I am extremely pleased and honored to submit my application to the Ph.D. program in Cognitive Science at the University of California, San Diego. My academic background, career experiences, and ongoing research about bilingual cognition have fueled my passion to investigate how the mind adapts to and interprets multilingual contexts. I believe that UC San Diego's renowned Cognitive Science program, notably the work of Prof. Anne L. Beatty-Martinez, whose research strongly matches with my interests, is a suitable setting for my Ph.D. studies.
My fascination with how language shapes thought began during my childhood, when I was learning English. I realized that I am a different person when I speak English compared to my mother tongue (Turkish) and this illumination led to my curiosity in language and mind. During my undergraduate studies in English Language and Literature and Psychology at Ege University, my ideas about language's impact on mind was skyrocketed. In my bachelor's thesis, "Transformation of Gender Norms: Body and Discourse in Woolf's Orlando", I examined the role of discourse in social norms and bodily transformations, and I, once more, became captivated by the cognitive processes underlying language use and interpretation and later I was directed to Ca' Foscari University by my supervisor Prof. Dr. Nevin Yildirim-Koyuncu due to my interest in language cognition. This academic foundation, complemented by a minor in Psychology to understand human brain better, laid the groundwork for my interdisciplinary exploration of language and cognition. As a result, I graduated with a GPA of 3.84, earning High Honors and ranking as the second-highest student in my bachelor's program.
During my exchange year at Technische Universitat Dortmund, I took classes that investigated how cultural and linguistic structures interact with human cognition. This proved to be a crucial point in the course of my studies. My experiences in multilingual societies (Germany, Italy, Turkey, and minority languages within these nations) motivated me to examine how bilingualism impacts cognitive processes such as categorization, working memory, and attentional control. These interests have developed throughout my present master's studies in Language Sciences at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where I am currently investigating the cognitive mechanisms involved in multilingual perception.
My master's thesis, tentatively titled "Color, Emotion and Space: The Cognitive Duality of Bilingual Perception" exemplifies my commitment to understanding the dynamic relation between language and cognition. Supervised by Prof. Dr. Giuliana Giusti and co-supervised by Prof. Gianluca Lebani, my research focuses on how bilinguals perceive and categorize concepts such as color, spatial relations, and emotion across languages, emphasizing the underlying mechanisms, including categorization, attentional control and working memory. Key questions I am investigating are: Color perception (how do bilinguals' mental representations of color categories shift across languages and does switching between languages increase cognitive load during categorization tasks); emotion perception (How do bilinguals interpret and describe emotions differently in each language and what role does language-switching play in cognitive load and memory recall); spatial perception (How does the use of different spatial terminologies affect bilinguals' perception and working memory). Through this work, I am to elucidate how bilingual cognition adapts to diverse linguistic and cultural environments, contributing to a more unique understanding of cognitive flexibility.
Parallel to my academic initiatives, I have received significant practical experience that enhances my research abilities. As a Case & Listing Management Specialist at EVA Commerce Inc., I strengthened my abilities to analyze complex data sets and solve problems using structured methods. This position expanded my understanding of how data-driven decision-making interacts with cognitive processes like attention and categorization.
Similarly, my role as Educational Coordinator at British Culture Language Schools allowed me to manage educational programs, support instructors, and formulate curriculum. In the summer of 2024, I returned to British Culture Language Schools as an Educational Researcher to explore children's learning practices and perceptions of language. During the process, I examined data and presented the results. These experiences helped me better grasp how language variety influences learning outcomes, which aroused my curiosity in applying cognitive science ideas to real-world situations.
In addition to my professional and research duties, I have built up a strong technical skill set that supports my research and analytical skills. I am familiar with programming languages and tools such as Python and R, which I have used for data analysis and visualization in academic work. My experience with XML has helped me deal with organized data, and my knowledge of Microsoft Office applications ensures that conclusions are properly documented. Additionally, I am now utilizing Pavlovia to design and perform online experiments for my master's thesis, taking advantage of its ability to effectively gather behavioral data and improve the scalability of my study. These abilities have allowed me to optimize workflows, manage enormous datasets, and perform quantitative analyses that are critical for cognitive science research.
Besides, I have actively participated in a variety of international academic events to broaden my knowledge and improve my presentation and interdisciplinary perspectives. I recently received a full-ride scholarship to attend the International School on Artificial Intelligence for Cognitive Technologies at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy, which will take place in December 2024. This experience will expand my understanding of how artificial intelligence intersects with cognitive technologies boosting my research in bilingual cognition. In addition, I attended the 25th Cinema Conference at San Francisco State University in February 2024 and presented my paper on modern issues regarding digital forgery (discourse and perception) and generative AI. In 2021, I also presented my paper, "Desire through Language: The Perception of Desire in Virginia Woolf's 'A Room of One's Own'" at the 10th International Undergraduate Symposium at Ege University. These experiences reflect my dedication to staying within the threshold of interdisciplinary research, enhancing both my academic skills and global outlook.
