistical methods, identifying motor cortex activation during finger-tapping
30/06/2014 – 08/08/2014 | Intern, SenteGen [TR]
– Produced DNA primers for customers within a certain time frame
– Produced a novel terminal transferase enzyme for an R&D project
– Checked the quality of a novel terminal transferase enzyme
Education
23/03/2021 – still | PhD in Psychology, UniGraz [AT]
University of Graz, one of the largest universities in Austria.
CGPA: 1.07/1.00
05/09/2016 – 25/07/2019 | MSc in Neuroscience, Bilkent Uni [TR]
Bilkent University, one of top 3 research universities in Turkey.
CGPA: 3.86/4.00
03/092009- 13/06/2015 | BSc in Molecular biology and genetics, METU [TR]
Middle East Technical University (METU), one of top 5 universities in Turkey.
CGPA: 2.80/4.00
Certificates
2024 | Databases and SQL for Data Science with Python by IBM
Data analysis within a database using SQL and Python
Data Definition Language (DDL) and Data Manupilation Language (DML)
Advanced SQL techniques for working with relational databases
2023 | Doctoral Academy Transferable Skills Certificate by UniGraz
Time Management, Gayanne Kedia
Good Scientific Practice, Corinne Von der Hellen and Helmut Klug
Recognizing your transversal skills for careers outside of academia, Alexander Knapp
Introduction to Python, Clemens Brunner
2023 | Teaching in English: English Medium Instruction Course by UniGraz
Advanced English Writing, Gayanne Kedia
Advanced English Speaking and University Teaching, Robert O’Dowd
2022 | Python for Everybody by University of Michigan
2021 | Mastering Software Development in R Specialization by Johns Hopkins University
The R Programming Environment
Advanced R Programming
Building R Packages
Building Data Visualization Tools
Mastering Software Development in R Capstone
Oral presentations
2024 | DGPs Congress/ÖGP Conference
Transitions during binocular rivalry vary in appearance across stimulus types
cite: Yilmaz, Cemre; Pabel, Laura; Kerschenbauer, Elias; Ischebeck, Anja; Sipatchin, Alexandra; Bartels, Andreas; Zaretskaya, Natalia. (2024) Transitions during binocular rivalry vary in appearance across stimulus types. at 53rd DGPs Congress / 15th ÖGP Conference on 16.09.2024, Vienna, Austria.
2024 | 3 Minute Thesis Competition
How do we form mental images?
cite: Yılmaz, C. (2024) How do we form mental images? at 3 Minute Thesis Competition in Graz on 15.03.2024, Graz, Austria.
2023 | Trieste Symposium on Perception and Cognition
Variety of transition appearance during binocular rivalry
cite: Yılmaz, C., Pabel, L., Kerschenbauer, E., Ischebeck, A., Sipatchin, A., Bartels, A., and Zaretskaya, N. (2023) Variety of transition appearance during binocular rivalry. at Trieste Symposium on Perception and Cognition on 27.10.2023, Trieste, Italy.
2023 | COLIBRI Day
The potential of NLP methods in categorizing verbal descriptions of subjective experience during binocular rivalry task
cite: Yılmaz, C., Pabel, L., Kerschenbauer, E., Ischebeck, A., Sipatchin, A., Bartels, A., and Zaretskaya, N. (2023) The potential of NLP methods in categorizing verbal descriptions of subjective experience during binocular rivalry task. at COLIBRI Day on 28.02.2023, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
2023 | COLIBRI Workshop on NLP & Text Mining
The potential of NLP methods in categorizing verbal descriptions of subjective experience during binocular rivalry task
cite. Yılmaz, C., Pabel, L., Kerschenbauer, E., Ischebeck, A., Sipatchin, A., Bartels, A., and Zaretskaya, N. (2023) The potential of NLP methods in categorizing verbal descriptions of subjective experience during binocular rivalry task. at COLIBRI Workshop on NLP & Text Mining on 27.02.2023, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
2017 | Workshop on Perception, Motion and Its Control
Motor loss in fibromyalgia
cite: Yılmaz, C. (2017). Fibromyaljide Motor Kayıp (Motor Loss in Fibromyalgia). Algı, Hareket ve Kontrolü Çalıştayı (Workshop on Perception, Motion and Its Control) on 15.12.2017. at Neuropsychiatry of Education Research and Application Center; Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
Poster presentations
2024 | 2st INGE St. Day (Styria Brain Research Initiative)
What influences our perception? Study of perceptual transition during binocular rivalry
cite: Yılmaz, C., Pabel, L., Kerschenbauer, E., Ischebeck, A., Sipatchin, A., Bartels, A., and Zaretskaya, N. (2023). Transitions during binocular rivalry vary in appearance across stimulus types. at 2nd INGE St. Day (Styria Brain Research Initiative), Graz, Austria.
