Elif Alkay

Prof. Dr. Elif Alkay is a Professor in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Istanbul Technical University's Faculty of Architecture, where she has served since 2009, progressing from Assistant Professor to her current position since 2021. She has held significant administrative roles including Program Head (2019-2020) and Erasmus Coordinator (2015-2019). Her academic leadership extends to external institutions through her membership on the Şişli Municipality City Council Board and professional associations including the European Real Estate Society.

Education:

• Doctorate in Landscape Planning, Istanbul Technical University (1998-2002)
• Master's in Landscape Planning, Istanbul Technical University (1993-1995)
• Bachelor's in Urban and Regional Planning, Istanbul Technical University (1988-1992)
• Post-Doctoral Research, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2006-2008)

Prof. Alkay's research focuses on urban planning, urban economy, regional planning, urban policy, and housing policy. Her work examines the intricate relationships between planning systems, housing markets, and spatial patterns in Turkish cities. She investigates how economic factors, institutional frameworks, and policy interventions shape urban development, with particular attention to housing affordability, spatial segregation, and the impacts of urban transformation processes. Her research methodology combines quantitative spatial analysis with qualitative institutional analysis to provide comprehensive insights into urban dynamics.

Prof. Alkay's publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on housing markets, planning systems, and urban transformation in Turkey. Her work shows an evolution from analyzing specific case studies to developing broader theoretical frameworks connecting planning policy with housing market outcomes. She has increasingly incorporated collaborative governance approaches and experiential learning methodologies into her research, reflecting a growing interest in how planning education can address complex urban challenges. Her most recent work examines the effectiveness of new planning systems in transforming housing markets.

Scientific Awards:

• Balkan Architecture Biennial, Urbanism, GRANDPRIX (first) award (2017)
• ANEVAR Best Paper Prize for Real Estate Development, European Real Estate Society (2015)
• British Academy-Newton Fund-Advanced Research Fellowship Award (2015)

Prof. Alkay has successfully led multiple research projects funded by prestigious organizations including the British Academy and Istanbul Technical University's Scientific Research Projects Unit (BAP). Her project 'Construction, Economic Development, and Planning Policies: Investigating the Causal Links' examines the relationship between planning systems and housing market outcomes in Turkey. She has supervised numerous graduate students and currently has 15 theses in progress, reflecting her active mentorship role in developing the next generation of urban planning professionals.

While specific laboratory affiliations aren't explicitly mentioned in the provided information, Prof. Alkay's work involves close collaboration with planning practitioners, municipal authorities, and international research teams. Her research on collaborative governance in planning education suggests active engagement with studio-based teaching environments that function as practical laboratories for urban planning innovation.