Furthermore, acquiring two languages besides my native tongue has allowed me to develop my intellectual curiosity and flexibility. Experiencing diverse language and cultural contexts educated me about the intricacies of communication and perception, which inspired me to pursue research in bilingual cognition. These experiences have given me the independence, creative thinking, and endurance required for the rigors of doctoral school.
UC San Diego's Cognitive Science Ph.D. program is uniquely positioned to support my academic and research goals, given its interdisciplinary approach and emphasis on combining theoretical insights with cutting-edge methodologies. I am particularly drawn to the work of Prof. Anne L. Beatty-Martinez, whose research investigates the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying language cognition. Thus, at UC San Diego, I aspire to collaborate with Prof. Beatty-Martinez to investigate questions such as: "How does the interplay between language switching and executive function shape bilinguals' ability to navigate complex cognitive tasks?", "What neural mechanisms support bilingual individuals' capacity to shift between linguistic and cultural frameworks?"
During my Ph.D., I aim to expand my research into bilingual cognition by focusing on variability in language and how these sociolinguistics environment shape cognitive flexibility and executive function. To be more precise, I want to explore how bilingual individuals process ambiguous or culturally specific stimuli and how language switching influences neural activation patterns during these tasks. I plan to investigate the neural correlates of these phenomena and develop computational models to understand the interactions between language, culture and cognition through neuroimaging tools like fMRI or eye-tracking. Additionally, I hope to conduct cross-cultural studies involving bilinguals from diverse linguistic backgrounds to identify universal and language-specific patterns in bilingual perception and executive function.
In addition to Prof. Beatty-Martinez's mentorship, I am excited by the opportunity to engage in UC San Diego's state-of-the-art facilities, such as eye-tracking and neuroimaging technologies, which would enable me to extend my research into neural correlates of bilingual cognition. The program's focus on integrating computational modeling with experimental research aligns perfectly with my goal of using both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore cognitive processes.
My long-term goal is to pursue a career in Cognitive Science as an academic, conducting both research and teaching. I hope to contribute to the area by broadening our comprehension of multilingual cognition and its larger implications for education, social integration, immigration, and mental health. Specifically, I want to examine how bilingualism increases cognitive flexibility and adaptability, with an opportunity to improve the development of bilingual educational methods and cross-cultural communication.
UC San Diego's Cognitive Science program provides the ideal environment for achieving these goals. Its emphasis on collaboration and interdisciplinary research, combined with its commitment to addressing real-world challenges makes it the perfect platform for launching the next phase of my academic journey.
I am eager to bring my academic rigor, research experience and passion for Cognitive Science to UC San Diego's dynamic community. Under the guidance of Prof. Beatty-Martinez and the broader faculty, I am confident that I can make meaningful and important contributions to the field while advancing my own intellectual growth. Thank you for considering my application and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my background and goals align with your program's vision.
Sincerely,
Tolga Sahin
My fascination with how language shapes thought began during my childhood, when I was learning English. I realized that I am a different person when I speak English compared to my mother tongue (Turkish) and this illumination led to my curiosity in language and mind. During my undergraduate studies in English Language and Literature and Psychology at Ege University, my ideas about language's impact on mind was skyrocketed. In my bachelor's thesis, "Transformation of Gender Norms: Body and Discourse in Woolf's Orlando", I examined the role of discourse in social norms and bodily transformations, and I, once more, became captivated by the cognitive processes underlying language use and interpretation and later I was directed to Ca' Foscari University by my supervisor Prof. Dr. Nevin Yildirim-Koyuncu due to my interest in language cognition. This academic foundation, complemented by a minor in Psychology to understand human brain better, laid the groundwork for my interdisciplinary exploration of language and cognition. As a result, I graduated with a GPA of 3.84, earning High Honors and ranking as the second-highest student in my bachelor's program.
During my exchange year at Technische Universitat Dortmund, I took classes that investigated how cultural and linguistic structures interact with human cognition. This proved to be a crucial point in the course of my studies. My experiences in multilingual societies (Germany, Italy, Turkey, and minority languages within these nations) motivated me to examine how bilingualism impacts cognitive processes such as categorization, working memory, and attentional control. These interests have developed throughout my present master's studies in Language Sciences at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, where I am currently investigating the cognitive mechanisms involved in multilingual perception.
My master's thesis, tentatively titled "Color, Emotion and Space: The Cognitive Duality of Bilingual Perception" exemplifies my commitment to understanding the dynamic relation between language and cognition. Supervised by Prof. Dr. Giuliana Giusti and co-supervised by Prof. Gianluca Lebani, my research focuses on how bilinguals perceive and categorize concepts such as color, spatial relations, and emotion across languages, emphasizing the underlying mechanisms, including categorization, attentional control and working memory. Key questions I am investigating are: Color perception (how do bilinguals' mental representations of color categories shift across languages and does switching between languages increase cognitive load during categorization tasks); emotion perception (How do bilinguals interpret and describe emotions differently in each language and what role does language-switching play in cognitive load and memory recall); spatial perception (How does the use of different spatial terminologies affect bilinguals' perception and working memory). Through this work, I am to elucidate how bilingual cognition adapts to diverse linguistic and cultural environments, contributing to a more unique understanding of cognitive flexibility.
