About

Academic Background

Dr. Sinan Tankut Gülhan is an Assistant Professor at the University of Zielona Góra, Poland, where he brings a multidisciplinary approach to urban sociology. His academic journey began with a Ph.D. in Sociology from SUNY Binghamton in 2014, where his dissertation provided a critical examination of urbanization patterns and housing dynamics in Istanbul. This foundation established his expertise in urban theory, which he has since expanded to encompass Turkish urbanization processes, comparative urban history, and the sociology of urbanization.

Teaching Philosophy & Academic Experience

Throughout his career, Dr. Gülhan has cultivated a teaching philosophy that emphasizes critical thinking and methodological rigor. His classroom experience spans multiple institutions including SUNY Binghamton, SUNY Oneonta, and various universities across Turkey. His course offerings reflect the breadth of his expertise:

Sociological Theory: Exploring classical and contemporary theoretical frameworks with emphasis on their application to urban contexts
Research Methodologies: Teaching both qualitative and quantitative approaches with a focus on mixed-methods research design
Urban Studies: Examining the complex interplay between built environments, social structures, and human behavior
Computational Social Science: Introducing students to data-driven approaches for analyzing social phenomena

Dr. Gülhan is known for his accessible teaching style and ability to connect abstract theoretical concepts to real-world urban challenges facing contemporary societies.

Professional Practice & Applied Work

Beyond academia, Dr. Gülhan has established himself as a bridge between sociological theory and practical application. His work in market research has provided valuable insights into consumer behavior within urban settings. As a consultant on large-scale social impact assessment projects, he has evaluated the sociocultural implications of major infrastructure developments, including dam constructions throughout Turkey.

The past decade has seen Dr. Gülhan's expertise applied to urban renewal initiatives in Gaziantep, Turkey, where he has worked to ensure that redevelopment efforts address the needs of existing communities while accommodating growth. His contributions to immigrant integration programs demonstrate his commitment to creating inclusive urban spaces that respond to demographic changes and cultural diversity. Through these projects, he has developed a reputation for translating sociological insights into actionable policy recommendations.

Methodological Evolution & Technical Expertise

Dr. Gülhan's methodological approach reflects his commitment to innovation in sociological research. While his early work emphasized qualitative methodologies—including ethnographic observation and in-depth interviewing—he has continually expanded his analytical toolkit to embrace emerging quantitative and computational techniques.

His technical proficiencies include:

Statistical Analysis: Expert use of RStudio for advanced statistical modeling and data visualization, complemented by continued application of SPSS for survey research
Data Science Applications: Growing expertise in Python programming within Jupyter notebooks, applying machine learning algorithms to identify patterns in urban data
Digital Research Methods: Application of web scraping techniques for gathering social media data, complemented by sophisticated text analysis to extract meaningful insights
Spatial Analysis: Implementation of QGIS and related tools to map and analyze geographical dimensions of urban phenomena

These technical skills allow Dr. Gülhan to address research questions that would be inaccessible through traditional methodologies alone, positioning him at the forefront of computational approaches in urban sociology.

Current Research Focus

Dr. Gülhan's current research agenda explores the intersection of urban sociology and digital transformation. He investigates how emerging technologies—from artificial intelligence to big data analytics—are reshaping urban environments, governance structures, and social relations. His work examines several interconnected themes:

The impact of algorithmic decision-making on urban planning and resource allocation
Spatial patterns of digital inequality and their relationship to traditional socioeconomic stratification
The use of machine learning to predict and analyze housing market dynamics
Critical assessment of "smart city" initiatives and their implications for democratic governance
The role of digital platforms in reshaping urban mobility and public space usage

Through this research, Dr. Gülhan contributes to ongoing debates about technological determinism versus social shaping of technology, emphasizing how urban contexts mediate the implementation and impact of digital innovations.

Publications & Academic Contributions

Dr. Gülhan's scholarship appears in leading journals of urban studies, sociology, and interdisciplinary social science. His publications demonstrate both theoretical sophistication and methodological innovation, addressing topics ranging from housing financialization to digital surveillance in urban contexts. He regularly presents his work at international conferences and actively participates in academic networks focused on urban transformation in the digital age.

Key Publications

Neoliberalism and Neo-Dirigisme in Action: The State–Corporate Alliance and the Great Housing Rush of the 2000s in Istanbul, Turkey, 2022, Sinan Tankut Gülhan. Urban Studies Vol. 59, no. 7, 1443--58.

State-Making as Space-Making: The Three Modes of the Production of Space in Istanbul, Sinan Tankut Gülhan, In: Urban Change and Citizenship in Times of Crisis Volume 2: Urban Neo-liberalisation, 2020, (eds.) Bryan S. Turner, Jürgen Mackert, Hannah Wolf, NY, London: Routledge, pp. 30--49, e-ISBN: 9780429262289, ISBN: 9781032172941, https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429262289

Knowledge on the Move: Studies on Mobile Social Education, (Eds.), 2023, Alastair Roy, Sinan Tankut Gülhan, Dorota Bazuń, Mariusz Kwiatkowski, Warsaw: Oficyna Naukowa, ISBN: 978-83-67557-09-2, e-ISBN: 978-83-67557-10-8, http://www.somoveed.is.uz.zgora.pl/outputs/knowledge-on-the-move-studies-on-mobile-social-education/

From Byzantion to Constantinople to Istanbul: Historico-Geographical Mapping as Urban Imagination, 2023, Sinan GULHAN(*), In: Knowledge on the Move: Studies on Mobile Social Education, 2023, (Eds.) Alastair Roy, Sinan GULHAN, Dorota Bazuń, Mariusz Kwiatkowski, Warsaw: Oficyna Naukowa (#), pp. 175--194, ISBN: 9788367557092

Community Engagement & Public Sociology

Committed to the principles of public sociology, Dr. Gülhan regularly engages with community organizations, policymakers, and media outlets to translate academic research into accessible insights. He has organized workshops for community planners, contributed to public forums on urban development, and served as an advisor to municipal governments on technology implementation.

Connect & Collaborate

Dr. Gülhan welcomes opportunities for academic collaboration, student mentorship, and engagement with organizations working on urban challenges. He can be reached through:

Academic Profiles

Contact Information

Instytut Socjologii
Wydział Nauk Społecznych, Uniwersytet Zielonogórski
Budynek A-17, pokój 205R
al. Wojska Polskiego 69, 65-762 Zielona Góra, Poland
E-mail: sinantgulhan -at- outlook.com

Office Hours

Dr. Gülhan maintains regular office hours during the academic term and welcomes both scheduled appointments and drop-in conversations with students, colleagues, and community members interested in urban sociology and digital transformation.