2023 | European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP)
Transitions during binocular rivalry vary in appearance across stimulus types
cite: Yılmaz, C., Pabel, L., Kerschenbauer, E., Ischebeck, A., Sipatchin, A., Bartels, A., and Zaretskaya, N. (2023) Transitions during binocular rivalry vary in appearance across stimulus types. at the 45th European Conference on Visual Perception (ECVP), Paphos, Cyprus. Perception
2023 | 1st INGE St. Day (Styria Brain Research Initiative)
Transitions during binocular rivalry vary in appearance across stimulus types
cite: Yılmaz, C., Pabel, L., Kerschenbauer, E., Ischebeck, A., Sipatchin, A., Bartels, A., and Zaretskaya, N. (2023). Transitions during binocular rivalry vary in appearance across stimulus types. at 1st INGE St. Day (Styria Brain Research Initiative), Graz, Austria.
2022 | Vision Sciences Society (VSS)
Estimating receptive field profiles of specific visual fields
cite: Erkat, O.B., Erişen, D., Yılmaz, C., Yıldırım, F., and Boyacı, H. (2022) Estimating receptive field profiles of specific visual fields. at Vision Sciences Society (VSS) Annual Meeting 2022, St. Pete Beach, Florida, USA. Journal of Vision.
2019 | Turkish Congress of Neuroscience (USK)
The Effect of Negative Emotions on Functional Activity of Human Visual Cortex
cite: Yılmaz, C., Erkat, O. B., and Boyacı, H. (2019). The Effect of Negative Emotions on Functional Activity of Human Visual Cortex. at 17th Turkish Congress of Neuroscience (USK) (s. S61-2). Trabzon, Turkey: Anatomy. see poster
2017 | Organization of Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) Annual Meeting
Analyzing Hand Preference in Self-Guided Non-Painful Tactile Stimulation for FM patients: an fNIRS Study
cite: Eken, A., Gökçay, D., Topçu, C., Baltacı, A., Baskak, B., Baltacı, M. and Kara, M. (2017) Analyzing Hand Preference in Self-Guided Non-Painful Tactile Stimulation for FM patients: an fNIRS Study. at Organization of Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) Annual Meeting, 25-29 June 2017, Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, Canada.
2015 | Medical Technologies National Conference (TIPTEKNO)
Classification of fibromyalgia syndrome by using NIRS signals
cite. Eken, A., Gökçay, D., Topçu, C., Baltacı, A., Baskak, B., and Baltacı, M. (2015). Classification of fibromyalgia syndrome by using NIRS signals. at 2015 Medical Technologies National Conference (TIPTEKNO). Bodrum, Muğla, Turkey: IEEE. see poster
Peer-reviewed & Pre-print articeles
Perception study by event-based metrics
Yilmaz, C., Pabel, L., Kerschenbauer, E., Ischebeck, A. Sipatchin, A., Bartels, A. and Zaretskaya, N. (2024). The complexity of human subjective experience during binocular rivalry. PsyArXiv; 2024. DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/r89as
Pain study by fNIRS
Eken, A., Gökçay, D., Yılmaz, C., Baskak, B., Baltacı, A., and Kara, M. (2017). Association of Fine Motor Loss and Allodynia in Fibromyalgia: An fNIRS Study. Journal of Motor Behavior, 50(6), 664–676. DOI: 10.1080/00222895.2017.1400947
Language skills
Turkish
Native
English
Fluent
german
Basics
Programming skills
matlab
Fluent
R
Fluent
Python
Basics
SQL
Intermediate
Last edited on 23.11.2024