Parallel to my academic initiatives, I have received significant practical experience that enhances my research abilities. As a Case & Listing Management Specialist at EVA Commerce Inc., I strengthened my abilities to analyze complex data sets and solve problems using structured methods. This position expanded my understanding of how data-driven decision-making interacts with cognitive processes like attention and categorization.
Similarly, my role as Educational Coordinator at British Culture Language Schools allowed me to manage educational programs, support instructors, and formulate curriculum. In the summer of 2024, I returned to British Culture Language Schools as an Educational Researcher to explore children's learning practices and perceptions of language. During the process, I examined data and presented the results. These experiences helped me better grasp how language variety influences learning outcomes, which aroused my curiosity in applying cognitive science ideas to real-world situations.
In addition to my professional and research duties, I have built up a strong technical skill set that supports my research and analytical skills. I am familiar with programming languages and tools such as Python and R, which I have used for data analysis and visualization in academic work. My experience with XML has helped me deal with organized data, and my knowledge of Microsoft Office applications ensures that conclusions are properly documented. Additionally, I am now utilizing Pavlovia to design and perform online experiments for my master's thesis, taking advantage of its ability to effectively gather behavioral data and improve the scalability of my study. These abilities have allowed me to optimize workflows, manage enormous datasets, and perform quantitative analyses that are critical for cognitive science research.
Besides, I have actively participated in a variety of international academic events to broaden my knowledge and improve my presentation and interdisciplinary perspectives. I recently received a full-ride scholarship to attend the International School on Artificial Intelligence for Cognitive Technologies at the University of Naples Federico II in Italy, which will take place in December 2024. This experience will expand my understanding of how artificial intelligence intersects with cognitive technologies boosting my research in bilingual cognition. In addition, I attended the 25th Cinema Conference at San Francisco State University in February 2024 and presented my paper on modern issues regarding digital forgery (discourse and perception) and generative AI. In 2021, I also presented my paper, "Desire through Language: The Perception of Desire in Virginia Woolf's 'A Room of One's Own'" at the 10th International Undergraduate Symposium at Ege University. These experiences reflect my dedication to staying within the threshold of interdisciplinary research, enhancing both my academic skills and global outlook.
Furthermore, acquiring two languages besides my native tongue has allowed me to develop my intellectual curiosity and flexibility. Experiencing diverse language and cultural contexts educated me about the intricacies of communication and perception, which inspired me to pursue research in bilingual cognition. These experiences have given me the independence, creative thinking, and endurance required for the rigors of doctoral school.
UC San Diego's Cognitive Science Ph.D. program is uniquely positioned to support my academic and research goals, given its interdisciplinary approach and emphasis on combining theoretical insights with cutting-edge methodologies. I am particularly drawn to the work of Prof. Anne L. Beatty-Martinez, whose research investigates the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying language cognition. Thus, at UC San Diego, I aspire to collaborate with Prof. Beatty-Martinez to investigate questions such as: "How does the interplay between language switching and executive function shape bilinguals' ability to navigate complex cognitive tasks?", "What neural mechanisms support bilingual individuals' capacity to shift between linguistic and cultural frameworks?"
During my Ph.D., I aim to expand my research into bilingual cognition by focusing on variability in language and how these sociolinguistics environment shape cognitive flexibility and executive function. To be more precise, I want to explore how bilingual individuals process ambiguous or culturally specific stimuli and how language switching influences neural activation patterns during these tasks. I plan to investigate the neural correlates of these phenomena and develop computational models to understand the interactions between language, culture and cognition through neuroimaging tools like fMRI or eye-tracking. Additionally, I hope to conduct cross-cultural studies involving bilinguals from diverse linguistic backgrounds to identify universal and language-specific patterns in bilingual perception and executive function.
In addition to Prof. Beatty-Martinez's mentorship, I am excited by the opportunity to engage in UC San Diego's state-of-the-art facilities, such as eye-tracking and neuroimaging technologies, which would enable me to extend my research into neural correlates of bilingual cognition. The program's focus on integrating computational modeling with experimental research aligns perfectly with my goal of using both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore cognitive processes.
My long-term goal is to pursue a career in Cognitive Science as an academic, conducting both research and teaching. I hope to contribute to the area by broadening our comprehension of multilingual cognition and its larger implications for education, social integration, immigration, and mental health. Specifically, I want to examine how bilingualism increases cognitive flexibility and adaptability, with an opportunity to improve the development of bilingual educational methods and cross-cultural communication.
UC San Diego's Cognitive Science program provides the ideal environment for achieving these goals. Its emphasis on collaboration and interdisciplinary research, combined with its commitment to addressing real-world challenges makes it the perfect platform for launching the next phase of my academic journey.
I am eager to bring my academic rigor, research experience and passion for Cognitive Science to UC San Diego's dynamic community. Under the guidance of Prof. Beatty-Martinez and the broader faculty, I am confident that I can make meaningful and important contributions to the field while advancing my own intellectual growth. Thank you for considering my application and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss how my background and goals align with your program's vision.
Sincerely,
Tolga Sahin
