Tuba Bircan

Tuba Bircan is a Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Sociology at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). She holds leadership roles including Department Chair and Head of Research Group within the Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies. Her research focuses on migration, refugees, gender inequalities, AI governance, and Big Data applications. She has over 15 years of experience in quantitative/mixed methods and policy advocacy.

Research Interests: Bircan explores migration policies, refugee integration, AI ethics, gender disparities, and multilateral governance. She pioneers interdisciplinary projects like DE-CONSPIRATOR (countering information suppression) and From Camp to Campus (supporting refugee education). Her work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing evidence-based policy.

Recent Trends in Publications: Bircan’s 2020s work highlights AI’s societal impacts, climate-driven displacement, and innovative data sources (mobile phone records, remote sensing). She critiques algorithmic bias and advocates for equitable migration policies using Big Data.

Grants & Projects: Leads 9 active projects including EU-funded initiatives. Notable: SRP-Onderzoekszwaartepunt (demographic challenges), Brussels Interdisciplinary Research centre on Migration and Minorities (BIRMM).

Labs/Teams: Coordinates the Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies, fostering collaborations on migration, digital governance, and social equity.